Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Oscar brought a moving bundle into the house, Ruby was concerned. Oscar would not let her see into the bag. Everyone else could care less, but that thing had piqued her curiosity. 

When she heard strange noises from upstairs, she would knock on the farmhand’s door to ask him if he was okay. A muffled “I’m fine!” would resonate through the door, and Ruby would leave him be. He was never around, which made the girl sad, since he liked to talk to her more than anyone else these days. She felt very lonely. Often, Oscar didn’t make it to dinner, or he would travel to the marketplace to buy large amounts of milk and tuna. Blake would go crazy over the amount of tuna he bought. When questioned he said, “It’s a new diet I’m trying out.” 

Now this really made Ruby suspicious, since Oscar was a, skinny and b, could never drink that much milk by himself. She could, on the other hand. She loved milk. 

It was a cold evening, when some of the group were out in town, and the others were playing a board game downstairs. Ruby had not seen Oscar’s presence all day, it was beginning to bother her more and more. She decided she had enough, and marched upstairs, demanding for an answer. She turned left and knocked loudly on the farmhand’s door. “Oscar?”

There was no reply. Ruby tried again, and still, nothing. She started to hear faint noises, like meowing in the room. Either she was hearing things, or… 

Carefully, she turned the doorknob and opened Oscar’s door. It smelled faintly of tuna… and a zoo. Her eyes scanned the room, messy with discarded milk jugs and tuna packets, until it landed on a pile of clothes and newspaper. And inside, lay two cats, a tabby, and a black cat. They stretched their limbs and mewled. 

Oscar had cats. 

Oscar had two cats. Why was he keeping cats?

That explained the tuna. And the milk. The noises, and hiding away. He was keeping the cats a secret! 

Now, Ruby preferred dogs to cats, but they weren’t all bad. She neared one, gently inching toward the black one. It seemed a bit leaner, and quicker than the tabby, its sharp eyes darting at every corner. When she neared them, they leapt back in fear. She was unfamiliar to them. 

Ruby called out to them. “Shh, shh, don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. Come here, come here,” she soothed them. The tabby wouldn’t budge, but the black cat inches towards her. Ruby stood still, her arms open, ready to receive the bundle of fur. It accepted her invitation, and climbed into the cocoon Ruby had made from it. 

She stroked its fur, and purred in delight. The second cat, slinked away from her, and hopped up onto Oscar’s bed. 

“Hey, you… I wonder why Oscar’s kept you two away from us? Why didn’t he tell me at least?” Ruby was beginning to feel very down, as if Oscar had actually told her he didn’t trust her. 

“Ruby?” Oscar’s surprised voice echoed through the room. Ruby turned and met Oscar’s face, slick with sweat. In his arms, were two small milk jugs. He looked weary, as if he hadn’t slept in weeks. 

The tabby cat responded to Oscar’s arrival and made its way to him. The black cat leaped out of Ruby’s arms and padded over to the farm boy, as well. Ruby stood, her arms limp at her sides. She had walked into his room without permission and invaded his privacy. 

“I-I’m sorry. I just heard noises and I was so curious—why didn’t you tell me?” Ruby asked. Oscar sighed, coming into the room and closing the door. 

He opened a milk jug and poured some into identical bowls in a corner. The cats made their way to it, lapping up the cold drink.

“I didn’t mean to keep this away from you,” he started. He made his way towards her and flopped onto his bed. “You can sit, if you’d like.” Ruby did.

“I found them in an old cabbage cart at the marketplace a few weeks ago. And… I couldn’t resist. I had to take them with me. But I’m not sure if you all would like cats in the house, so I just kept them here with me,” he explained. 

“And you were just gonna keep them here forever?”

“No, no! Only… only until they got really healthy. Then I want to find homes for them.” Oscar sat up and looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry, Ruby. I didn’t know this meant so much to you.”

“It… it’s fine. I just haven’t seen you in a long time, and for some reason, I felt sad about it. Like, I don’t mind not seeing you all the time, but I like to spend time with you.”

Oscar’s face reddened, and he wasn’t quite sure if Ruby understood how much that meant to him . Of course, he had been crushing on her since he met her, but he always thought she saw him as a little brother. But… it seemed she saw him as a close friend as well?

“I like spending time with you too. And I want to do it more often,” Oscar said. Ruby grinned, a sweet smile that made her eyes shine brighter. The black cat made its way back to them, the tabby following behind. The black cat hopped onto the bed and nudged Ruby with its nose. 

“Seems he likes you,” Oscar noted, stroking the tabby that had appeared in his lap. 

“What’s his name?” Ruby asked, adoring the tiny creature more. She loved Zwei with all her heart, but this little fella was growing on her. 

“Mm, I haven’t named them, but I think I want to do so, right now. Would you like to name that little guy?” he asked, pointing to the black feline. Ruby nodded eagerly. 

He laughed. “I think I’m naming the tabby Ivy. She looks like an Ivy to me.”

“I like it.” Ruby studied the cat next to her carefully. It looked up to her curiously, as if it was waiting to be named. 

“Whaaaaaaaaaat about… Felix?”

“Ooh, that’s interesting. Ivy and Felix. I like it,” Oscar beamed. 

Ruby tossed her head back and laughed. “I feel like we’re a couple adopting cats for the first time.”

Oscar froze. Did she not understand what she was saying? That every word she said would be ingrained into his memory?

Ruby held Felix, and looked at him. “I’m sure Ivy will warm up to me, someday.”

“You mean, we can keep them?”

“Temporarily. But you have to make me some promises. First, no more sneaking around, you tell everyone what’s going on. Two, don’t spend all your money on cat food. Three, come down to dinner sometimes and get enough sleep. Clean your room. And four, hang out with me tomorrow.”

Oscar could barely register what she said. He chuckled and said, “That’s a lot of promises.”

“Do we have a deal?” Ruby asked, holding out a pinky finger. 

Oscar held out his pinky, and slowly, linked his finger to hers. They held it in a moment, staring at each other goofily. 

“You’re amazing,” Oscar said, all-dazed like. As soon as the words let his mouth, he covered his mouth, his cheeks reddening again. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. 

Ruby shook her head, still petting Felix. “No… I think you’re pretty amazing too. That’s why I want to hang out tomorrow.” She grinned. 

He wasn’t exactly sure what this meant, but he knew that he was getting to hang out with the girl of his dreams and there was a chance, just a chance that she liked him back. And she wasn’t even mad about the cats! A win-win. 

Chapter Text

“Oscar!” 

“Doré!” 

Ruby watched the exchange, as her friend and his old friend embraced each other tightly. On sight, she could tell she was perfect in every way. Doré had pale skin and beautiful golden hair that she kept in a simple braid. She was willowy and dainty, like she’d never held a weapon in her life. 

“When will you reach my height, Oscar?” Doré asked Oscar, rubbing his head. Oscar laughed, because he had surpassed Ruby’s height already. She wasn’t sure if the girl had noticed, but Doré and Oscar were the same height. The Huntress immediately felt too small, yet too big, as if she was invading their space. 

“And who’s your friend, here?” Doré asked, looking pointedly in Ruby’s direction. 

“Ah, Doré, this is my friend, Ruby Rose. You’ll love her.” Doré’s face instantly became passive as she made her way to Ruby and stuck out her hand. “Dolores, but everyone calls me Doré.”

Ruby took it, and tried to give a peppy smile. “I’m Ruby, and it’s very nice to meet you.” 

Oscar beamed, his cheeks rosy. “Okay, let’s go inside so you can meet everyone else.” And Oscar held Doré’s hand and led her inside the house. 

Ruby was left outside, hands clenched at her side. She had tried and tried to deny what was growing inside of her, but if she didn’t recognize it now, she’d only hurt later. But now she was starting to think that denial was the better option. With a sigh, she followed the friends inside the house. 

In the living room, Doré was animatedly talking with her family. Yang looked interested, and Blake at least had her gaze focused on her. Weiss and Nora were laughing, as was Jaune. Maria and Qrow looked amused, and Ren was shaking his head. 

“Yeah, so my dad’s the miller in our little village, so Oscar comes in and asks him if we sell eggs! And then I called him a stupid kid and he burst into tears. The start of a beautiful friendship!”

Oscar was blushing, his hands in his head. Ruby came around and eyed Doré’s sophisticated outfit. She looked like she was from a 100 years ago, but she made it classy. Ruby felt stupid, with her new haircut, and cape, as if she was a superhero in a comic book. 

“Hey, did you meet Oscar’s friend yet?” her sister asked. “She’s really funny.”

Ruby laughed softly. “Yep, she’s a hoot.” The girl plunked herself on the couch and pretended to listen to Doré’s story about Oscar and his antics.

She watched the pair of friends with a sort of curiosity. They seemed to fit together, even though they looked like they’d never be each other’s type. Oscar was that soft boy that would always make you smile and supported you through anything. And Doré was the confident girl that brought the “spice” (as Nora said) to the relationship. 

“You wouldn't believe it,” Oscar started, “but Doré was actually really shy back then. Her face would turn red every time someone spoke to her. She was only the way she is now around me.”

Doré gave Oscar a playful shove and laughed, a shrill laugh that annoyed Ruby a bit… but reminded her of her own laugh. 

“Shut up, farm boy! This was about you!”

“So what are you doing here in Mantle anyway, Doré?” Qrow asked, his feet propped up on the coffee table. 

Doré shrugged. “It’s a long story. My dad was in debt back at the mill, so the big guys in Mantle were going to put him in debtor’s prison unless he came here to work. My pop’s getting really old, so I offered to take his place. I only have a few months left, so hopefully we can pay that stupid thing off.” 

Ruby noticed Oscar squeezing the miller’s daughter’s hand in support. She wasn’t aware that he was so touchy. Oscar met Ruby’s stare and returned it with his infamous half smile. 

Ruby beamed again, before Doré tugged on Oscar’s arm. “It’s totally crazy that I ran into you. I haven’t seen you in the longest time. I’ve missed you, Oscar.”

Oscar smiled back. “Me too.”

“I’ll get dinner started. You’re welcome to stay, Doré,” Ren offered, standing up. 

“Oh I couldn’t—“

“Please, Doré. I haven’t seen you in forever and we need to catch up,” Oscar insisted. 

“I don’t mind making an extra helping,” Ren called out from the kitchen. 

“Then I’d love to.”

How could Ruby hate such a perfect person? 

Jaune stood up to head to the kitchen when Doré said, “Since I’m intruding, I’ll help you guys cook.”

“No, no,” Jaune replied, waving his hands.

“No, please. I love to cook.”

And how could anyone resist her smile? Jaune gave in, and let the girl follow him into the kitchen. Ruby couldn’t take anymore of … whatever this was. She stood up. “I’m going to take a shower.”

Before anyone could get a word in to her, she was already up the stairs, entering the room she shared with Weiss.

Ruby pulled off her cape when Weiss slid into the room. The girl flipped her heavy braid over her shoulder and crossed her arms. 

“I never saw you as a person to hate someone innocent and good,” the ex-heiress noted. 

“You’re a horrible best friend,” Ruby retorted. 

“Never recalled us becoming best friends,” Weiss noted amusingly, as Ruby pulled off her boots and tights. The silver-eyed warrior sat on her bed and drew her knees up towards her face.

“You can’t blame her,” Weiss continued. 

“Yeah, of course I can’t! She’s pretty and funny and all the things I’m not! She can cook , Weiss!” Ruby exclaimed. 

Weiss came to sit next to her, chuckling. “Wow, this is worse than I thought.” Her partner patted her arm reassuringly. “I wouldn’t worry too much. Go take a shower and come come to eat. I’m sure once you get to know her, you’ll love her.” With that, Weiss exited the room. 

Ruby took off the rest of her clothes, balling them up to throw into a corner. 

“Ugh! Why does my brain have to be so complicated! Stupid feelings, stupid heart, stupid Doré —“

The girl stopped herself. She wouldn’t let herself be controlled by something she couldn’t change. This was not the goal of her life, nor was it going to do her any good to be freaking out over a total stranger. She was okay. She was fine with where she was with him. They would be good friends, just like they agreed to be. 

Yeah. 

Ruby entered the shower, a cold spray of water hitting her back. As she washed her hair, she thought about herself and clutched her chest. It was really inconvenient for her to fall hard like this. Especially when so many things were preventing anything from happening between them. Not that it would anyway. Ozpin still inhabited Oscar’s mind, and sometimes she suspected that he wanted to run away again. Why would she pursue a relationship with him? 

“Why do I like him?” she moaned. This was so stupid. 

After the shower, Ruby changes into a grey camisole and black and red pajama bottoms before bounding downstairs. The smell of hot cheese and something else Ruby couldn’t quite put her finger on wafted into her nose. 

Everyone else was gathered at the table, and Ruby saw that Doré had taken her seat across from Oscar. Of course. 

“Ruby, come sit next to me,” Maria called. Ruby tried to smile and took the stool from the pantry and made her way past everyone to sit next to the old woman. She felt like she was towering over everyone. Now seated, she saw the strange smell was coming from. There was some brown stuff mixed in with spinach that Ruby have never tasted in her life. 

Oscar seemed to notice her stare saying, “Doré made her infamous quinoa.”

“I’m sorry, what ?”

“Quinoa? You know? It’s a grain? It’s healthier than noodles, I figured it’d be good for all of us to try it,” Doré shrugged. 

What was wrong with noodles? Ruby wasn’t health-conscious, she loved strawberries and cookies, and she felt like she was pretty fit. She was always full of energy and moving anyway. Doré’s comment made it seem like Ruby wasn’t as healthy as her. 

“Stop overthinking things and let’s eat,” Maria said to no one in particular. 

“Thanks for this meal, guys. You too, Doré,” Blake beamed. She seemed happy. Oscar’s companion returned the smile. “Thanks for letting me stay here. It’s been great so far.”

Then Doré stood up, spoon in hand, and started scooping quinoa on everyone’s plate. Ruby eyed the macaroni and cheese, which she would much rather have on her plate right now. She clutched the plate to her chest, but Doré stood there expectantly, before grasping the plate and pulling it out of Ruby’s hands. 

“You’ll love it, I promise.”

And Ruby ended up with the largest portion. 

All throughout dinner, everyone was listening intently to Doré’s childhood stories. No one would ever believe the girl used to be an introvert with the way she talked. Ruby snuck a glance at Oscar, who had an adorably sweet smile on his face, gazing at the girl across from him. Everyone had finished their quinoa, and moved on to the mac and cheese, but the silver-eyed warrior had resorted to pushing the food around on her plate. 

“Not hungry, Ruby?” Doré suddenly piped up. 10 pairs of eyes fell onto her and Ruby suddenly felt that her crush was obvious and everyone knew how big of an idiot she was. 

“Um, yeah, something like that. Um, I’m going to get some air. I’ll be back.”

“Ruby, I don’t think that’s the best idea,” Weiss sighed. Ruby begged Weiss to zip it with her eyes. She loved her partner, but it wasn’t time for a confession. It was time for Ruby to squash feelings that should’ve never existed in their first place. 

She set her plate done and hopped off the stool, just as the girl-of-the-hour launched into another story. 

Ruby went outside of the townhouse and sat on the steps. The sky was a dark blue, with faint stars twinkling in the distance. There was a strong wind, but Ruby didn’t particularly care if she was cold. 

“Thinking?” 

Ruby turned her head to see Maria hobbling down the steps, before plopping herself next to the girl. Maria breathed a sigh and for a moment, Ruby wondered if the aggressive, strong-willed woman was out of energy. 

“What makes you different from everyone else, Ruby?” Maria asked suddenly. 

Ruby thought this was a part of her training, so naturally, she answered, “I have silver eyes?”

Maria barked out a laugh. “There’s more to that. But I mean, why do you think you are incapable of feeling the same feelings as everyone else? You have a heart as well as I do,” the woman noted, poking Ruby’s chest with her cane.

“I… don’t follow.”

“Child. What’s wrong with being in love?”

Ruby froze, her face turning red. She knew too! Great. She bet team JNR, her own teammates, and her uncle knew too. 

And what if Oscar did? That… that would be horrible..

The girl placed her hands on her warm face. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Oscar is a handsome young man. He’s like the grandson I’ve always wanted.”

“Maria, please .”

“Well? Do you like him?”

Ruby looked at the old woman. “I do.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Maria! Oscar is younger than me, and he probably doesn’t see me as anything then a dumb leader. He is possessed by my dead headmaster, and may I remind you that his old friend is here, who is much, much prettier and funnier than I am!”

“So you’re worried about your looks, because of a boy.”

“I am not.”

“If you were a horrible leader, I’d be dead on that train, and your friends wouldn’t have followed you here. From Patch, from Atlas, from Mistral, from Menagerie. Oscar adores you, if you can’t see it.” Maria poked the stick into her chest. “And stop that stupid nonsense about not being pretty. Silver eyes and dark hair? That’s a plus. And I happen to like your beautiful personality as well,” Maria smiled. 

Ruby hadn’t grown up with a mother, so a lot of compliments came from her dad. There wasn’t a problem with it of course, but his compliments were more along the lines of, “You look so tall, sport”, rather than, “You look beautiful,”. Not that the Huntress had ever put any effort into beauty . She wasn’t naturally gorgeous, like her sister. She was just plain Ruby. So when Maria complimented her, Ruby felt strange. Perhaps in a good way. 

“But what about Ozpin in his head?”

“I have a hunch that we’re going to win this crazy war, and Ozpin will leave Oscar’s conscience. So you can pursue your feelings then. But, it might be too late,” she answered, looking towards the door. 

Ruby sighed. “I… I just… I’ve never liked anyone, Maria. I see everyone else falling in love, and I haven’t felt that before. What if I’m not in love with Oscar? What if I’m so desperate to get to know him that I think I like him? How can someone like me fall in love? It’s been making me upset and distracted… and that’s not who I am.” Honest and raw. 

Maria chuckled. “Let me tell you something, child. You’re 17, but you’re growing up. There are some people that never find themselves attracted to anyone. That’s okay. And then a lot of people are attracted to someone else. That’s also okay. Just because you don’t see yourself as a romantic, doesn’t mean you can’t fall in love. You have your friends and family here for you. You won’t get distracted, cause they’ll keep you grounded. Do you know how much I wanted to give up being The Grimm Reaper sometimes and just quit? Get married and have a kid? I wish I had time to find someone to be with. I understand you kid, feelings are hard. I’ve only been in love with one man, and he fell in love with another before it was too late. After I lost my eyes, I returned home to find out that they had separated. And he had moved to a new territory because there was nothing left for him there. And I never saw him again. I fell into a deep state of depression, Ruby. It was as if I wasn’t built for love. These so called “special eyes” really prevented me from achieving the normal things I wanted to do.”

Ruby stayed quiet, drinking in Maria’s tragic tale. 

“You and I, people think we’re bred for fighting. That’s it. But you are more than just a Huntress or a silver-eyed warrior. You’re Ruby Rose. No one is going to hate you for falling in love. Love only makes you do stupid things if you forget who you are. You can relax sometimes, child. Enjoy being a teenager. Enjoy the feelings you have. Don’t be like me. Don’t regret it.”

And Maria finished her speech, and stood up, Ruby helping her stay steady. “I’m tired. I want to sleep.”

Ruby watched the old woman go up the steps, before following her inside. Maria was wise, but only because she had so many things that went wrong in her life, that she was trying to help Ruby not make the same mistakes. 

Inside, only Doré, Oscar, Blake, and Nora were at the table. It seemed everyone else had retired to bed. 

“Hey, Ruby? Are you okay?” Nora asked. Ruby beamed. “Yep!” Hopefully, it was convincing enough.

And she met Oscar’s eyes, briefly, only for a moment, before heading upstairs. 

I like his eyes. And his smile. And the way he’s really shy and really sweet. I don’t quite know my “type”, but I know that he gives me butterflies in my stomach. 

There was so many odd… things about Ruby’s crush on Oscar, but she knew that if she didn’t try, she’d be thinking about it for days on end. 

In her room, Weiss was seated on her bed, her pajamas on. When Ruby entered, she raised an eyebrow. 

“You alright?”

“Yeah.” 

“Ruby, you know you can always talk to me. I know I’m not showing it, but I’ve been excited about your crush. If I’m being honest, I’ve always seen you two together.”

“Weiss!” Ruby shouted, throwing a pillow at her in embarrassment. 

“I want to plan your wedding!” Weiss screeched back, throwing the pillow back at her. 

“Shut up!”

“Make me!”

They bicker a lot. 

Around midnight or so, Ruby felt the anxiety coursing through her veins again. The sickly feeling when her heart beat fast and uncontrollably. She didn’t have a dream of Pyrrha tonight, but of a golden girl and a mill. So Ruby did what she often did when she needed to think: slip outside. Making sure to not wake Weiss up, Ruby left the room, and headed downstairs. She opened the door and sat on the first step. She looked out to neighborhood below. It was dark save for the few bars that were still open. She liked the peace and quiet here. Well, this place was quite remote anyway. 

The girl sat quietly, thinking of what Maria had told her earlier. That she was growing and changing. That it was okay to fall in love because life was short and you never knew when you’d get another chance. But she wouldn’t let this crush destroy her either. Doré was a nice person, Ruby didn’t need to let her get to her head. Whether Oscar returned her feelings or not, it didn’t matter. She didn’t need to change herself, conceal herself for a person . Smiling to herself, Ruby made a promise to always be honest to herself. 

“Can’t sleep?” a familiar voice asked. Ruby jumped, turning around to see Oscar leaning against a pillar in his pajamas. 

“Nope. I’m thinking,” Ruby replied, turning her face towards the town again. 

Oscar came down and sat next to her. Her heart started to thump in her chest. Close. Too close. 

“I can’t either.”

“H-how come?”

“I’ve been practicing blocking lately. It’s kind of exhausting. But at night, it’s hard to sleep.”

“What’s blocking?”

“It’s like throwing up a mental shield. I’ve been practicing blocking Ozpin out of my head. Not completely, but like a wall. So he can’t read my thoughts or see what’s going on. It’s kind of like locking him in a room. Much easier to ignore,” Oscar laughed. 

Ruby’s eyes widened. “So he can’t see what’s going on right now?”

“Shut up, you’re annoying,” Oscar huffed. Ruby looked at him in horror and he shook his head. 

“No, no! I’m sorry, I wasn’t talking to you. I mean Ozpin: he’s been trying to stop me from doing this, but sometimes I need my mind to myself. And I feel like… I have control of my own future. He can’t see the things I do.” He looked away, his hands trembling. 

Ruby scooted closer. “It’s okay, Oscar. We’ll win against Salem, and you’ll be yourself again. You’ll be okay.”

Oscar turned back, his hazel eyes sincere. “Thanks. We’ll both be okay.”

Enjoy the feelings you have. Don’t regret it. Ruby recalled Maria’s words and decided she was going to go through with it. No more waiting for childhood friends to leave or for wars to end. 

“Oscar…I need to tell you something. Privately.”

Oscar noted her seriousness and nodded. He shut his eyes, squeezing them tight. “Ack,” he murmured, clutching his head. 

“Are you okay?”

“Yep,” he groaned. “It hurts to do it, but it’s worth it. Ozpin is now locked in his little room.”

Ruby almost pitied her former headmaster, but she was too focused on Oscar’s face to care. 

“What was it that you wanted to tell me?”

Here goes nothing. ”Oscar, you know you’re very important to me, right?”

He nodded slowly. “Yes. And you are to me as well.”

Ruby gave a half-smile. “What I mean is… you didn’t have to be here. Fighting, helping us. You could’ve went back home and blocked out the voice in your head forever. You didn’t have to be here, but you are anyway. And I want to thank you for that. You’re smart, kind, and becoming an integral part of this team. I… I honestly don’t know how we’d get this far without you. ”

Oscar rubbed the back of his neck. “Wow, Ruby. I’m really honored, but I don’t—“

“Yes, you do. You deserve this and so much more. That’s why I want to say that you’re special to me.”

“I’m glad you appreciate our friendship.”

Friendship? 

“No, I mean… I mean to say that I like you. Like in a romantic way.”

Oscar’s eyes widened. “Where did this come from?”

Not the answer she was expecting. Maybe he had already asked Doré out. 

“I’m sorry… I should’ve kept quiet.”

“No! I mean, please, explain,” Oscar exclaimed when Ruby stood up. 

“I don’t know how, but I found myself wanting to be with you, as more than a friend. You’re the kind of person I’d like to grow up together with. I’m not quite sure how relationships work, but there’s no other person I’d want to start out with,” she smiled. 

Oscar’s face split into a smile.

“That’s a relief… cause I like you too. And I’m sure my crush has lasted longer, cause I’ve liked you since I first laid eyes on you.” Oscar smiled shyly, his gloved fingers nervously intertwined. Ruby always wondered why he wore the gloves all the time, but she figured it was something private that he would tell when the time would come. 

“You’re joking !” 

“Do you want me to be? I’ve liked you for the longest time. I just didn’t think you liked me back. Kind of crazy, still.”

“ I liked you, and was driving myself insane over it! I was freaking out cause I thought you liked Doré and I was slowly—“

“Wait, wait, wait… you thought I liked Doré? Like my childhood friend, Doré?” he asked softly. Ruby nodded, her heart racing. This was embarrassing. Thank the gods no one was here to witness this. 

“Oh, Ruby,” Oscar chuckled. “I haven’t seen Doré since we were kids. I didn’t feel that way about her then, and I don’t feel that way about her now. I’ve gotten to know you , and I like you. Doré’s just a good friend.”

Ruby breathed a sigh of relief before shaking her head. “I’m so dumb, I can’t believe I was jealous of her! All over a crush… what’s happening to me, Oscar? Don’t tell me I’m going to obsessive like Nora! I love her, but… I can’t be like her!”

Oscar shook his shaggy hair, slightly amused. “I don’t think Nora’s obsessive… she just really loves Ren, and that’s how she shows it. And if you really like me, you don’t have to change yourself for me. I already like you the way you are and you’re not “changed” because you like me.”

Reassuring words. Ruby felt happy, extremely happy. There was all kinds of dilemmas, dealing with Ozpin, and the war, that perhaps love wasn’t the first thing she should’ve dealt with. But it happened, and there was no turning back. Her heart longed for the days when the war would be over and Oscar could be himself again. 

“This is going to be weird with Ozpin around, I hope you know,” Oscar noted.

Ruby leaned in. “Thennnnnn I guess you’re going to have to work on your blocking skills more. I’m kidding! I don’t want you to strain yourself,” Ruby joked.

Oscar looked up at her, and her heart swelled. She suddenly realized she had no idea what to do next. Life wasn’t exactly a movie, but she had a feeling that this was the part of every romantic film where the protagonists kissed. 

Stop, Ruby! You don’t want to kiss him—not yet!

“Oscar, is it okay if we…”

“Yeah?” he asked, his eyes growing wide. 

“I mean! Is it okayifwetakethisslowbecauseIdon’twanttokissyouyetnotbecauseyouaren’tcuteit’scauseOzpinisstillhereand—“

Oscar placed a gloved hand onto her mouth, to end her rambling. “That’s fine, Ruby. I’ve waited this long, I can wait some more.”

When did he become so mature? Why was she the flustered one now? “You don’t like me any less?”

Oscar shook his head. “Nope.” He snaked his hand towards hers and held it, holding it up to their eye level. 

“I don’t mind holding hands. And hugging. Whatever you feel comfortable with. Until, you-know- who is out of my head.”

Ruby smiled. This worked out. Blocking was useful for their private conversations, but it hurt Oscar to do so, so he would limit his use of it. And Ruby had no problem waiting to be more affectionate until after Ozpin’s soul left Oscar’s body. She was in no hurry to grow up, to have a relationship like her sister’s or Nora and Ren’s, who were becoming more… frisky. 

That wasn’t the right word. More… adultlike. Well, they were adults, but they never really acted like it (at least in Nora’s case) until now. 

“Are you sure you’re okay with this? With me?” Oscar asked her, their hands still interlocked. 

Ruby nodded. “I’m okay with it. More than okay. Are you ? I feel like I forced this onto you… you’re acting strangely calm.”

“Oh, I’m elated on the inside, you have no clue. I’m just showing off,” Oscar smiled. 

Oh, how their friends would make fun of them the next day. 

The new couple didn’t put a label on what they were, but both knew what they were before the sun had risen, and they finally decided to go to sleep. 

“Bye, Doré! Stay in touch!” Nora yelled from the doorstep. The golden beauty faced them with a large smile. “I will! I hope to see you all again! Thank you!”

Everyone had crowded around the door, except Ruby. The girl had watched Doré pull Oscar aside earlier that morning and whispered something in his ear. She was already grumpy from getting three hours of sleep, but now Oscar and Doré were at it again, and despite his reassurances, she couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. From her place in the dining room, she could see Oscar hug Doré outside. And before her very eyes, Doré leaned toward to give Oscar a kiss. She didn’t know if it was meant for the lips, but Oscar sidestepped and his friend’s lips grazed his cheek. Ruby shot up in a silent fury and marched outside to witness the disaster. Shoving past Weiss and Blake, who looked surprised, she stood in front of everyone.

“I’m sorry, Doré,” Oscar was saying, one hand on his cheek. The girl looked embarrassed, her face red, as if she was expecting something different. 

“I have a girlfriend.”

“You do?” Doré asked, incredulously. 

“You do ?” Weiss, Jaune, Blake, and Yang asked, in shock.

“YOU DO ?” Nora asked, her eyes as wide as saucers. Maria seemed to agree, shouting out a gleeful “Aha!”

“You do?” Qrow and Ren asked, a hint of edge of Qrow’s voice. Ruby could feel their eyes burning holes into her and she swallowed, preparing for the reveal. 

“... Who?” Doré asked. Oscar gave a faint chuckle. 

“Ruby.”

Ruby shut her eyes, willing herself to disappear as Doré’s gaze landed on her. “Her?”

“Ruby, when were you going to tell me this?” Yang asked, coming down the steps. Her teammates crowded around her. 

“Shut up, please…”  the girl begged weakly.

“Yes, her. I really did miss you, Doré, and you’re a really cool girl, but Ruby’s already got my heart. She has for a while,” he smiled, looking into Ruby’s eyes. 

“Curse my pale cheeks,” the Huntress muttered. Everyone around her ooh -ed at her cheeks. Ruby pushed past them and made her way to Oscar. 

“She doesn’t seem like your type,” Doré argued. Ruby clenched Oscar’s hand tightly and asked, “How would you know what his type is? You haven’t seen him in like, 8 years.”

“Ruby!” Oscar gasped. 

“I’m sorry! Oh, I didn’t mean that!” Ruby panicked, stepping backward. Crescent Rose wasn’t on her… what if she decided to fight her?

No, Doré wasn’t like that. At least Ruby hoped.

“Wow, she seems really… fiery,” Doré laughed softly. Ruby could tell she was embarrassed and almost felt sorry for the girl, because it wasn’t like she did anything wrong . It didn’t sit right with her.

The Huntress stepped forward. “Hey, come visit us any time, okay? I actually enjoyed your quinoa, and I’d love to have it again.”

The girl clearly didn’t expect Ruby to be the bigger person. She looked absolutely stunned. Ruby could tell her family and friends were having an absolute field day with this spectacle. 

“Huh. Okay. Thanks.” And without another word towards Oscar, Doré took her small bag and walked down the road. 

“Finally,” Maria exclaimed. 

Oscar turned to Ruby. “I’m happy to be here with you,” he said, taking ahold of her hand. 

“And I’m even happier to be here with you as well,” Ruby answered. She didn’t think it would be easy to sweet talk and be romantic, but she found herself getting used to it. 

“So, Oscar, I don’t remember giving you permission to date my niece,” Qrow piped up. Oscar jumped. 

“I’m… I’m sorry—“

“And you didn’t get permission from me, either!” Yang huffed, crossing her arms. The rest of the household began to shout their own viewpoints at the two until Maria shouted, “STOP!”

Everyone turned to face her. 

“Quiet, all of you. You don’t seem to understand how wonderful it is for Ruby to be in love. She’s found it. And she’s glowing, if you can’t see. Not only is this an important part of her life, it’s an important part of her silver-eye abilities. She has platonic love and familial love, and even love for nature. But now she has one of the strongest of them all—

“Romantic,” Blake sighed dreamily.

“Uh, you guys don’t have to make a big deal out of it,” Ruby chuckled. We’re just gonna hold hands and read comic books. None of that mushy stuff.”

“Ruby, you’re 17. You’re not 5. Mushy stuff is what adults do—“ Nora started. 

“Shh!” Ruby hissed. “Ew, don’t start, Nora, oh my god!”

The two began to squabble, and everyone else headed into the house. 

After they had settled down, Ozpin told Oscar he was happy for him and then disappeared. They were due to leave the safe house in two days, so all the fun would end. But he knew that the special girl at his side would always be there to support him.

——————————-

The battle was over. The heroes had won; Salem was slain and her faction was sent to a maximum prison center. Many people had died for the cause, but it was one worth fighting for. They were honored and their legacies were preserved forever. Ozpin had departed from Oscar’s soul approximately 12 hours after the battle. It was a lengthy goodbye, and Qrow actually shed tears. 

It had been two weeks, and Ruby had mostly recovered, after the loss of one of her eyes. She refused to have any technology infused into her, so her socket was stitched shut. She and Oscar both took painkillers daily; Oscar for his wrist and all the scars that were scattered across his back. He liked to hide them from sight, but Ruby would always try to get him to embrace it, as a part of himself. 

Oscar wasn’t quite over Ozpin’s departure, but he was a tad bit glad he could kiss Ruby without him saying a word. Well, he and Ruby hadn’t kissed yet, even from when he asked her out three years ago. He was 18 now, and never in his lfie had he felt so worn out and heavy. 

The others were outside, enjoying the sunshine and avoiding the reporters that seemed to pop out from every corner. Yang had even smashed a camera after being asked if she “missed having an arm”. Qrow egged her on and Blake had to restrain her. 

Maria knew what fate await her, and had died briefly after the battle ended. It was as if she knew her time had come. The old woman simply said she felt tired, and later that night, died in her sleep. Ruby. grateful of her years of teaching, insisted on having a proper funeral for her. Maria had no family left, but Ruby and her friends? They were her family now. Ruby hoped the Grimm Reaper knew that and prayed that her soul be carried off into the afterlife, if such a place existed. 

In the hospital, Ruby was visiting her boyfriend in physical therapy. He could almost pick objects up again. As she walked in, she smiled at his progress and patted his shoulder.

“You’re doing amazing,” Ruby smiled. Oscar grunted in response; he was desperately trying to pick up an apple off the table in front of him. 

Ruby knew he didn’t believe her, so she went around and faced him. “I know you’re doing amazing. Look at you. You’re not the same fidgety farm boy I met those years ago. You’ve become your own person, just like you wanted, and I couldn’t be more proud of you.” Ruby placed her hand on top of his good hand. She was getting quite good at this intimacy stuff, if she did say so herself.

“Thanks, Rubes. It means a lot,” he said hoarsely. 

Ruby reached out a hand to Oscar’s locks and brushed them out of his face. Jaune said he should’ve cut it, she thought he looked just fine.

Oscar looked up. “You are so beautiful,” he breathed.

The Huntress blushed and shied away. “Even with my one eye?” she joked.

“One, two, three, a hundred, or none—you're still lovely.”

Ruby felt the butterflies consume her stomach. He was just so, so sweet. Maria’s words about relationships ran around her mind. She didn’t think she’d ever fall in love, yet here she was. She didn’t like Oscar… she loved him. Now she knew. Her partner, her friend, who fought for her in battle, who ran in front of Salem herself, willing to die for her… who left his home to save the world. Him. Her entire universe encompassed in one person. And she was beyond grateful. 

“Thank you… I mean it.”

Osar watched his girlfriend's face in utter awe. Gods… for all the years he’d known her, she had never looked more radiant than she did before. Her strength and beauty were immense. The way she grew and changed and liked him all the same. . only her.

Ruby noticed his stare and only grew shyer. “What? Is there something on my face?”

“No, no,” Oscar laughed softly. “It’s just…” He trailed off, pushing the table aside and standing up to reach her. Merely inches from her now, Oscar’s breath hitched in his throat, but he was prepared nonetheless. He smiled at Ruby and took her chin in his hand, before placing his lips on hers. Their first kiss, of many to come.

Ruby, at first, it was utter shock, but went with it. She had never kissed anyone, and she doubted that Oscar had either, but he was surprisingly, very good at this. He seemed almost greedy in the gesture, despite glances from other people. But her heart was soaring. They had made it. Together.

They separated for air, Ruby wearing a dopey smile on her face. 

“I love you,” he whispered on her lips.

“I do too. I love you, Oscar Pine.” 

Ruby parted from him, and stuck out her hand to him. He grabbed it, but with his weaker hand. And he intertwined their fingers together, before holding it high.

“I did it!” he cheered, gaining many looks from other patients.

“Yes, you did,” Ruby grinned.

He turned back to her. “I couldn’t do this without you. Life, the war, any of this. I don’t know who I’d be if I didn’t know you, Ruby Rose. Thank you.” He sneaked another kiss on her lips. “And I’m excited we can actually do this now.”

Ruby accepted the kiss before saying, “Don’t get too eager.”

Oscar rolled his eyes. “I wouldn't dream of it.”

Chapter Text

“I’m s-s-so cold,” Ruby groaned, her teeth chattering. 

Oscar watched his girlfriend in amusement. She was always cold. She hailed from a sunny island and moved to their town over a year ago, but still wasn’t used to the weather. It was autumn, a chilly season, Oscar’s favorite. Ruby’s birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, apple pie… Oscar could almost smell the pies and turkey in the room. 

Ruby shivered some more, and shut her book to warm up her hands. Oscar had warned her to wear a jacket, but the girl insisted that it was still warm. 

He pulled off his sweater, the color of a bright pumpkin, and tossed it to Ruby. The girl eagerly yanked the sweater over his head and breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Oh thank goodness. . . thanks, Oscar,” Ruby breathed, leaning over to kiss his cheek. 

“Mhm. I told you so,” he teased. The boy scooted closer and held the girl in his arms. Ruby , I love you. 

Ruby seemed to embody autumn and all that it was. Refreshing, warm, and familiar. Loud as she was, she could be quiet and serious when needed. Her passions always shone in whatever she did and Oscar? Oscar didn’t even know he landed such an amazing human being to be by his side. 

The two, curled up in their little nook, faced the library’s window and took in the leaves of gold and red, falling together to the earth below. Everywhere, the warm colors let everyone know that a new season has begun. 

“Your sweater smells like you,” Ruby giggled, pushing her nose inside the garment. 

Oscar laughed. “I’d hope so. What do I smell like?”

Ruby took another deep inhale, her face seemingly focused on her olfactory sense. 

“Like…laundry detergent.”

“What?” Oscar whispered, amused. That wasn’t the answer he was expecting at all.

“Yeah, it doesn’t smell like pine anymore! I guess you’ve gotten used to the city life, haven’t you farm boy?” Ruby asked, elbowing him.

“Ever gonna stop calling me that?”

“Only in your dreams.”

Now the library wasn’t as occupied as it was before, and the couple’s voices echoed throughout the place. It was as if it was their own secret haven. 

Oscar looked at Ruby, gazing at her lovely face. Ruby met his gaze and squirmed, seemingly uncomfortable. 

“Hm, what’s wrong, Rose?” Oscar hummed. 

“Don’t look at me like that!” she whined back, scooting away from him. 

“Like what?” A raised eyebrow, sporting a soulful look. She said she couldn’t take when people looked at her for too long, otherwise she’d get dizzy. Well, actually, Oscar’s gaze made her extremely shy, which she wasn’t usually. 

“I don’t know… you always get that look …”

Oscar leaned over, squeezing Ruby’s face. “I give you a look because you’re beautiful and I love you.”

Ruby grumbled. She was shy. After all this time, she still wasn’t sure how she ended up with a boyfriend. It just… kinda happened. 

“Are you denying my love for you?” Oscar asked, pressing kisses on her face. Her nose, her cheeks, her eyelid. 

“Oscar, omigosh, we’re in a library!” Ruby hissed, pushing him off of her. Anyone could walk into their little snuggle session any minute. 

Now it was Oscar’s turn to pout. “Fine. I guess I’ll just sit here, by myself, cold and lonely.”

Ruby stood up. “Come on. Let’s go outside.” She stuck out a hand for him to hold. The two swiftly made their way out of the library and into the windy day. She felt clammy. But it wasn’t him. She just freaked out when he kissed her . What if she was sweaty? What if her breath smelled? 

Outside, Oscar pulled Ruby back into his embrace and put his lips to hers. He tilted her chin up, deepening the kiss. 

“Oscar Pine, I swear to the gods—“ Ruby breathed when they let go. 

“Yes?” her boyfriend asked mischievously. The wind tousled his hair, making him look extra dramatic and extra cute. 

“Aren’t you cold?”

“I am.”

“Do you want your sweater back?”

“I’d never let you freeze, Rubes,” he answered. He then proceeded to pick Ruby up and twirled her around. “Oscar!” she shouted. 

He set her down, and the ground spun beneath her. 

“What is going on with you today! You’re never like this… this !” Ruby shouted at him. 

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. From now on, I’ll stay far, far away from you,” Oscar sighed, holding his palms up to her. 

“Don’t be dramatic. Come on, it’s too windy to be outside.” Ruby started to march down the sidewalk, Oscar following not too far behind.

Ruby was seriously concerned for Oscar. She figured it was only a matter of time before he started to feel comfortable and bolder in the relationship. And it’s not like she didn’t enjoy it… it just always came as a surprise to her. Like wow, he’s actually my boyfriend. And the fact that she was always anxious that he was going to see something wrong with her at a closer view. She glanced back at him, to see his eyes glued to the ground. She hoped she really didn’t hurt his feelings. 

Ruby stopped in front of a café, one they frequented. 

“Let’s get something warm to drink,” she smiled at him. Oscar didn’t reply, only followed her inside the heated building.

The café was quite crowded from people wishing to protect themselves from the blustering weather. The line was short, however, and Ruby got into it. 

“Next,” the cashier yelled. 

“Hello. Um, could I get a mocha and a vanilla latte please? Extra hot for both.”

“Alright, a mocha and a vanilla latte?” The cashier grinned. “You’re the first person today to order a mocha. Everyone’s been obsessed with caramel and vanilla drinks these days.”

Ruby was surprised too, usually people adored mocha drinks. It was Oscar’s favorite, too.

“Yeah, my boyfriend loves mocha,” Ruby laugher, jabbing a thumb behind her. The cashier followed the line her thumb pointed in and raised her eyebrows in confusion.

“ He’s your boyfriend?” she asked, incredulously. Ruby wondered why she was confused, but turned around to see an elderly man, who wrote a face of bewilderment. 

“No, no, oh… he’s somewhere there. Sorry!” 

The cashier only laughed in return. “Alright, that’ll be 7.65. And your name?”

Ruby hurriedly searched for the money needed so she could spare herself the embarrassment any further. 

“Ruby.” 

“Alright Ruby, I’ll have your drinks ready in a bit.”

“Thank you!”

The girl hurried to the tables, where she spotted Oscar sitting at a table alone. 

“Hey,” she murmured, slipping into the seat across from him. 

“Hi,” he muttered. Oh. He was upset. 

“I got… I got you a mocha,” she offered. 

Her boyfriend shrugged and muttered a thanks. 

“Okay… hey do you want your sweater back? It seems you’re still shivering.”

“I’m fine,” he said. 

Ruby felt sorry. She was icing Oscar out without explaining why she was. He must’ve felt like she didn’t like being around him, but she did . 

“Vanilla latte and mochas for Ruby!” the barista called. 

“I’ll get it,” Oscar sighed, standing up. Ruby watched quietly as he went to the counter and grabbed their order. 

Ruby stood up when he came back. 

“Could we go outside, please?” he asked as a burly man pushed past him. “It’s too crowded in here.”

Ruby nodded and followed him outside. He silently handed her the latte and started to stroll into the windy day. 

“Oscar…” she murmured. “Are you okay?”

He took a hesitant sip of his drink before whirling on her. “No. Ruby, I’m sorry if you aren’t comfortable with PDA or whatever, and that’s fine by me. But I don’t like when you don’t tell me what’s wrong. I don’t like to assume but it makes me feel like you don’t trust me. Or you don’t like me.”

Ruby’s heart stopped momentarily. When she met her boyfriend’s gaze, his eyes held a twinge of sadness. He was trying to keep himself together. 

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t just like you, Oscar, I love you. And I don’t mind the kisses and hugs. I just felt… you've never been this intense before. And you’re my first boyfriend… it’s just all very overwhelming. I just get nervous around you sometimes.”

“Around me?” he laughed “How come?”

Ruby sighed. “I dunno. I feel… like if you kiss me, you’ll see that there’s something wrong with me, or realize I’m not the right person for you.”

It was autumn, and it was usually warm. But today, two lovers were wrapped in a cocoon of wintery chill. 

Oscar faltered. “Ruby… I… didn’t know. I thought you wanted me to be more affectionate. I didn’t think that you’d be taken aback by any of this. And you are perfect in all ways. I’d never change my mind on that. You’re beautiful and I’ve kissed you many times to know that there’s nothing wrong with you. If there was, I’d still love you. I’m sorry.” He reached for her face with one hand. “I love you. And I’m willing to match your pace.”

Ruby felt bad. He was always so kind and forgiving. What was she doing?

“I don’t mind kissing you in public at all,” she said shyly, standing on her tip-toes. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. 

“Just… sometimes, okay?” she said, after letting go. Oscar, dazed, just nodded.

Ruby took his free hand and took a long sip of her latte to avoid conversation. They were acting like teenagers who’d never been in a relationship before. Some would say this was quite embarrassing.

Ruby thought Oscar embodied fall. All that he was, comfortable, patient, serene, loving . He was always there for her, and never, not once, tried to make her feel less than. And Ruby? She couldn't even begin to grasp how she got to fall in love with such a wonderful person.

Chapter Text

They were just a few inches apart— just enough for them to walk without brushing against each other’s arms.

Oscar kept glancing down at Ruby’s free hand, wishing he had the guts to take it. But he wouldn’t dare. 

He swore he could feel her body heat just in that small distance. It wasn’t that warm, was it? The sun was out but it wasn’t particularly hot. 

The two walked side by side down the little pond near Oscar’s farmhouse. The day was quiet and peaceful. The ducks waddled down the road in front of them, and the dogs were chasing each other in the fields. 

She’s your girlfriend, Oscar. It’s okay. 

Oscar remembered when he first brought Ruby home. His aunt went wild. 

“Is that a girl? You leave for years and now you’re getting married?”

“Actually, no one’s getting married, Aunt Mae,” he laughed nervously. Ruby blushed, clearly feeling out of place. But after lots of scolding, hugs, tears, and kisses, Oscar was in the clear and Ruby was enjoying her stay. 

“Your aunt is so sweet,” Ruby had whispered to him, stuffing another lemon loaf into her mouth. “And her cooking is so good!”

Oscar chuckled. “Better than mine?”

Ruby pinched his arm, teasingly. “Of course not, silly. But she’s close. Real close.” 

Ruby seemed to be comfortable with PDA, but she had never once reached for his hand. Nor had he. They had kissed, once, and Ruby was the one to do it. He was red, in shock, and stammering for the rest of the evening. 

“You know, if I lived out here, I’d have a pet duck,” Ruby said suddenly. 

Oscar looked back at her, his fingers curling into a fist. “A duck?” he asked incredulously. 

“Yes, a duck.” She looked at the fluffy ducklings far ahead of her. “They’re so cute. And I like the quacking noise they make.” She stopped and faced him. Her arms were now angled at her sides and her eyes were crossed. “Quack, quack,” she blurted. 

Oscar giggled, then broke into laughter. His girlfriend looked absolutely ridiculous, her movements wide and un-duck-like.

“You, look more like a chicken,” he gasped in between breath. Ruby pouted and crossed her arms. “Well I’m glad I could make you laugh.”

“Ru, you know I didn’t mean that, right?” he asked her, as she plunked herself in the grass near the pond. The sunlight hit it perfectly, the lily pads and reeds taking on a golden hue.

“Whatever,” she muttered. Oscar thought she looked like a child, with her overalls and red plaid shirt. It was her way of “adapting to the farm life”. He had never seen Ruby in anything but a skirt, but this was a nice change. 

Oscar sat next to her, his legs crossed, overlooking the pond, the fence, and the lands beyond it. 

“How could you leave such a beautiful place?” Ruby asked in awe. Her eyes held wonder, and it held beauty. 

Oscar raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t have much of a choice.”

“Right. It’s… it’s just that, this place is like a haven. It’s so beautiful… so peaceful.”

Oscar understood it was one of these times that Ruby cherished. Being on the road constantly took a toll on a person. But here, it was almost like home. 

“Oscar…” she whispered. She scooted closer. 

“Uh… yes?”

Oscar could sense that Ruby was waiting for something, but he had no idea what. Was he supposed to kiss her now? Compliment her? Flirt? 

Her hand was placed in between them, in the small space between them. 

She didn’t answer his question. 

Oscar took a deep breath and decided that he was going to take a chance. They were dating after all. Wouldn’t… wouldn’t it make sense for them to hold hands? 

Tentatively, he placed his hand on hers. He felt her tense up, slightly, then calm down again. 

“Is this okay?” he whispered.

She turned to look at him. “More than okay.”

“Cool.”

She’s still looking at you. 

These were his thoughts, he had to remember. Though he was gone, he himself was still hyper-aware of things around him (usually), as if he had a second set of eyes.

Without delay, Oscar turned his head back towards the girl, leaned down and crushed his lips to hers.

Oh wait, is this too much? Do I seem forceful? Desperate? 

It didn’t matter now. It didn’t matter, because she was responding to him. Clenching his shirt, she switched angles, and Oscar followed. What did he expect? Cherry-flavored gloss? Vanilla? Ruby didn’t wear lipstick, so it wasn’t like he was expecting his mouth to be a smear of red. But there was… a hint of strawberry chapstick. Just enough so her lips weren’t chapped.

Moments later, they were apart, and staring at one another. His chest was heaving, hers was as well. 

Oscar opened his mouth to speak, but Ruby stopped him.

“Don’t apologize”, she said sternly. “I’ve kinda been waiting for you to do that since we’ve gotten here.”

His eyebrows flew up in confusion. 

“What? Are you serious?”

Ruby laughed shyly. “Yep… ever since I kissed you, we haven’t … you know… and it felt kind of nice the first time, but it felt like I was forcing you to kiss me back. So I’m glad you kissed me first this time.”

Oscar was in disbelief. Ruby was waiting for him? She wanted to kiss him, she wanted to be with him. 

With no doubt in his heart, he grasped her face again and kissed her. Hard. All of his feelings and all his love. 

The sun hung low in the sky, and the crickets chirping was the only constant sound… well, except for their heartbeats. They moved as if they were in sync, their hearts as one. 

“Wow… this is something I need to get used to,” she murmured softly, after moving away from him. 

“Yeah…”

“Oscar! Ruby! Supper!”

“Oh, Aunt Mae!” Oscar whispered, as if she was in earshot.

“Don’t worry, let’s just head back. I’m excited to see what she made tonight!” Ruby murmured excitedly. She stood up, dusted off her overalls, and stuck a hand out to Oscar. 

“Come on.”

He took it, and unsurprisingly, she pulled him up with ease. 

“Come on lovebirds! It’s getting late, come eat!”

Oh Aunt Mae. 

Hand in hand, Oscar and Ruby turned around and made their way up the path they came from, back to the little farmhouse that had become their haven, just for a while. 

Chapter Text

“Well, the General said I had to pick a suitable person, and my Father said I should follow my heart. And my heart is telling me Ruby Rose is a suitable person.”

Ruby smiled warmly. She was accompanying Penny to Coco Adel’s debutante ball. Penny was asked by her boss to pick someone who was “high-class” to represent the Polendinas and Atlas Academy with her. Well, here she was. 

“Ruby, you look splendid!” Penny squealed, clapping her hands. 

Ruby stared down at her suit. She was dressed in a black tux, which was much nicer than any dress with heels. But she kinda wished she was wearing a skirt. With some boots. Yang told her that a dress was essentially a skirt, but Ruby knew that a dress was conditional. If she wore a dress, people would make her wear heels with it. And that was an absolute no. She didn’t know if she looked pretty or handsome, but all that matters was that Penny’s night went swimmingly. 

Ruby muttered a thanks and sat on the seat, swinging her feet. “Hey, Penny. I think your people wanted you to pick someone you liked for this ball.”

Penny cocked her head, staring questioningly at her friend. “But… I do like you, Ruby!”

Ruby laughed nervously. “Heh… thanks… but I mean like… in a romantic way.”

Penny faltered. “Oh. I didn’t realize. I haven’t seen you in a while, so it hasn’t been enough time for me to see you in that way… but I really have no one else.”

“No one?” Ruby asked. 

Penny shook her head. “No. I’m not like you and Oscar. Or Yang and Blake, or Nora and Ren. I guess you could say I’m like Weiss, or Jaune!”

Ruby stopped. “Me and Oscar? Penny, what gave you that idea?”

Penny twiddled her fingers. “Well… I’m no expert on romance, but I’m sure he is fond of you. And you are fond of him, am I right?” she asked. 

She sure was bright, this one. 

“Uh... Penny. I don’t like Oscar in that way.”

“I’m sorry I took you away from him,” she said, her head falling.

Ruby stood up and reached for her friend. “No, no! Penny, you didn’t take me away from him! Oscar said he’d be fine tagging along with Jaune and Weiss! They seem to be getting along well,” she added, hoping her voice sounded normal. “Penny… I want to spend tonight with you. Promise.”

“Oh… okay. If you’re sure.”

Ruby nodded. “Positive. Now go change into your dress! You’re going to look stunning!”

Penny gave her a wide grin and disappeared into her closet. 

Ruby breathed a sigh of relief and fell onto the bed. That was close, too close. 

If Penny had pressed her any longer, she might’ve discovered that she really did like Oscar.

When did she first find out? When they had talked about telling Ironwood the truth. It was at that moment, that she felt nervous and fluttery around him. It went on like this for a while, awkward glances and shy “hellos” until she realized that she… had feelings for him. 

The Atlas Academy dorm room was chilly, and Ruby was feeling a tad bit itchy in her suit. The sun was setting, and it was almost time for them to head to the ball. 

Penny stepped out of the closet, wearing a light green dress that reached her knees. It kind of reminded Ruby of green grapes, if they were sparkly. But they went well with her eyes and her skin. 

“You look… amazing,” Ruby breathed, a smile growing onto her face. She stood up and embraced her friend. “Like a princess.”

“Oh, Ruby, that is the kindest thing a friend has ever said to me,” Penny beamed, squeezing her hard. 

Ruby stopped back from her and held out her arm. “Shall we, my lady?” 

Penny giggled. “We shall.” 

On the car ride to Coco’s home, Ruby felt uneasy. It was just her and Penny in the vehicle, as Penny’s appearance was to be announced when they arrived. Ruby had no idea Penny was this elite. It must come with the responsibility of being Mantle’s protector. 

“Ruby? Are you alright?” Penny asked. 

“Oh! Me? I’m great! Good! Wonderful!” Ruby cheered. 

She was not good. She was nervous, fidgety…

She hoped Oscar decided to sit this one out. She doubted it, though, as the farm boy had never been to a ball before. Well, neither had she. It would be both their firsts. 

They had entered into a gated community, with houses bigger than Ruby had ever seen before. Coco’s house was one at the end of the community, with a whole roundabout to itself. Cars were parked here and there and the flashing lights of paparazzi were everywhere. A red carpet adorned the stairs that led to the entrance of the house, where people clad in all sorts of colors milled in. 

“I can’t believe we even went to the same school,” Ruby said in awe. 

“The Adels are a very famous family. They could rival the Schnees!” Penny noted. 

“Weiss would not like to hear that one,” Ruby snorted as the car halted to a stop. 

“Miss Polendina, we’ve arrived,” the chauffeur announced from the front. 

Ruby’s stomach was in knots again. She smoothed out her pants and took a deep breath. No biggie. Just ignore the flashing lights and ignore that your crush could be here tonight. You're here for Penny. 

“Aren’t there supposed to be other rich girls debuting tonight?” Ruby asked nervously. 

“Yes, but Coco’s family requested that she have one of her own. To not ‘thrust her out of the limelight’, I’ve heard,” Penny answered. 

The chauffeur made his way to their side of the car and opened it swiftly. 

“Thank you,” Penny said kindly. Ruby did the same, and followed Penny out of the car. 

She held out her arm and Penny took it. As soon as they linked up, cameras appeared in their faces. 

“Mantle’s Protector! Miss Polendina, do you have any words for us tonight?”

“Who is this young lady beside you?”

“Smile for us, please!”

Penny ignored the questions, but threw dazzling smiles at the crowd. They were cameras on Ruby’s side as well, but she was doing her best to keep her sight forward. 

“Ma’am—who are you?”

“Can we get a name?”

“And who might this lady be?”

“Uh, hello,” Ruby said timidly. She gave a weak smile as Penny dragged her along up the stairs. Seeing Penny’s heels, Ruby was very glad that she wasn’t wearing those. Even if she wanted to be tall. 

As they got past the paparazzi and were ushered in by servants alike, Ruby tried to focus less on her nausea and more on Penny. 

“Are you ready?” Penny whispered to her as they stepped through the door. 

“I guess,” Ruby whispered back. 

“Announcing Mantle’s Protector, Penny Polendina and guest Ruby Rose!”

Light claps followed their entrance into the ball. The ballroom was golden, spectacular. There was a grand staircase in the far middle, and she supposed that’s where Coco would come down. 

As they moved forward and the next group of people were called, Ruby scanned the crowd. So far, so good. 

“Ruby, would you like to dance with me?” Penny asked, holding out a hand. 

“Uh… sure!” 

Penny took her hand and pulled her into the crowd. Live classical music was playing, and couples were slowly shuffling left to right.

“Penny, how do we even dance to this?” Ruby asked, muttering “excuse-mes” as she was passing through. 

“I don’t know, and frankly, I’m not interested in knowing. I just would like to dance.” Penny started to sway left and right, ignoring the stares of the posh people. 

Ruby supposed that Penny desired to be around people, in her still desperate attempt to show how human she was. Ruby hoped she knew that she was real, and she was human. 

Just then, the music changed. It was more upbeat and jovial. 

“Oh, Ruby, we’ll be switching partners for this song,” Penny squealed, taking Ruby’s hand. 

“How do you even know this?” she hissed back at her. 

“Practice!” So much for not knowing.

Penny’s hand mirrored hers, as they held their arms back and walked around each other. Ruby furtively glanced at other couples to make sure she was getting the swing of things. When someone dipped their partner, Ruby did too. 

“That dip was great!” Penny cheered her on. “But now we have to switch."

“Penny, wait!” Ruby had no time to hesitate as her friend was swept away, and some man took her place. He seemed nice, but kind of snobbish. 

“Uh, hello,” she muttered. 

“Yes, hello. I see that you’re not a fan of dresses?”

Ruby shook her head, embarrassed. She was now in the woman’s role, and let the man lead her, as she had no clue what she was supposed to be doing. She accidentally squished his toes, earning her a nasty stare before they switched again. 

“Nice to see you again,” a chirpy, accented voice exclaimed. 

“Velvet? Is that you?” Ruby gasped, staring at her former upperclassmen. 

Velvet blushed. “Heh, yeah. Wouldn’t miss Coco’s big day for the world.” 

The girl’s hair was curled and put up in a bun, a small diadem within her hair. Her outfit was a beautiful gold pantsuit with a lace train attached to it. 

Ruby was in awe. 

“I know, I know, it’s not much of my style, but,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck, “Yatsu and Fox said she’d like it.”

By “she” Ruby knew she’d meant Coco. She was back to the man’s position, and chatted lightly with Velvet as she dipped her low. She was getting better at this. Only stepped on her door once. The knots in her stomach began to untwist a little.

“Aren’t these balls meant for Coco to find some guy?” Ruby asked over the echoing harp and violin. 

“Well, yes. That’s an old tradition that only a few families keep up with. Coco struggled to get her parents to deal with it, but I’m sure there are still plenty of suitors around,” Velvet yelled back, eyeing the man who was Ruby’s partner. So he was one of them. 

“They’re in for a surprise, then,” Ruby winked. 

“I guess so.” 

The music slowed to a stop, and then immediately returned to its regular pace. Ruby assumed that the partner-switching dance was over. 

“Well, I’ll see you later, Ruby! Nice seeing you again,” Velvet exclaimed, already halfway across the floor. 

“You… too,” Ruby sighed. Now she was all alone, she had no idea where Penny was, or any of her other friends for that matter. 

She spotted the refreshments table and zipped straight to it. She found what she believed to be non-alcoholic punch and poured herself a cup. She was not a big partier.

Ruby moved out of the way so others could get to the drinks, and leaned against the wall. She watched people chat, brush kisses against each other’s cheeks and shake hands. People swayed, tapped their feet and some even swung their hips to the music. 

As she took a sip of the tangy drink, she spotted a green jacket out of the corner of her eye. 

Was that? No… it couldn’t be.

She shifted to the right, as the couple in front of her moved as well. There. A tall blonde man in a white suit, a girl in a lovely blue dress, and a boy in a green jacket. That… that had to be him, right? 

Oh, there went her heart. Her suspicions were confirmed when the boy turned slightly so he could see her face. Oscar! It was him, alongside Weiss and Jaune. Weiss seemed to be shooing away multiple advances from men, and Jaune stood protectively next to her. It was nice to see how far they had come, from Jaune’s unrequited love, to very close friends. Jaune was tall compared to Weiss, so it was so funny to see Weiss pushing brash guys away from Jaune. 

She kept staring, unintentionally, wanting to go say hello. But she needed to find Penny. She promised to be with her. 

For a second, Oscar looked left and locked eyes with her. She ducked her head and turned away, almost bumping into someone. 

“Oh! Penny! There you are!” Ruby exclaimed. 

“Ruby, oh I thought I lost you! How was the dance?” Penny asked, seemingly cheerful. 

“Oh? That was great!”

“Wonderful. I see you are now refreshed, and I have completed my to-do list which consisted of: Chatting to the Adels and getting their vote for Ironwood, talking to important council members and embassy members, and… making a friend.”

“You made a friend!” Ruby cheered. She was sure Penny’s dad was the one who added the “friend” task to the list.

“Yes! He’s an odd fellow with odd fashion, but he has good advice! He tells me to call him Cricket. Isn’t that an odd nickname?” Penny asked. 

Ruby was glad to see her friend was happy. Even if Cricket sounded like a strange name. 

“I’m glad you found Cricket.” Her eyes shifted back to the spot where Oscar was, and found that he was gone. 

“Everything alright?” Penny asked. 

“Uh, yes. Let’s go dance.”

This time Ruby pulled Penny along, just as a singer started vocalizing to the jazz melody that the instrumentalists began to play. 

Penny shuffled her feet, swinging Ruby left and right, a bit wilder than others around her. As they spun in dizzying circles, Ruby swore she saw his green jacket again. 

“You seem awfully distracted. Are you sure you’re alright?” Penny asked, peering into her eyes. 

“Yeah, yeah! No worries! I’m… here for you Penny.”

Ruby felt guilt eating at her. What kind of friend was she? From now on, there would be no more distracting thoughts. Just her and Penny. 

Penny stared her friend down. It was pretty evident what was going on.

“You know, Ruby. If you wanted to spend time with Oscar, you could’ve just told me.”

Her friend froze. “Penny—“

“Please. Don’t try to deny it. I understand, you have other friends here too. And that’s alright. Go see him.”

“Penny…”

Penny clasped Ruby’s hands and gave her a small smile. “I’m not sad. I have Cricket, too. Maybe Weiss will want to chat for a bit. It’s alright. I promise.”

Ruby’s heart beat with the word promise. 

“No. I promised you, it would be me and you all night. I’m sorry I got distracted.”

Penny’s expression turned dark. She deftly spun Ruby around and pushed her away. “I’m sorry, friend. You’re not breaking your promise. You’re just taking a small break. I’ll talk to you in a while. Now go.”

Ruby clutched her chest and murmured another apology to Penny before rushing in the direction she was pushed. 

She wished her uncle Qrow was here to give her love advice. Not that it would be useful. Since when had she been so love struck that she couldn’t even spend time with a friend?

Ruby had decided. After tonight, it was strictly business. She wouldn’t keep this game up with Oscar. They’d remain friends and all would be well. 

At least that’s what she was trying to tell herself. 

Pushing her way past people, her eyes landed on Oscar’s figure. He was vividly talking to Weiss, her sister, and Blake. She hadn’t seen Ren or Nora all night. She texted Nora to make sure they had gotten here safely. 

She didn’t know why she was so nervous to talk to her own friends. As if they were strangers.

She made her way to them, hoping she didn’t look too weird. Her sister was in a dazzling yellow gown, while Blake’s was shimmery with shades of black and purple. Their arms were linked, and they looked so well together. 

“Uh.. hi,” she coughed, tapping Weiss’ shoulder. 

“Ruby! Well, finally! 

“Oh, hey, sis. It’s about time you got here.”

“I heard your name, and Penny’s, but we didn’t get to see you.”

Oscar smiled warmly. “It’s nice to see you Ruby. You look really pretty.”

Ruby was surprised at the amount of boldness Oscar had gained. 

“I look pretty? Even in this suit?”

“Hell yeah!” Yang chimed in. Weiss gave a nod of approval and Blake laughed along. 

“Yeah, you do,” Oscar said. 

“Uh, thanks guys.”

“Hey, Blake, Yang, let's go check out the chocolate fountain. Nora says it’s good.”

Yang raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say chocolate makes you—“

“Hush, Yang,” Blake mused. “Let’s go. See you two later.”

Ruby’s teammates rushed off, and Ruby had never been more embarrassed. 

“You look good too, by the way,” she murmured. 

“Oh? I do… thanks. Ren helped me pick this one out.”

Ruby nodded. “Coooool. So. Your first ball. How was it?”

“It’s nice. A bit stuffy. How’s things with Penny?”

Ruby looked down. “Uh… I kind of left her. I feel really bad, but she insisted I come talk to you.” She let out a laugh. “Crazy.”

“Oh. She did?”

Ruby held her hands behind her back. “Yep.”

The song shifted again, into waltzing music. 

Oscar looked unsure, he seems to be having a deep conversation in his head. He suddenly looked up. 

“Would you… like to dance with me?” he asked, holding out a hand. 

“Yes! Yeah, sure.”

Ruby perked up and took Oscar’s hand. They were both terrible dancers, so this was alright with them. They were having fun nonetheless. 

“I’m having more fun than I was before,” Oscar said, breathless. 

“Really? I’m having a lot of fun, too.” 

Oscar beamed and leaned up to Ruby a bit, brushing the faintest of kisses on her cheek. Ruby stopped moving and staggered back a bit. 

“Oh! I’m sorry! Was… I didn’t mean to… I took it too far,” Oscar apologized, his face ridden with guilt.

“No! No… I was just shocked. That’s all.” It was actually quite comforting. 

“It was nice.” 

Oscar neared her, carefully. “You mean that?”

Ruby grabbed his hand. “I do.”

“So… you feel the same?”

Ruby hoped this was what he meant. “I do.”

“Cool.”

“Cool.”

They intertwined their fingers, just as the music got quieter. The loud gossip and laughter quotes down to hushed whispers. 

Oscar and Ruby directed their attention towards their stairs, where Coco Adel stood. 

Her brown hair was out of its bun, and she wasn’t wearing her signature sunglasses or her beret. Well, of course she wouldn’t. 

“Presenting, Miss Coco Adel!” 

Cameras flashed, people whistled and cheered and clapped as Coco, in a white dress, made her way down the steps. Her teeth seemed brighter in the smile she had and she waved to the sea of adoring people.

She reached towards the bottom of the stairs where she was still visible to many people, where guards were pushing the partygoers back. 

She had a microphone attached to her clothing, and she cleared her throat before she began her speech. The lights turned dim and a spotlight directed itself on her.

“Hello all. Thank you for joining me and the Adel family on my journey through womanhood,” Coco said lightly. Ruby swore the girl was about to break into laughter. 

A bald man and a curly-haired woman, both elegantly dressed, joined Coco at the side. 

“I am joined here by my mother and father.”

The audience took that as permission to cheer. 

“They made me wear this dress, though I wanted to wear a suit. Dresses are nice, I’m not going to lie, but I prefer suits. As someone who was born into fashion, my tastes have developed over the years,” Coco laughed. 

The audience was quiet for a moment. Coco’s mother placed her face in her hands and someone in the audience tittered, starting the rest of the crowd off. 

“Yes. So I had to wear this dress and in return, my parents promised they wouldn’t marry me off to some guy.”

Sighs of disappointment swept through the crowd. 

“Yes, sorry to disappoint, but like I said, my tastes have developed over the years. I don’t need any man… because I have my lady. Velvet, come up here!”

The crowd broke into murmurs, and Ruby almost punched a man who made a snide remark.

Ruby focused her attention back on Coco, who held the blushing Velvet’s hand. 

“Yes. I am holding a woman’s hand. Yes, I know I happen to be someone very important in this society. So please deal with it. Anyone who has something to say about us, can leave my house. My family and I will not tolerate your bullshit.”

More gasps, more grumbles. Ruby swore she could head Yang snickering in the back. 

“Thanks for coming again, and enjoy the night!”

The more pleasant side of the audience cheered as the lights turned on, and the band began playing something more … youthful. 

Ruby was proud of Velvet and Coco. They had finally admitted their feelings for one another, and even shared it to the whole world. And now she and Oscar had, too.

“This was a pretty good night, if I do say so myself,” Ruby grinned, swinging Oscar’s hands.

“How come?”

“Duh. I got to spend it dancing with my best friends, and you.”

Oscar’s face flushed. “I don’t think I can get used to your flirting.”

That was flirting? She was just saying what was on her mind. 

Now it was her turn to turn red. 

“Ah… look! Penny! Let’s go say hi. I think that her new friend, Cricket.”

“... Cricket?”

Ruby grabbed Oscar’s hand. “Long story. Well… not really. But let’s go anyway.” She pulled him along, rushing through the throng of people. Oscar beamed at the hand that held his. Ruby, in front, could hardly believe she was holding his hand. 

She didn’t even mind when Yang and Nora took pictures. Or when Blake was clearly whispering to Coco and Velvet on the matter. She didn't even mind when Weiss kept pushing her closer to him during the slow dance, and Jaune pushing Oscar. She didn’t even reply to the buzzing of her pocket, from Ren of all people, sending her messages of cheesy pickup lines to use. She briefly wondered if he had used them on Nora. That would be a sight to see. 

So they continued on into the night, Ruby smiling at Penny and her new friend, and secretly locking hands with the boy she not-so-secretly liked.

Chapter Text

At night, Oscar would recall a specific detail of his young adult life. Not the moment she left him, but the time where his world split in two—when he was left to his own devices, slowly losing his mind in an effort to convince his loved ones that he wasn’t crazy. 

He would wake up in a sweat, his breaths coming out uneven, his chest heaving. He’d be clutching the sweat-soaked sheets, and know no one was there to comfort him. 

He remembered, desperately chasing Jaune, asking him to believe him. Glancing to Weiss, Blake, Yang, who had all turned away from him. Jaune told him that he had taken it too far. Nora and Ren had called him up and told them not to scare Yang like that. He wasn’t allowed to see Taiyang or Qrow anymore. 

No one believed him. No one wanted to believe him. He was so, so alone. 

That night, the pale moon shone through the window of his apartment, and Oscar sighed. He had lost all of his friends in that moment, and he finally decided it was best to shut himself in forever. He was afraid of being called insane, or being sent away. His aunt would send worried calls to him, wondering if she could “help him”. They all thought he was some battered, heartbroken child who couldn’t cope with his grief. What was it Qrow had said?

Right. “You’re delusional.”

Delusional. The old bird was right, he was. 

But part of him kept telling him he wasn’t. Because on that night, his body warmed again, and he was covered by an orange glow. 

She’s here. 

His head whipped to the window, and sure enough, the apparition that lingered outside the home was there once again. She was a beautiful spirit, and her smiles were always radiant, but they also held a lingering sadness. The ghost was all too familiar; it was a shame that he couldn’t hold her anymore. 

Ruby Rose. His first and last love. After she died, he promised himself he would never love again. Now he was left with no friends, no family, nothing. Just her. 

“Hey,” she murmured to him, floating above his bed. Oscar pushed himself back, pressing his head into the pillow, staring at the floating being above him. She looked so faint… she was all silver-colored, like her eyes. 

He reached his fingers up to her, grazing her waist. If only he could touch her again…

Ruby watched sadly as he tried to touch something that wasn’t there. His eyes were dark, his cheerful demeanor was no longer there.

“Ruby,” he murmured faintly. He smiled briefly, blowing air out of his nose. Ruby saw how a single tear fell down his face. She frowned. 

“Did you have that dream again?”

Oscar nodded, kicking his feet up in the air. Ruby twisted herself around and floated near him, squeezing his cheeks. Well, if she could squeeze his cheeks, she would. 

“I miss the feeling of you,” Ruby smiled. Oscar missed her too. He missed tickling her, hugging her, kissing her—

He missed it all. Gods, how did he get to this point? Ruby was supposed to be invincible! She was supposed to be there for all of them! For him. 

But he couldn’t blame her. She didn’t ask to die. She didn’t ask to be murdered in cold blood on the one night Oscar wasn’t home—

He should’ve been there for her. He should’ve been there for her. Her life was cut short, and though he knew fully well that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, she was asleep.

No matter how many times she begged for him to not beat herself over it, he couldn’t help but feel guilty. 

While lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice that Ruby had joined him in the king-sized bed. Right in the spot she used to lay. He had gotten new sheets, but the bloodstains on the mattress still remained, no matter how much he scrubbed and cleaned. They lay there, as a reminder of the crime that was committed. Oscar had considered getting a full bed for months, but couldn’t bear to get rid of the bed he had. Besides… it was nice when Ruby pretended she could still sleep in it. 

Despite him feeling a bit worried about talking to a ghost that wasn’t there, he opened his mouth, then shut it again. 

Ruby rumbled. She stared straight at him, and his heart fluttered. Nothing had changed, he still loved her. Oscar reached over and caressed her face. His hand went through her face. She laughed. 

“Oscar Pine, I wish we could do this again.”

“Me too. I wish you’d come back. You would’ve kept everyone together,” he said, looking down. 

“My beautiful other half, I wish the same. I wish… things were different. You don’t deserve to be so alone when you did nothing to earn this. I miss you, I miss Yang and Dad… everyone. If only they could see me like you do.”

My beautiful other half. When did she become so eloquent? Ruby’s mannerisms usually consisted of “dude” and “that’s so awesome!” 

It seems they have come a long way since they met. Ages 14 and 16. 7 years later and everything had fallen apart. He didn’t even get to propose to her. The ring was hidden underneath her pillow, but Ruby had no reason to look there. She'd never find it. It put him at ease somehow.

“If only they could. I know you must feel lonely too… only having me to talk to.”

Ruby pffted. “Nah, you’re like, the best conversation… holder ever. For someone who's alive.”

Now that’s the Ruby he loved and adored. 

“If you could wish for one thing, what would it be?” Ruby asked, her voice suddenly getting serious. Oscar looked into her eyes. 

“You already know what I’d wish for.”

A half-smile formed on her lips. They were silent for a moment, and gods, he wished he could hold her again. He couldn’t sleep like this. He hadn’t slept in weeks. 

“I’d wish for you to be happy.”

Oscar raises an eyebrow, seemingly in disbelief. “Me?”

“Yes.”

“I’d only be happy if that tragedy never happened. If you were still alive.”

Ruby let out a sigh of worry. She never wanted to tell Oscar to forget about her… but the way things were looking, it seemed that he was never going to be happy again. 

“I know, love. It’s really late though, and you have to work tomorrow. Close your eyes and I’ll sing you to sleep.”

Oscar snorted before moving close to the ghost of his beloved. Two lovers intertwined, hands around each other, neither feeling the other. “You, sing? Please.”

“Shut up. Go to sleep.”

Oscar let out an exasperated grunt. “How can I? I’ll just… just dream of everyone leaving again.”

Ruby stared at him and suddenly, pressed her faint lips to his forehead. And for a moment, Oscar felt soft skin touch his forehead. Maybe he was tired. He didn’t comment on it. 

“I’ll be right here until morning. I want you to dream of something you’d do if I was right here, with you.”

Oscar thought. “Technically you are here with me, I think.”

“Like I said, shut up and go to sleep.”

He didn’t end up going to sleep right away, but Ruby did talk to him a lot, about the things she saw. The ghost dogs she talked to. Visiting her mother’s grave. Oscar wondered why he could see her but no other ghosts. He still hadn’t asked her if she could talk to her mother’s ghost. He didn’t know much about the afterlife. He wasn’t quite sure he was ready to know. 

The apartment got chillier and Ruby pretended she could raise the heat up. Oscar was sure his neighbors would be concerned with the “weirdo with a dead lover” upstairs who was talking to himself, but he didn’t care too much. 

Even if he was crazy, the place felt a little less lonely. 

And he was okay with that. 

Chapter Text

“Ooh, this is gonna be great!” Ruby exclaimed, twirling around in her dress. The Huntress could hardly believe she was excited to be wearing heels . Yang almost shed a tear when Ruby eagerly snatched the glossy black pumps from her earlier that morning.

Weiss rolled her eyes, before inspecting her friend in the mirror. “Don’t get so excited. You’re acting like this is the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

Ruby spun around, her eyes lighting up. “This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me! I’m meeting a weapons specialist!”

“Who’s also a smuggler,” Blake reminded her, from her spot on Ruby’s bed.

Yang approached Ruby, before placing her hands on her sister’s shoulders. The familiar scent of lilac hit Ruby’s nostrils.

“You’ll be fine, Ruby. Try not to go all gaga over the weapons and focus on… well, him. He’s a bad guy, and we’re only doing this to get some intel. Try to charm him a bit, but remember this is a mission.”

Ruby barely heard a word her sister said. She was so thrilled at the possibility of seeing high-caliber firearms that everything Yang was telling her was going in one ear and through the other. 

“Okay, come on Rubes. Let’s go show everyone else.”

Yang marched Ruby out the door, Weiss and Blake on their heels. 

Downstairs, Jaune, Maria, Nora and Ren were baking cookies in the oven, and Oscar and Qrow were doing their own things on the couch. 

Qrow immediately stood up when Ruby came downstairs. 

“Isn’t this a bit too flashy for a date? Do you gotta impress this guy that much?” Qrow wondered, his voice a bit too serious. 

Oscar prickled at the word date but no one noticed. 

“Qrow, aren’t you a world class flirt?” Yang snorted. “Ruby’s just trying to be like you.”

Qrow shook his head. Nevertheless, he resigned himself to the recliner, and went back to scrolling on the web. 

“Uh… so what do you think, Oscar?” Ruby asked hopefully, turning to the farmhand. 

Oscar looked up listlessly from his spot on the couch. He tried to appear indifferent, but he couldn’t help staring at her. She did look beautiful. 

“Hey, Oscar, gonna answer any time soon?” Yang chuckled. 

“Uh, yeah, sorry!” he exclaimed, his face turning a shade of pink. “You… you look stunning. Have fun on your… um… date.”

“Thanks!” Ruby brightened. “I’m so excited to meet him! I’ve read about his empire in Ammunition Weekly, but to meet him? And guess what, he’s only 18, so we’re kind of the same age! You think he’ll be impressed by my scythe? Obviously, I’m not bringing Crescent Rose, but I’m going to show him a picture—“

“Breathe, Ruby,” Weiss shook her head. “Save all that energy for later. It’s a mission, not a date.”

Ruby looked at her partner dreamily. “It’s a date with weapons…”

“Yep, we’ve lost her,” Blake laughed softly. 

“Okay, we’re going to get Ruby a cab, we’ll be back!” Yang called out to everyone. 

Nora, Jaune, Ren and Maria filed out of the kitchen, aprons on tight and flour dusted on their cheeks. 

“Whoa, you look hot!” Nora whistled. 

“You look… tall,” Ren noted. 

“You do look good, Crater Face,” Jaune grinned. 

“Kid, I knew I looked good when I was younger, so believe me when I say you’re going to kill it on this date!” Maria whistled. 

Ruby smiled shyly. “Thanks, guys. I’ll see you later.”

Ruby and her teammates left the house, just as Oscar murmured under his breath, “It’s not a date.”

Qrow glanced at Oscar, his eyebrow raised. “It doesn’t matter what it is. She’s doing this for a good reason. Don’t get all upset about it.” Oscar wasn’t sure who the man was trying to convince more.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen you so worked up, before,” Nora grinned, coming over to the sofa to poke his cheeks. “You’re usually so mellow."

Oscar swatted Nora's fingers away before trying to fix a neutral expression on his face. 

Meeting Ruby was interesting. And it would’ve never happened if the professor hadn’t reincarnated into… him. The day he met her seemed so familiar. Like he already knew her from a past lifetime. And he did. As much as it troubled him, he couldn’t deny that his only link to Ruby was through Ozpin. It bothered him to no end, and all hopes of any possible feelings between them were squashed. Their unconventional adolescence made it quite awkward for any romantic feelings to progress between them. It was a different story with the past lives, as they had always been much older than Oscar. Most of them could start relatively normal families, and they all furthered Ozma’s mission to an extent. Ozpin was really the one to push forward the agenda the gods had bestowed upon the lives. And now Oscar was the next.

The saddest thing was that because of their connection from the past, thinking about romance with Ruby was futile. Who would want to be with a person who was inhabited by their dead headmaster?

Once again, he put his worries to rest, as “romance” was just a side story for him. As much as he did admire Ruby, he was just fine doing what he came here to do—help the group on their mission. 

So why did this bother him so much?

Yang, Blake, and Weiss soon returned from dropping Ruby off. They all joined Qrow and Oscar in the living room.

“I’m not bothered,” he finally said, choosing his words carefully. “I don’t know why she had to go. It could’ve been anyone. Why didn’t you go, Yang?”

Yang shrugged. “I don’t know anything about the guy. Ruby’s been reading about him for years. The guy’s been apparently groomed for this role since he was young.”

Oscar’s eyes flitted over to the other older girls. “Blake or Weiss could’ve done it.”

Blake just simply shook her head and Weiss stared at Oscar as if he had grown a second head. “Not to sound arrogant, but… I was a public figure here, Oscar.”

Oscar didn’t even know why he bothered. But part of still was curious enough to ask, “Nora, Ren, Jaune… Maria?”

Nora, who had returned to the kitchen, cried out, “I’d never do that to Ren!”

After a long pause, Ren was heard saying, “I’d never do that to Nora. Even if it was just a mission.”

Yang laughed. “And Jaune knows little to nothing about weapons. Seriously, Crocea Mors is his weapon—“

“Hey! Don’t insult my sword like that Yang!” Jaune exclaimed defensively. He had popped out of the kitchen with a dish towel on his shoulder. 

“I’m joking, Jaune. It was a joke . Yeah, but Jaune isn’t exactly a ladies’ man ... or in this case, a man’s man.”

Jaune thought of the women flirting with him around Atlas a few days ago, but didn’t say anything else. Yang wouldn’t have believed him anyway. 

“And he’s too young for me,” Maria snorted, coming around the corner with a cookie in hand. “I’d probably be bored. Young men have no idea how to treat ladies”.

Jaune and Ren, who had appeared in the living room too, blinked at Maria. Nora snickered, and Qrow groaned. “Can we stop talking about this? You’re all making me nervous.”

Yang glanced at her uncle. “I can’t believe you’re worried. Nothing is going to happen. And Ruby told us to stop babying her.”

Qrow glared at her niece. “Kid, I care, you know. I should have sent myself Ruby's place. I don’t trust a majority of rich people.” 

Blake and Weiss eyed each other, amusedly.

Yang shook her head. “You are all freaking out I’ve nothing. Ruby will be fine, as long as she doesn’t get over-enthusiastic. So Qrow, you can relax. And Oscar,” Yang sighed, looking over to the younger boy, “stop being such a green-eyed monster.”

Oscar sank in his chair, quietly. He wasn’t jealous . Sure, he thought Ruby was pretty and he may have developed the tiniest of crushes on her, but he wasn’t jealous. There was nothing for him to get jealous over. No, he wasn’t digging his nails into the couch, and no he wasn’t thinking that he would’ve loved to go out with Ruby instead. He truly treasured their friendship, and no matter how he felt, he would never, ever, want to lose that. 

Ruby clutched her briefcase to her chest, wandering around the fancy restaurant. Ironwood had purchased it specifically for this moment, knowing the luxury brand the heir’s family was fond of. Waiters flew past, holding flaming plates of food, and chefs could be heard yelling out orders from the kitchen. Throngs of people clad in glittery dresses and pressed suits made their way past her, to sections of the eatery reserved for important clients. 

This… this was the type of place she had only seen in movies. She was a bit nervous, and the only thing that was keeping her from throwing up on the plush carpet was the idea of meeting a weapons master. 

When she purchased her first Ammunition Weekly magazine with her own pocket money, a bright-eyed child was holding a state-of-the-art bow and arrow, a bearded man posed beside him. 

Rigel Hunt and his father. Ruby already wanted to be a Huntress at the time, but weapons were so cool to her. Watching tournaments on the screen or listening to visiting Huntsmen at school only made her love for them grow. 

But she knew why she was here. The Hunt corporation was dealing in some shady business, selling illegal weapons to ragtag militias and well-known extremists around Mantle and parts of Mistral. Of course, the weapons were only illegal because they hadn’t been exactly… approved by the proper people. And knowing how the Hunts made their weapons, they weren’t toys for the average person to mess with. Her mission was to find proof, in order for the Atlesian council to start pressing charges against them. It saddened Ruby that people she revered could be going to prison soon, but she also recognized that they weren’t good people, and what they were doing could tear communities apart. 

She approached (stumbled really… heels were not a good option) a booth somewhere near the back. Men in black surrounded the area, and Ruby could barely see the man of the hour in the spot where she sat. 

There he was. She had read about him all the time as a child. He was a genius and primed for the industry at a young age. She only hoped she didn’t embarrass herself by freaking out too much. 

Approaching the booth, she cleared her throat and asked softly, “Is Mr. Hunt here?”

His bodyguards were on high alert. They seemed surprised she managed to sneak up on them, but she could be pretty sneaky… well, when she wasn’t clumsy. 

“She’s the one I was waiting for. Sit down, Ruby. And call me Rigel.”

Rigel . She could hardly believe she was going to finally meet him! She knew that if she hadn’t made her one weapon, she would’ve definitely gotten one custom-made from the Hunts. Depending on how expensive they would’ve been, of course. 

The guards parted, and Ruby inched through them, before sitting down. 

Candles were lit, a flower was strategically placed in an expensive-looking vase, and it smelled faintly of roses in the air. 

In front of her, was a boy—a man, warm brown skin and a curly head of dark hair. His eyes were a bright blue, more vivid that she had ever seen in the magazine. As far as appearances go, even Ruby could admit he was very pretty.

His smile grew when she sat down. The Huntress placed her fingers on her chest, hoping to calm herself down. 

“You look stunning,” he murmured, his fingers crossed. 

Ruby laughed awkwardly, her eyes going wide. She wasn’t expecting someone so suave. Sure, he was upper class and was probably taught how to act around people, but she certainly wasn’t used to this. 

“Uh… thank you. You look… very nice too,” she murmured. 

Ruby, you are the lamest person ever.

Rigel laughed, but it was much darker than she anticipated. “Thank you, I try. I already ordered ahead of us.”

“Oh, sure, sure, that’s okay.”

“You know, when you contacted me about a weapon upgrade, you seemed a lot more confident.”

Ruby coughed. Rigel nodded towards a glass of water, which she downed immediately. Technically, she had written the letter, but it was because she was passionate about weaponry. Yang had… edited the letter, in her attempt to make Ruby sound more… captivating. 

“Well, I do love weapons. I’ve always admired your company and the work you and your father have done. I bought your first magazine cover,” she admitted, hoping she didn’t sound too obsessed. Her eyes darted to the beefy bodyguard next to her. How did he ever hold conversations when these guys were staring him down all the time? 

Rigel’s eyes widened. “You bought my first magazine? My father hated that edition. Said they didn’t get his good side,” he murmured. “He told stores to take them off shelves immediately. I’m surprised you got to purchase one.”

“I still have that magazine,” Ruby revealed. “I used to read it to myself all the time.”

Rigel nodded, his expression a mix of seriousness and amusement. 

“Thank you. Truly. I’m beginning to understand, I think.” He waved to his men, who dispersed immediately. As soon as they left, his eyes lit up. 

“May I see your weapon?”

Ruby got giddy, pulling out her scroll. One of her biggest achievements popped onto the screen. She looked at Rigel, anticipating his reaction. 

He whistled, impressed. “And you made this yourself?”

“Mostly,” Ruby chuckled. 

“Tell me a little more about it,” he asked. 

Ruby launched into a backstory, but with the nagging feeling about her mission still on her mind. 

Oscar threw his hands up after angrily eating his cookies. Nora has pointed out how puffy his cheeks had gotten, and Oscar stood there while she and Weiss kept cooing at him. 

He had searched up a current picture of Rigel Hunt, and decided that he was too handsome. He trusted Ruby to carry out her mission. But Ruby was also a romantic, and meeting another weapons enthusiast like her was probably a dream come true. 

“Oscar, you look like you’re going to punch someone,” Yang noted, finishing up her cookie. 

Oscar wanted to snap back at Yang, but held his tongue. He needed to calm down. Ignoring the throbbing headache he was giving himself, he sat down next to Nora to confide in her. 

“Nora,” he murmured to the girl next to him, “how do you know when you’re jealous?” 

He felt ashamed. He didn’t like admitting he was jealous, and it didn’t sit right with him. 

Nora grinned mischievously. Turning to him, she whispered, “Well, if someone looks at Ren, I don’t really mind. It’s all about the intent. If they look at Ren, the way I’d look at him, that’s when I’m jealous. I get really defensive.”

Oscar thought. “What if you’re not in a relationship with a person? It feels gross to feel this way.”

Nora gave him a sympathetic look. “It’s okay to recognize that you’re jealous, Oscar. In fact, it’s healthier that you do. You understand you’re jealous, and know that hey, this person isn’t in a relationship with me, but I don’t feel too good when they’re with someone else. Every person is in charge of themselves. It’s okay to be jealous, as long as you don’t take it out of control. That doesn’t make you a bad person.”

Oscar nodded, understanding. “I just didn’t expect to feel this way. Not that I feel this way towards anyone,” he added quickly. 

“I know you’re concerned about Ruby,” Nora whispered, “and that’s fine. But she’s always been able to handle herself.”

Oscar sighed.

“How long have you known?”

“Since Argus, but even at Haven, I felt there was something going on. I’m just kind of good at spotting these things,” she chuckled. 

“I hate jealousy. We’re not even dating.”

Nora shrugged. “Part of being human, buddy. But think about it like this. Ruby’s trying to get these guys in jail. At least, this guy’s dad. Either way, Ruby’s not going to pursue anything with someone who could hurt people like that, indirectly or not. She knows this.”

Oscar was a bit reassured, but he couldn’t help but stare at the clock, wishing for the end of the night to come. 

Ruby took another delicate bite of her steak. She was so energetic after pawing through a catalogue of ancient weapons Rigel handed her. She had her own upgrade request printed and ready to deliver, when she had no real intent of upgrading Crescent Rose. It was simply a means of getting to the black briefcase Rigel had next to him.

She had to admit, she was enjoying herself, and maybe, just maybe, in another universe, she and Rigel could be good friends. 

“It would’ve been so lovely to see Crescent Rose in person,” Rigel sighed. “Meeting other young weapons enthusiasts is quite difficult.”

Ruby nodded, taking another bite of her food. She felt a bit restless, and she was even beginning to slide her feet out of her heels. The sooner she got what she needed the better. 

“I’m curious about your direction for your company,” Ruby started, carefully choosing her words. “I haven’t heard from Hunt Co. in months. What’s your next step?”

“Next step, huh?” Rigel asked, his eyes narrowing. Ruby felt the tension and sweat started to bead on her forehead.

“I haven’t been caught up on with the latest editions of weapons’ magazines, but last I heard, you were merging with a smaller group. I don’t know much about economics, but I would’ve thought something new would be in the works.”

“... Yes. There is something in the works, but it’s a top secret,” Rigel winked. 

“Right,” Ruby said, a tad bit disappointed. “I know you have to be confidential and everything.”

“Yes, that’s true. If I could, I’d tell you, but… you know, business.” 

Ruby glanced at the briefcase that Rigel had cracked open. During their meeting, he’d always glance at his silver watch or look around as if he was waiting for something. 

Or someone. A potential client, perhaps? There was no reason for him to bring top-secret information to a dinner with a simple girl. He had to be meeting someone after her. They had intercepted his messages, and though it was all in shorthand, she knew that he would be bringing something highly valued in that briefcase. But they had around fifteen minutes left together, and she’d yet to accomplish her task. 

“Excuse me, I have to use the restroom,” Rigel muttered to her. 

Ruby nodded, and as soon as he disappeared around the corner, she stared down the briefcase. If he was suspicious of anything, even if he wasn’t, his bodyguards were surely watching. 

Tossing her earring to the floor, she prayed to whatever higher beings there were and hoped she wouldn’t goof up.

She clutched her own suitcase, slightly opened, before standing up. She made her way past the table as if she were leaving, before pretending to trip, whacking down Rigel’s briefcase with her. Quite dramatic, but it got the work done.

Papers fluttered everywhere, but Ruby already knew what she was looking for. Her own documents were printed on special green paper. Papers with signatures littered the ground, and she hurried to use the camera she had pinned on her to record what she saw. 

Thudding footsteps approached her, just as she finished shoving papers into the case. She placed the suitcase back in its original position, but didn’t have enough time to clean up her own documents. 

Two guards hauled her up as another snatched the papers she was holding out of her hand. 

“Looking through the boss’ things?” they snarled. 

“No, no, those are—“ she started. 

“What’s going on here?” Rigel’s voice cut through the area. The restaurant’s light chatter seemed to fade away around them, as the guests at other tables stopped their conversations to pay attention to theirs. 

I’m so sorry! I was getting up to get my earring and I just knocked over everything,” Ruby wailed.

Rigel’s eyes narrowed again, the same as before. He looked cold and suspicious, and held out a hand to the guard holding the papers. “Let me see what she had.”

When the guard handed over the papers, Ruby swore he was smirking. 

Rigel shook his head in frustration.

“She didn’t try to take my papers. All my papers are in my own briefcase. These are hers. Her weapon designs,” Rigel sniped. 

Ruby took that opportunity to inch out of the grip of the guards.

“I’m really sorry… I’m so clumsy,” she laughed nervously.

“No matter,” Rigel sighed. He glanced at his watch again, a frown growing on his face. “Sadly, it seems out time will be cut short, Ruby. I have other matters to attend to.”

Ruby tried to be disappointed. She’d enjoyed part of the evening, but she was ready to go home. “Oh… already?”

Rigel approached her, his smile semi-apologetic. “I hope to see you again.”

Ruby didn’t know whether or not to stick out her hand for him to shake, but he tossed his head to the side before she could attempt.

“Admittedly, you were quite enjoyable to be around. It’s not everyday people enjoy machines like these.”

Ruby nodded. “Thank you for the meal.”

They exchanged goodbyes before Rigel and his men left the booth, and she did the same. She had almost gotten her cover blown. 

Heh, maybe she was better at being charming than she thought. He had even told her she could find herself working for him one day. 

And as nice as that would be, Ruby would never imagine herself in a stuffy office. Even if it was for a company she thought she admired. Being a Huntress was the best thing she could ever ask for. 

She no longer felt sorry for Rigel, and knew that she was going the right thing. Besides, she could always find some other weapons-obsessed geek to hang out with.

On the way home, she took off her heels and talked to the taxi cab driver, who needed his advice about sending his daughter to combat school. Ruby advised him to let his daughter choose her own life, like her dad had let her do.

Back at the house, the lights in the living room were still on. Ruby opened the door, only to see Oscar lying on the couch. He shot up when she entered, but tried to keep a casual glance on his face. 

“Ruby!” he exclaimed, before settling down. “I mean—how was your date? You’re back?

Ruby sighed, before hobbling to the sofa where Oscar was seated upright. 

Tossing her heels onto the carpet, she asked, “You waited for me?”

Oscar shrugged. “I wasn’t tired. And… I wanted to make sure you came home safely.”

Ruby smiled. How sweet of him.

“Yeah, thank you.”

Oscar scratched the back of his head. “Do you… want to tell me about it? We have cookies and milk; we saved some for you.”

Ruby’s eyes lit up. “Yes, please! Thanks!”

Oscar chuckled, shaking his head. He disappeared into the kitchen and soon returned with mugs of milk and a few cookies.

“Chocolate chip? This must’ve been Nora’s doing,” Ruby exclaimed, taking a big bite of the dessert.

Oscar nodded. Nora wasn’t the world’s best chef, but she could bake a mean cookie. 

“So… the date?” Oscar asked, trying to appear nonchalant. 

Ruby settled back and cocked her head. “It was good. I got the information on the camera. It’s a shame, though, I really liked him.”

Oscar nearly choked on his milk. “Oh?”

“Yeah. I just think we had a lot in common. Well, no, not really. He seems really cool, and he appreciates a good weapon, just like me.”

Calm down, Oscar. She didn’t say she was going to marry the guy. Remember what Nora said. Everyone is their own person. I can control my jealousy, but I can’t control what Ruby chooses to do with her one life. 

“Oh. He didn’t seem… evil? Or bad, or anything?” Oscar asked curiously. 

Ruby shook her head. “On the surface level, no. I’ve realized some things in the past few months, and that our ideas of good and evil always differ. I can’t say everyone who doesn’t support my ideals is evil, and I look at myself and wonder, am I really good? Sure I want to do good, but what if I’m hurting someone? I didn’t see Rigel as bad… but he’s doing bad things. Even if it’s because it was how he’s raised, it’s still wrong. He’s old enough to know it’s wrong… right? Part of me felt bad for what’s going to happen to him, but at the end of the day… I have to do what I feel is right.”

Oscar agreed. For all he knew, Rigel would’ve been the sweetest human alive, nice and friendly. But what he was endorsing was killing innocent people. 

“I know it sounds bad,” Oscar started, “but the way I see it, everything we do comes at the cost of something else. We call ourselves good because we do the best we can for other people. I don’t know about being completely good. And maybe that’s the same way with evil. It’s all about the lens you’re looking through it with. And Ruby, don’t worry. You’re good in my eyes.”

Ruby chuckled, taking a bite of her cookie. “Thanks. I think you’re good, too. You know, you’re the only one I’ve talked to about this.”

Oscar stopped. “About what?”

Ruby shrugged. “I haven’t really talked to anyone about Penny and Pyrrha’s deaths. Or how I felt about myself. Good and evil, blah, blah, blah. Except for you. It seems to be easy.”

“Easy?” he asked softly. 

“Yeah, easy. With everyone else, it takes a lot for me to say something, and sometimes I can’t. Even with Yang, I never want to burden her with my problems. Not that I see you as just someone who listens to my problems,” she explained. “But I can speak to you with ease. Like, tonight at this dinner, it wasn’t until we talked about weapons that I stopped being all nervous! Imagine meeting your favorite celebrity, Oscar, that’s what it was like.”

Favorite celebrity?

“So, was he like your celebrity crush or something?” Oscar teased. 

“Don’t joke like that. I only like his weapons, not him! He’s a bit too… forward, anyway,” Ruby laughed, her voice cracking.

Oscar didn’t believe her for even a second, but he found that the hot pain in his head had lessened. 

Ruby stood up. “I’m going to head to bed. We’ll turn the camera in to Ironwood tomorrow,” she yawned, heading towards the stairs. 

“Would you ever want to see him again?” Oscar blurted. A part of him had to know.

“What?”

"Would … would you ever see him again?”

Ruby shook her head. “Whatever Ironwood decides to do with him, I don’t think I will. He was nice and all, but the mission comes first, and he’s going to have to give up what he’s doing.”

Oscar nodded. “Oh, okay.”

Ruby shrugged. “Y’know, something’s telling me that everyone thought this was some kind of real date. I dunno, I didn’t see it like that. I do have a type, after all.”

Oscar’s eyes widened. “You do?”

Ruby laughed softly. “I do. Someone more mellow, you know? Rigel's a public figure, so I don't think I'd ever truly be able to... be myself, you know? Anyway, good night, Oscar!”

Ruby trotted upstairs, and Oscar stared at the pair of heels she left on the carpet.

“Mellow?”

“Mellow?”

Hadn’t Nora said something like that earlier?

Nah, it was just a coincidence, he was sure of it. 

Right?

Chapter Text

When off to a battle 

“Okay, team, we’re prepared for this, right?” Ruby asked, a grin in her face. Her teammates nodded, all posed with their weapons. 

“This’ll be the happiest I’ve been all week!” Yang exclaimed, as she walked through the door. 

“Be careful on your mission,” Nora called after them. 

“We will, Nora, don’t worry,” Weiss replied, following Blake out the door. 

“Ruby, wait!” 

The Huntress in question stopped at the sound of Oscar’s voice. She was secretly glad he stopped her before she left. They were together… but not together-together. They had no label for what they were, exactly. 

Oscar jogged up to her, looking her square in the eyes. He knew if he didn’t do this now, he’d be afraid to do it forever. 

“Yes, Oscar?”

“J-just… just be safe. I know you’re capable… but please, come back to us.”

Ruby smiled warmly. “I will.”

Deep breath, a step forward. Oscar, still a few inches shorter than her, reached on his tip-toes and smooched Ruby’s forehead, right above her nose bridge, but still between her eyes. 

It was definitely unexpected. 

Nora squealed, almost waking Ren up from his nap. 

Yang entered through the front door. “Ruby, come on—“

The blonde had walked in on something she wasn’t meant to see. Oscar’s face was a shade of pink, as he looked shyly away from her sister, who appeared to be frozen.

“I… sorry… about that,” he sighed, wringing his hands. 

Ruby shook herself out of her daze. “No! It was… it was out of nowhere…” she touched her forehead, thinking about what had just happened, “... but it wasn’t bad. Why the forehead though?”

Oscar shrugged. “It was my first kiss, admittedly. I’ve been working up the nerve for days… and I kind of chickened out.”

Yang snickered, and Nora awwwed from her seat on the couch. Ruby turned around, suddenly hyper aware of the people watching them. Her older sister had her knowing smile on, as she leaned in the doorway, waiting for her. 

“Yang! Nora… you guys, this is so embarrassing!” Ruby wailed. 

“It’s not, it’s cute. The whole, forehead thing you got going on there,” Yang murmured, gesturing to her own forehead. 

“Whatever,” she muttered. “Just go.”

“Ooooohkay!” Ruby ushered Yang out the door, but not before turning back and winking at Oscar. 

“I kinda like the whole forehead thing we have going on, too,” she whispered. 

When she’s sick 

“Mm, I hate getting sick,” Ruby groaned, pressing the ice compress to her forehead. “My head still feels so hot, and the ice isn’t helping.”

Oscar watched his girlfriend squirm around in her bed. Ever restless she was, Ruby Rose. He stood up from the chair by Ruby’s bedside and took the ice pack off her forehead. 

“Oscar… what are you… doing?” she asked, weakly. “I need that.”

“You just said it’s not working.”

“Well, it’s better than nothing!”

“I can give you something even better,” Oscar grinned slyly. He wasn’t sure when he became so forward in their relationship, but it didn’t seem to bother Ruby much, so he decided to just go with it. 

He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead, which was indeed, quite warm. 

“O—Oscar!” Ruby gasped, almost knocking her head into his. 

Oscar backed up, his hands up. “Sorry, sorry, I should’ve asked you first.”

Oscar noticed Ruby pouting, and her face was a lot redder than before. 

“Ruby, do you need me to get Qrow? You’re looking worse! Your face is getting redder!”

“No, no! That’s fine! I’m feeling better, see! No need to get Qrow!” Ruby piped up, her voice louder than before. 

Oscar relaxed, before grinning again. “So my kisses work?”

Ruby leaned over and snatched the ice pack that Oscar had in his hand, and pressed it back onto her forehead. “Not even close, Oscar.” Another groan as she flopped onto her pillow. 

“Well then. I guess I’ll just leave you alone,” he sniffed, pretending to be offended. He walked out of the room sassily, and shut the door behind him. 

Ruby smiled to herself. He was such a goofball. 

She still felt awful. But there was no doubt that the kiss made her feel a little better. 

When saying hello 

“Hi, Ru,” Oscar said in greeting, kissing her on her head, while passing her by. 

Ruby, who was on the couch, immersed in a comic, blushed. Attempting to hide her red face in her book, she muttered, “Hi, pinehead.”

“You guys are so obvious ,” Nora snorted. 

“Yeah, like anyone’s gonna believe you two aren’t in a relationship,” Yang sighed. 

Ruby put her comic book down and stared at her friends questioningly. Oscar came back from the kitchen, cookie in hand. Handing it to Ruby, he cocked his head before asking, “What? Was our dating supposed to be a secret?”

“It… it isn’t? You guys never go on dates. And when we go out together, you basically never sit near each other either. Ruby, you’re always with Weiss, and Oscar’s with us!” Nora claimed. 

“Uh… cause we don’t have to spend every second with each other, guys,” Ruby chuckled. “I love Oscar, and all that matters is that he knows that,” she said before munching into her cookie. 

“Love you too, dummy, “ Oscar chuckled. “And we go on tons of dates. We went on one last night. That haunted house was amazing .”

“Then why were you screaming, you baby?” Ruby teased.

“That’s the point of ‘em, Ruby. To scream. You should try it sometime,” Oscar shot back. 

As the two continued their playful banter, Yang narrowed her eyes in suspicion. There was no way they were actually dating. She eyed Nora, who conveyed the same sentiment with her eyes. 

“Hey, I got to go, Jaune wants to meet up at the park. See you later,” Oscar waved. 

Ruby hopped off the sofa, before turning Oscar around and crashing her lips onto his. 

“Bye,” she laughed after letting go.

Oscar didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. “Your breath tastes like cookies.”

“Would you rather I had garlic breath?”

“No.”

“Don’t complain, then.”

Oscar shook his head before making his exit and Ruby returned to her comic like everything was normal. 

Yang knew this was her sister’s first relationship, so where did she learn to kiss like that? Since when has Ruby Rose known how to flirt with anyone?

A thought jumped into Yang’s head. She ran up the stairs, Nora at her heels. 

“BLAKE! BLAKE BELLADONNA, I SWEAR—“

Ruby loves Oscar’s forehead kisses, but a full-on kiss is so much better.

Chapter Text

“Wait! Wait a minute! You’ve never been kissed, have you, Oscar?” Yang exclaimed, her eyes wide. 

“I mean is it that surprising?” he grumbled. “It’s not like one of my life goals is to be kissed.”

“Well, neither has Ruby, so look, there’s something in common!” the blonde laughed, slugging Oscar on the shoulder. 

“Wonderful. That means absolutely nothing to me.”

“Why are you so grouchy, geez?” Yang asked, taking a sip of her iced tea. 

Oscar didn’t understand why Yang was on a one-woman mission to get him a girlfriend. He had only met the exuberant junior at the campus library a few months ago, and since then, she was always finding ways to worm into his life. And now she was trying to set him up with her sister, Ruby.

The two sat outside the dining hall in the warm sunshine, waiting for Yang’s friends to pick her up. Admittedly, Oscar had made few friends as a freshman on campus, and though he would never admit it, Yang’s presence was somewhat of a comfort to him.

“Yang, I don’t think you should be trying to set me up with your sister without her permission,” Oscar stated. 

“Ruby needs to get out of her shell. She’s a sophomore, and she doesn’t like going to parties.”

Well, that was somewhat of a relief. If Ruby didn’t go to parties, maybe he wouldn’t have to deal with a younger version of Yang.

The freshman’s eyes drifted over people on skateboards and sorority girls passing out flyers. This was university life, and he had barely experienced it. Wasn’t everyone always talking about parties and internships and study abroad trips? Not only was he friendless, he had no idea about the social scene at his school. Part of him was much too introverted to get out there, but another side of him wished he was bold enough to meet someone new.

“So say your sister and I meet up. What if we end up hating each other? What then?”

Yang shook her head, her blonde curls falling in her face. “I doubt that’ll happen, but if it does, I’ll make sure to never hang out with you both at the same time.”

Oscar sighed, before taking the last sips of his lemonade. Just as he was about to throw it away, a car horn honked in front of them.

Yang waved at the black vehicle. “Oh, they’re here!” The older girl slung her book bag over her shoulder, before adjusting her sunglasses. “I’ll see you later, Os.”

“Please don’t call me that,” he muttered. 

It seemed that Yang didn’t hear him however, as she had already ran up to the car. Oscar sat down, watching as Yang peeked her head into the passenger window. Loud music blared out of the car, causing other students to stare.

Several moments later, Yang came jogging up to him. 

“You wanna come with us? We’re having a movie night at our place and I wondered if you wanted to come.”

Oscar stopped. Yang had never really invited him anywhere before. Their acquaintanceship remained on school grounds, mainly in between classes and at the library. Was this an offer of… friendship?

“Uh… I don’t want to intrude…”

“Don’t be stupid. We want you there. I think Weiss and Blake would like you too.”

Weiss and Blake. Their names had come up in a few conversations between him and Yang, but Oscar never thought he would actually meet them. 

All his classes were over…  he could either go with Yang or return back to his lonely dorm, as his roommate was rarely there. 

“Okay, I’ll come.”

“Great!” Yang didn’t hesitate for a moment, grabbing Oscar’s arm and pulling him to the car. 

She opened the door, and Oscar followed her inside the backseat. His heart started to race as he put his seatbelt on. Music filled his eardrums and the strong smell of perfume wafted into his nose. 

The dark-haired girl in the driver’s seat turned and faced him. Her gaze was serious, her sharp eyes roving over him as if it were an inspection.

“H-hi. I’m Oscar.”

“Blake Belladonna, nice to meet you, Oscar,” she replied, breaking into a grin. Her voice was smooth and low, not matching the image in Oscar’s head at all.

The second girl in the passenger seat had to be Weiss then. She craned her neck around her seat, meeting Oscar’s stare. She had a scar over left eye, as if she had been in a rabid dog attack.

“Hello, Oscar. I’m Weiss Schnee.”

Oscar nodded, trying not to stammer. “Uh… nice to meet you both.”

Yang snorted in the seat next to him. “Oscar, relax . We’re not gonna eat you.”

“Is this the guy you hang out with at the library?” Weiss asked, as Blake started driving. 

“Yep.”

 Now Oscar had to wonder, why did Yang spend so much time on campus? For someone who lived off-campus, she frequented the school grounds often, even when she didn’t have classes. 

As Yang chatted to her friends, Oscar focused on the scene out the window. They left campus and he wondered if it was a good idea to have gone with Yang after all. His aunt had warned him not to get into cars with strangers, but then again, she had always been very overprotective. 

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the apartment complex many other university students lived in. The Suites at Beacon. 

They parked within the complex, and Oscar hopped out, relieved to be in the open space. 

“Let’s go, Oscar,” Yang called out to him, climbing up the stairs. 

Eventually, they made it to the apartment, and they all went inside. 

Blake flipped the light switch, bathing the room in a white light. 

The living room was relatively big, with two sofas facing a small TV, and a coffee table in the middle. It was pretty neat, and not what Oscar was expecting from people who lived with Yang Xiao Long.

You know what they say, don’t judge a book by its cover.

Blake picked up some soda cans off their dining table, while Weiss went into a hallway. Oscar stood awkwardly by as Yang flopped onto the couch. 

“Oscar, please stop being weird. Come sit down. It’s only 4, so we’ll start the movie later.”

So the boy tightened his grip on his bag and made his way to where Yang sat, tentatively seating himself  on the carpet.

“You’re taking Meachum for English this semester, right?” Yang asked, breaking into a yawn.

“Yeah.”

“I hated that woman. So cruel, so cold. And she never gave extra credit!”

Oscar thought Professor Meachum was pretty fair as far as professors went, but he wouldn’t dare say that to Yang.  She was incredibly smart, and pretty good at managing both her academic life and her social life, at least to Oscar. He couldn’t even have a social life, even if he had all the time in the world. 

“So, Oscar, what’s your major?” Blake asked, coming from the kitchen. She set new cans of Pepsi on the coffee table. Oscar only took one once Blake and Yang had, and cracked it open as he was explaining himself.

“Uh, I’m an English major. For now,” he answered.

“Oh yeah, you probably love Meachum’s class, then,” Yang groaned.

“She’s not that bad, Yang,” Blake argued, before turning her attention back towards Oscar. “I loved all my English classes. I’m a poli sci major with a communications minor. And Weiss is a business major,” Blake explained as Weiss entered the room. Her white hair was now in a braid and she wore sweats, looking much more relaxed. 

“Oh wow, business, that’s cool,” he offered, glancing at Weiss.

“You really think so? I like business, but we’re always getting hate from the STEM majors,” Weiss grumbled, rolling her eyes. 

Well, considering that Oscar almost majored in environmental science, he knew what that was like. Many STEM majors had a superiority complex, especially when it came to encounters with non-STEM majors.

“What was the major you were almost going to choose?” Oscar asked curiously, sipping his drink.

“Believe it or not, I was going to be a music major,” Weiss answered.

“Yeah, Weiss is seriously talented when it comes to her voice. And the piano, too,” Yang cut in.

“You sing? That’s impressive,” Oscar whistled, earning a look of thanks from Weiss. She seemed pretty sweet, though you couldn't tell that from the way she carried herself.

“I was going into education at one point, but I realized it was not for me,” Blake said, shaking her head.

“I was just in general studies. But last year when I had to declare a major, I chose kinesiology. I think I want to go into physical therapy!” Yang grinned. 

“And you never shut up about it,” Blake joked. 

Oscar looked around at the three girls, a smile forming on his lips. He had hoped he could eventually fall into a group of people he could call friends, but he wasn’t expecting it to be a bunch of upperclassmen girls. How did he even get here?

“Okay, what movie are we watching later?” Yang asked, pulling out her smartphone. 

“No horror!” Weiss announced, clutching a throw pillow to her chest.

“Okay, you baby,” Yang snorted. Oscar figured he could help out as well, and pulled out his own phone to scroll. 

“ Neighbors ?” Yang asked. 

“God, not that again,” Blake sighed. “I’m tired of those stupid comedies.”

“Hater.”

Oscar found a category dedicated to Studio Ghibli, the animated movies he had loved since he was young. However, he wasn’t sure that any of the girls would be interested in them.

“What about—”

“Blake, we are not watching Howl’s Moving Castle again. No Kiki’s Delivery Service , either.” Yang huffed.

Okay, that was definitely off the list, then.

“Hey, what time is Ruby coming from work again?” Weiss asked. Oscar’s ears pricked up at the sound of the name. 

“Oh, she should be off in an hour or so. Nora’s dropping her off here,” Yang answered. 

So Ruby would be joining them on their movie night as well? This was bound to be interesting. He couldn’t help but feel that Yang’s invitation might have had something to do with this. 

Curiously, he eyed Yang, who only returned a cheeky grin back to him.

Definitely a set up. Not that he had to give into it. He was just here to enjoy a movie, not get a girlfriend.

“Oscar, what kind of movies do you like?” Yang asked loudly and obviously. 

“Yang…”

“Oh, yeah, is there anything you had in mind, Oscar?” Blake asked. 

He felt three pairs of eyes on him. “Uh… I like action, I guess. Animated movies are cool, too. Uh...don’t laugh, but I like fantasy and romantic comedies, too,” he muttered. 

“You like fantasy? And romance?” Blake asked, her eyes as wide as saucers. 

Oscar couldn’t tell if Blake was preparing to attack him for his interests, but he tensed up anyway. 

“I knew he had taste! Next time, I’m taking him to the movies instead of you, Yang,” Blake sniffed, settling back into the couch. 

“Blake, please stop harassing my friend,” Yang joked, patting her friend’s shoulder. 

Friend? That was a first. He had somehow made friends with a girl who thought it was funny to prank call pizza places and had evaded campus police twice. 

“Well, that’s nice,” Weiss spoke up. “Ruby loves action movies.”

“No… I’m so tired of superhero movies,” Blake moaned. 

“Look, isn’t that cool? You and Ruby have the same tastes in movies, too! Tell me, Oscar, are you aware of a band called Frost?” Yang asked. 

Oscar wished Yang would shut her mouth, but answered her anyway. “Uh… yeah. I like Frost.”

Weiss eyed Blake, who eyed Yang. 

“Yang, please don’t make a big deal out of this,” he sighed.

“No, no… it’s just that Ruby loves Frost too. It’s really funny too, because none of us like them that much.”

“I can’t believe you share her horrible music taste,” Weiss muttered to herself. 

“Why do I feel like this is a job interview?” Oscar asked, setting his soda can down. He was standing on a very thin line between comfortable and totally humiliating with Yang’s friends. They seemed nice enough to hang out with., but they could be pretty intimidating at the same time. 

“What about that documentary about the prison system?” Blake piped up.

“Please , Blake, please, I ask you to hear yourself. I did not come here to watch a documentary!” Yang argued. 

”You live here, though,” Weiss answered. 

Yang turned to Oscar, her face one of exasperation. “See what I have to deal with? You’re so lucky you live on campus.”

Oscar rolled his eyes. “It seems that Blake and Weiss are the ones that have to deal with a lot.”

“Hey!”

Weiss snickered, and Oscar earned himself a smile from Blake. 

This wasn’t too bad after all. 

“Please come on time on Thursday!” Ciel yelled, as the restaurant door swung close. 

Ruby groaned, balling her dirty apron in her hands. “She is so annoying!” she hissed to Nora, her co-worker and friend. 

The shorter redhead next to her gave her a sympathetic smile. “Ciel’s not bad… just a little strict sometimes.”

Ruby turned to Nora. “She hates me, Nora, and ever since she became assistant manager, it’s gotten worse!”

The two made it to Nora’s sedan, Ruby entering the passenger side. 

The pair worked at the local ice cream parlor, and though the job description was fairly simple, between demanding customers and harsh managers, it was a wonder that Ruby hadn’t quit yet.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure once Ciel graduates, someone nicer will step up,” Nora replied, pushing the key into the engine. 

“I hope it’ll be you,” Ruby grumbled. Nora was a junior, but one of the nicest people Ruby had ever met. She was also good friends with Ruby’s sister Yang, and her other friends, Blake and Weiss. 

“Thanks for taking me home, by the way,” Ruby sighed. 

“It’s on my way, so it’s not a problem!” Nora answered, pulling out of the parking late. It was getting late as the sun started to set over the city. 

Ruby felt worn out, as she had come straight to work from class. Balancing her work life and her school life was too much pressure, as it didn’t even leave room for a social life. How Nora did it, Ruby would never understand. 

“How’s Ren these days?” Ruby asked, picking her at fingers. 

“Oh, he’s good! I know he misses hanging out with us often, but I think studying abroad will do him good,” Nora answered. 

“You’re a really good girlfriend, you know that?” 

Nora grinned. “I try. I miss him a lot, but thank goodness for technology, amiright?”

“Definitely.”

“What about you? Any interesting developments in the love department?”

“Oh, you mean besides Yang’s hopeless crush on Blake?” Ruby joked. 

“Ha, yes, besides that. I mean for you . Anyone you have your eye on?”

Ruby quieted down and considered Nora’s question. She already knew the answer to it of course. The same answer she gave every time. 

“No, I haven’t really… gotten out there. Not yet.”

“You could always try another party…”

“God no, Nora. The amount of times I walked into a bedroom or got offered some weird substance… I’m good.”

“That’s fine, there's no rush. But hypothetically, if you were to meet your dream person, what would they be like?” Nora asked, turning a corner.

Ruby’s hands felt clammy. Of course, if she had to pick anyone it would be Lars from Legends 4 , one of her favorite video games. But she wasn't sure Nora would be too keen on hearing about a fictional character. 

She had given some thought to this. After all, when living with Yang Xiao Long, relationships were a constant conversation. 

“Come on, Ruby, let your imagination run wild a little!” Nora said. 

“Fine, fine! I mean… I haven’t given much thought to it. Uh… they have to like dogs. That’s a must.”

“Okay…”

“Uh… smart and nice, I guess?”

“Those are some pretty basic requirements,” Nora snorted. “Relax, I’m not gonna tell anyone.”

“Nora, what do you want me to say? I dunno, someone who just makes me happy! Makes me laugh and cooks good food! Someone has to do the cooking. I mean...Nora, did you picture Ren when you thought of your ideal guy?”

“Well, Ren and I have been with each other our whole lives. We kind of just...work.”

Ren was Nora’s only serious boyfriend, yet Ruby felt as if the older girl had years of experience. They were good for each other, in an odd way.

It’s not like Ruby was averse to falling in love, but she genuinely hadn’t met anyone she just clicked with. Of course, as a romantic, she wouldn’t mind being in a relationship herself, but it was just weird. How did you know when it was love? Did it just feel right? And what about those enemies-to-lovers books? The main characters always loathed each other at the beginning, so how did they learn to overcome their differences and love one another?

She thought about it quietly as Nora pulled into the parking lot of her apartment.

“Thanks again, Nora,” Ruby sighed, pulling herself out of the car. The sky was darkening fast, as the sun had finally disappeared out of view. 

“No problem, Ruby. Say hi to the girls for me!” Nora called as she drove off. 

Ruby sighed, hauling herself up the stairs of her apartment. She felt weary and sticky and all she wanted to do was take a hot bath and curl up in bed. 

As she turned the key, she realized that the night would be neither quiet nor relaxing. Loud voices echoed from inside as she pushed the door open.

Inside, four people were spread out in the living room, conversing lively. 

Four? 

Yang and Blake were curled up near each other, and Weiss was on her own on the other couch… and there was a fourth figure seated on the carpet.

“Oh, Ruby, you’re home,” Weiss pointed out. Blake and Yang waved, and the mysterious figure on the floor turned as well.

When his eyes met hers, her breath almost got caught in her throat. 

He was pretty . His eyes… they were a green color. No, brown… was that gold?

“Ruby, close the door,” Blake called, breaking her out of her thoughts. 

“Oh, oh yeah, sorry!” she apologized, shutting the door behind her. Her heart raced, but she chalked it up to adrenaline. They had people over all the time! This was just another one of Yang’s friends, right? 

He did seem a little young, though.

Ruby turned back around. 

“Ruby, this is Oscar Pine, a friend of mine. We’re gonna watch a movie tonight, so I invited him over. Oscar, that’s my sister, Ruby, the one I was telling you about.”

Ruby’s eyes widened. Telling him about? They talked about her? Oh no, he was bound to have some horrible impression of her now. Especially when she was wearing her work uniform. 

“Hi, Ruby. It’s nice to meet you,” he said. Ruby noticed he had freckles splashed over his face and swore that his cheeks were a faint shade of red. 

“Uh, yeah, it’s nice to meet you too.” She looked back to her sister. “I’m just gonna take a quick shower, then I’ll come join you guys.”

Yang nodded and Ruby made her way past her housemates and towards the room she shared with her sister, slamming the door behind her. 

Once in the shower, Ruby finally relaxed, feeling the hot water stream down her body. She certainly didn't want to spend the whole night being wary of Oscar, but there was something about him… something that clicked to her, in a good way.

Oscar turned away from the front door where Ruby had entered in from and focused on the carpet fibers beneath him.

Ruby… she was pretty. Her eyes were a gorgeous silver color, one he had never seen before. He didn’t know why he was so stunned by her appearance, as it had never happened with anyone else before. 

“Yeah, so that was Ruby, Oscar,” Yang said knowingly, gently kicking him in the shoulder.

“I see that, Yang, but that doesn’t change anything,” he grumbled, rubbing his shoulder. 

“She’s pretty, right?”

“I don’t know if I should answer that question,” Oscar answered. Truthfully, he thought Ruby was good-looking, but telling Yang that would never end well. 

“Uh, you guys don’t really look like each other, though,” Oscar said, trying to change the subject.

Yang nodded. “We’re only half sisters, that’s why. We have the same dad, but different moms. Our noses the same though, see?”

Yang wriggled her nose, but Oscar didn’t even bother to look. Yang giving him vague descriptions of Ruby did not mean she was suddenly his perfect half. In fact, if she hadn’t filled his head with delusions, he wouldn't even glance at Ruby. Right? Sure, she was pretty, but that didn’t mean she was his type or anything… or he was hers. 

The conversation soon turned, and the older girls started a period drama talking about Oscar had never heard of. He turned back to Yang. “Do you want me to bring the snacks out?”

Yang nodded for a go-ahead and the boy pushed himself off the floor, and headed into the kitchen.

He opened the white fridge, searching for the drinks. He figured water would be fine and pulled out a few bottles. The kitchen was small, but quaint, and smelled faintly of cinnamon. 

“Do you want chips too?” he called from the kitchen.

“Yeah, they're in the pantry with the salsa!” Yang replied. 

“Get some popcorn too, please!” Weiss called.  

Oscar neared the pantry door, pulling it open. Cans and boxes filled the small enclosure, but Oscar located the big bag of tortilla chips, pulling it out. He scanned the shelves for popcorn, when he heard a voice behind him. 

“Do… do you need help getting something?”

Oscar jumped at the sound of Ruby’s voice, turning around to face her. She wore an oversized sweater and shorts, her dark hair wet and sticking to her forehead. 

“Uh… yeah. They asked for popcorn. Could you find a bowl for the chips and salsa?”

Ruby nodded. “Sure thing.”

The two worked together, arranging plastic plates and bowls for their friends in the living room. Buttery goodness filled the kitchen as Oscar finished dumping the bags into bowls. 

After he was done, Oscar reached for the paper towels, when Ruby tried to do the same thing. Her fingers gently brushed against his, causing them both to let the roll go.

“Oh! Sorry!” Oscar apologized, picking the paper towels off the floor. 

“No, that was my fault. You were obviously reaching for it first,” Ruby laughed awkwardly, backing away from the counter. “I’ll take some of the stuff to the table.” So to distract herself from the sirens going off in her head, she took the trays of chips and rushed into the living room. 

Oscar recouped himself and opened the cabinet where Yang put their sweets, grabbing two packs of Twizzlers. He wasn’t sure all these snacks were necessary for one movie, but Yang had insisted on it. 

Taking the candy and the paper towels, Oscar made his way to the living room, where they had finally finished setting everything up. 

“Where are you going to sit, Ruby?” Yang asked.

“Uh… I was gonna sit with Weiss… like I usually do…” Ruby replied, her expression confused. 

“Oh, I kind of want to lie down here,” Weiss piped up, her legs spreading out over the cushions. 

“Okay… then I’ll sit next to Yang and Blake,” Ruby said instead. Oscar stood awkwardly by, not wanting to be in Ruby’s way while she chose a place to sit.

“Uh, actually you can’t,” Yang said, stretching her legs over the last cushion. 

“Yang, stop being weird, and let me sit down,” Ruby demanded.

“Don’t you think it’s unfair that you’re going to take this seat and leave Oscar to sit on the floor? He is our guest after all,” Blake noted.

“Then let Oscar sit here!” Ruby grumbled. She just wanted to watch the stupid movie and jump into bed before anymore embarrassing things happened.

“Oh, no, that’s okay, Ruby,” Oscar spluttered. “This is your place, I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Well now it would be rude for her to sit next to Yang! Curse his politeness. Ruby gave up, and pushed the coffee table back. 

“I’ll just sit on the floor.”

Oscar figured that was good enough for him. Cautiously, he made his way to the floor, leaving enough space between him and Ruby so she wouldn’t feel cramped. 

“Perfect, now we can start the movie!” Yang clapped. 

“What are we watching?” Ruby asked, leaning towards a bowl of popcorn. 

“Maxima ,” Yang answered.

“I’ve never heard of it”.

“It’s about a girl who’s a genetic experiment and she breaks out of her lab to save the only people who truly care about her. It’s like an action movie,” Yang replied. 

Blake got up to turn off the lights and the five friends settled in to watch the movie. 

Oscar was a bit far away from the table, but he wanted some of the popcorn. He tried to scoot over discreetly, but Ruby noticed his obvious movements.

“Uh, do you need something, Oscar?” she whispered. 

“Sorry… I just wanted some popcorn,” he answered sheepishly. Thank goodness for the darkness or Ruby would’ve able to see him turn into a tomato. He wasn’t quite sure why he was growing warm all of a sudden. He was sure he had gotten over his initial nervousness, but maybe Ruby joining them started it up again. 

“Why didn’t you say so?” 

The girl brought one of the bowls of popcorn and placed it between them. 

“Thanks”, he murmured to her. 

He didn’t dare take a popcorn kernel, as it was now between him and Ruby, but focused his attention on the movie instead. 

It was about twenty minutes in, and Oscar had to admit, it was pretty interesting. Curiously, he snuck a glance at Ruby’s face, and found that her eyes were glued to the screen. 

A cough from someone behind him made his head jerk back towards the screen. Hastily, he put his hand in the popcorn bowl in an attempt to act natural, only for his hand to meet Ruby’s again.

“Ack!” she whispered, turning towards him. Oscar took his hand out of the bowl, smiling apologetically. 

“We can’t keep meeting like this,” he joked, hoping to make light of the situation. 

Ruby giggled, her eyes lowered. “Yeah, we can’t.”

“Shush!” Weiss hissed from her corner. 

The two eyed each other amusedly, before focusing their attention back to the movie. 

Soon, the movie came to a close and the lights were turned back on. Oscar stretched his legs out, before erupting into a rather loud yawn. 

“I thought it was pretty good,” Blake piped up. “Even if the movie critics didn’t agree.”

Ruby nodded in agreement. She looked towards Weiss, who was nestled in the couch, asleep. 

“How did she sleep through that?” Yang asked curiously, pushing herself off the couch. 

Oscar stood up, grabbing the empty bowls and trays of food. He figured he could help clean up and go to the nearest bus stop, see if any of them were heading towards campus. 

“Oscar, do you need a ride home?” Blake asked sleepily. 

The boy shook his head. “No, that’s alright. I’ll take the bus. Thanks for inviting me over, guys.”

“No problem,” Yang answered. “You can come over anytime you want.”

Oscar stared at Yang, as if to ask her a question with his eyes. The blonde only waggled her eyebrows in return.

So Yang was a lot more fun to hang around with than he previously thought. But that didn’t change the fact that she was a meddler. 

“I’m taking Weiss to bed,” Blake said softly. Oscar watched in awe as she picked up the smaller girl in her arms. 

“Goodnight, everyone,” she murmured, before disappearing into the hall. 

Oscar watched Yang’s lips quirk up at the sight, and he sensed there was something going on there. But it wasn’t any of his business.

Instead, he helped Ruby and Yang put the snacks away and throw away their trash. When they were finished, Oscar grabbed his bag, and headed for the door. 

“Thank you… thanks for inviting me over, I had a lot of fun,” he grinned at the sisters. 

“Anytime. I’ll see you tomorrow, probably,” Yang answered, her eyes wandering over to her sister. 

“Uh, yeah! It was really nice to meet you, Oscar,” Ruby beamed.

Oscar nodded slowly. “I’ll get going, then.”

“Rubes, why don’t you walk Oscar out to the bus stop?”

Oscar stopped in his tracks.

“Yang!” he heard Ruby hiss. “You’re his friend, why don’t you do it?”

Admittedly, Oscar’s heart dropped at Ruby’s words.

“He’s friends with all of us now, Ruby. Besides, I have an early class tomorrow, so I need to go get sleep.”

“Fine,” she grumbled. 

“Oscar, Ruby’s gonna take you to the stop, okay?” Yang said to him, her voice a little louder. 

Oscar turned around, smiling as if he hadn’t heard their hushed conversation. “Oh, she doesn’t have to…”

Ruby cocked her head at him, her expression unreadable. “No, no. I want to go.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Oscar waved to Yang. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Yang.”

Yang nodded, before heading towards her room. Oscar looked towards Ruby apologetically, before opening the door for them both to leave. Ruby grabbed a coat tossed on the sofa, and followed him.

The two stepped into the night, with sounds of sirens and people arguing all around them. 

“I’m sorry for making you come out with me,” Oscar murmured, as they made their way downstairs. 

Ruby shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. It’s not that I didn’t want to walk you down… it’s just that… I get really nervous around people I don’t know.”

Oscar looked towards her. He thought they were getting along somewhat when they were setting up for the movie, but maybe he was getting too ahead of himself. 

She did make a fair point. 

“Oh, no worries. I’m the same way,” he laughed. 

Ruby stared at him. “Then… how did you make friends with my sister?”

Oscar shook his head. “I’m still wondering about that till this day.”

It was around 8 pm, which still meant the bus was making rounds, but Oscar watched as Ruby pulled out a set of keys. 

“I can take Blake’s car. I’ll drop you off at your dorm.”

Oscar stopped. “You don’t need to do that. I heard you worked today, you’re probably really tired,” he explained. 

“I want to. Driving relieves me of any stress I felt during the day, so why not?”

Oscar gave in, partly because he was interested in Ruby and honestly, he wasn’t in the mood for traveling via bus. 

So they got into Blake’s car and Ruby started her way back to the university. 

“So…” Ruby started.

“So…” Oscar finished. He tapped his right foot, hoping to steady his growing nerves. 

“Uh… I guess for the standard question. What’s your major?” the girl asked. 

“English,” he murmured. “What about you?”

“For now, criminal justice,” she admitted, tapping her hand on the steering wheel. They came to a stop at a red light, leaving them to focus on their conversation. 

“Wow, criminal justice? Do you want to go into… like forensics?” he asked curiously. She didn’t strike him as a criminal justice major at all. 

“Yeah, something like that. Criminals investigations sound interesting. But you know, I haven’t really found something I’m really drawn to, you know?” she asked, turning towards him. 

His breath caught in his throat, and all he could do was nod. He agreed somewhat. He planned to become an English professor, but was that always what he had in mind? Of course not. 

“The sad reality of life is realizing that what you want to do isn’t always what’s practical,” he sighed, as the car started moving again.

“Yeah, I agree.”

Their discussion stopped there, leaving the two in silence. Ruby switched lanes, and Oscar debated opening his mouth again. 

“Uh… so… how did you meet Yang?” Ruby asked.

Oscar relaxed. That was a story he could tell. 

“Well, it’s nothing too interesting. At the beginning of the school year, I was in the library around midnight, studying for my first exam. I… I was feeling sleepy, admittedly, and right when I was dozing off, I heard really loud music. It turns out, your sister was blasting her music so loud it could be heard from her headphones. I figured if she was going to be disturbing the peace, I might as well get back to studying. So I did, and when I couldn’t concentrate anymore, I asked her to turn it down. Long story short, she dragged me into a conversation and offered to help me study as an apology for the music. Ever since then, she’s always found a way to find me, no matter where on campus I am.”

Ruby rolled her eyes. “Sounds like Yang. That’s a pretty late time to be in the library, though.”

Oscar found that studying at night could be very useful, even if he felt tired. That’s when the other boys in the dorm were either asleep or out partying. 

“Yeah, I guess the library’s a lot quieter,” Oscar offered. 

“Even at midnight? What, did your roommate throw a party in your room?” she joked.

“Well, no. But he brings his girlfriend over a lot, and they like to believe they’re the only two people in the world, so… the library’s better,” Oscar joked. 

“Ah. The girlfriend. Do you ever think people care more about their relationships than what they came to school for?” she asked suddenly.  

“Definitely. But....I understand the desire to want to be with someone. People like my roommate, well, they’re probably set for life already. College is just another social event for them.”

Ruby didn’t say anything. People like Nora could handle both school and a relationship, a long-distance one too, at that. And she was sure whenever Yang found the courage to ask Blake out, they both would be able to make it work too. 

“You… you don’t seem to be keen on relationships,” Oscar noted. 

“No… it’s not that. Maybe I sound a bit jealous,” she said, her voice dropping to a murmur. “I’ve never really been in a relationship, so I can’t judge other people’s situations.”

That made sense. Oscar couldn’t be a judge of anyone’s love life either. His was dead. Nonexistent, really. 

“Uh… are you in a relationship?” Ruby asked, suddenly.

Sweat crept down Oscar’s neck. “Haha… no, no.”

He watched for Ruby’s reaction. She simply nodded and said “Okay.”

It was turning awkward, quick between them. They probably had ten more minutes before reaching campus. They had to find something to talk about. 

“Oh, can I turn on the radio?” he asked.

“Sure, why not.”

Oscar knew exactly which station he needed to go to. And to his luck, the right song was playing. 

“Temptation” by Frost, one of his favorite bands. Many people thought Frost’s music was juvenile, or in bad taste, but Oscar enjoyed their unique sound. And according to Yang, so did Ruby. 

Oscar bobbed his head to the song, mouthing the lyrics. Ruby began to hum the song.

“You like Frost?” he asked innocently. 

Ruby nodded eagerly. “You like them too?”

“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to see them live in concert. If I had anyone to go with, that is,” he laughed, scratching the back of his head.

“Oh my god, we have to go next time they’re in town. No one has ever wanted to go with me,” Ruby admitted. Oscar perked up at her voice, which sounded lively. 

“Yeah, I know their music isn’t for everyone, but I’ve loved them for years,” Oscar said.

“That’s so cool. If they go on tour in the summer, we definitely have to see them.”

Going out with Ruby? 

It wasn’t like it was a date, or course. And it was only hypothetical. Yet, he found himself feeling excited. 

“I’d love to go with you,” he answered back, hoping he sounded as cool as he felt. 

“Awesome.”

They grooved along to the music, Ruby finding the courage inside herself to start singing. Oscar piped up, singing a few lyrics here and there. Oscar saw a bit of Ruby’s awkwardness shed away as she swayed to the beat. Another Frost song followed, but Oscar soon saw that they had reached the dorms. 

His heart dropped, as it felt like it was too soon. Ruby stopped in front of his building. 

“This is your hall, right?” she asked quietly, turning down the radio. 

“Uh, yeah, it is.”

He took his bag and opened the door. “Thank you for the ride. I had fun.”

Ruby smiled at him, her pearly whites showing. “I had fun, too. You’re… not what I was expecting from Yang’s friends. Besides some of the other friends we made, she’s friends with… a lot of interesting people.”

Oscar nodded in understanding. “You’re not exactly what I had in mind either when I pictured Yang’s sister.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Oscar’s eyes formed half moons as his smile grew. “Definitely a good thing.”

He shut the door, as Ruby rolled the window down. 

“Maybe I’ll see you around campus? Or… at our place again?” she asked hopefully. 

“Yeah. Hopefully.”

The two exchanged goodbyes as Oscar trekked through the lawn to his dorm room. 

The day he had… was certainly an interesting one. Yang wasn’t as bad as he thought she was, and Blake and Weiss were actually pretty cool. 

And Ruby… 

He wasn’t going to lie, she was beautiful, in his eyes. Part of him felt himself giving in to Yang’s insane delusions. But he wouldn’t dare hit on Ruby. She was older and probably wouldn’t want to date the likes of him anyway. 

As he tucked himself into bed, he pushed thoughts of school work and projects in the back of his mind. He couldn't help himself, as a pair of silver eyes were the only thing he could dream of that night. 

Friday afternoon, Oscar found himself taking a jog around the nearby park. He hadn’t talked to Yang or any of her friends since the movie night on Tuesday, but he was sure they were all busy. 

He had gotten used to the idea of calling them his friends. Yang had texted him her housemates’ numbers, including Ruby’s, and she even started a group chat between them. 

Blake and Oscar sent texts back and forth in the chat, comparing Studio Ghibli movies they had watched with one another. He hadn’t watched When Marnie was There , and promised Blake they’d watch it and Castle in the Sky next time he came over. Ruby even chimed in, giving her own input on the movies they discussed. Weiss gave her two cents too, ultimately deciding that My Neighbor Totoro was the best Ghibli film. 

He passed by shirtless boys playing sand volleyball and a group of girls painting on the grass. Everyone fit into groups, one way or another. And though he had found himself a group of friends, he still felt a little left out. 

But he jogged along, his earbuds blasting disco-pop. He didn’t notice when a frisbee came flying at him, until he hit his head. 

“Ow!” he yelped, stumbling back. He picked up the pink disc, looking for its owner. 

“Over here!” a voice yelled to him. Oscar saw a tall blonde guy running towards him. 

Oscar met him halfway, disc in hand. 

The guy had to be at least six feet, as he towered over Oscar. 

“Sorry about hitting you,” the guy apologized. He sounded sincere enough, and though he looked menacing, Oscar figured he was a lot nicer than he appeared. 

“That’s okay. Here you go,” he said, handing it over.

“Hey, you wanna come play with us?” he asked suddenly. 

Oscar shook his head quickly, without giving it much thought. “Oh, no… I’m okay, I’ve got a weak arm.”

The guy smiled a bit, shrugging his shoulders. “That’s cool.”

Another person in a soccer jersey jogged up the blonde guy, patting his back. “Jaune, they’re waiting on us.”

Oscar looked up at the other guy next to Jaune, and realized it was his own roommate, Rane.

“Oh, hey. It’s you,” Rane said flatly. Oscar wasn’t exactly pleased to see his roommate either, but mustered a “Hi” back. 

“You know this guy?” Jaune asked, turning to Rane.

“He’s my roommate, Oscar.”

Jaune nodded. “Then Oscar, you definitely have to hang out with us sometime. Any friend of Rane’s is a friend of mine.”

Oscar gave a small smile, hoping that Rane would drag Jaune away so they didn’t have to keep up their facade. 

Eventually, Jaune and Rane went back to their game and Oscar continued his job around the park. 

He wondered about his roommate. Rane hadn’t made much of an effort to get to know him when they had found out they would be rooming together. He was the textbook definition of a “frat bro” and while Oscar had attempted to become his friend, the guy had no interest in doing the same. 

He wasn’t even sure what they would talk about. Rane loved sports, and Oscar really only watched the Olympics and the ice skating championships his aunt made him watch every year with her. They had only gone out with each other once, for lunch, when Rane’s girlfriend joined them, forcing Oscar to hide in the restroom until they left.

So yeah, he wasn’t the best at making friends.

That Jaune guy seemed nice enough, though. 

Winded, Oscar found a bench to take a break on, and sat on it, feeling the hot metal on his skin. The sun was out, which meant everyone else would be too. 

He closed his eyes, trying to even his breathing.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” a familiar voice called. Oscar opened his eyes and sat up. 

Ruby was in front of him, decked out in exercise clothes. Her short hair was tied up in a small ponytail and her face was slick with sweat.

“Oh, hey,” he said, trying to appear cool. “Yeah, I just wanted to get a jog in today.”

“Oh, me too! I was actually going to go join one of my friends playing frisbee, but I decided to back out,” she explained, sitting next to him.

Oscar took a long sip of water, hoping to cool himself down before answering Ruby. 

“Frisbee? I saw a bunch of guys playing it earlier.”

“Ah, that must’ve been them. Did you see a blonde guy, really tall?”

“I… there’s a lot of tall blonde guys here, Ruby,” Oscar laughed, looking around. “There was this one guy… Jaune, I think.”

“Yeah, that’s him! How do you know him?”

What a small world it was. “He’s friends with my roommate… he’s also one of the guys playing,” Oscar said. 

Ruby peered at him. “You didn’t seem to be happy about that. I take it you don’t really like your roommate.”

Oscar shrugged. “I’d rather spend time with Yang to be honest.”

She rolled her eyes. “Jaune’s a good guy, but after hanging out with some of his friends, I realized I was in a completely different world from them. So I can see what you mean.”

If the other guys were anything like Rane, Oscar knew exactly what Ruby meant. At least she had good judgement. 

“So, how’s Yang been? I haven’t really seen her around,” Oscar said, trying to make conversation. 

“Ah, Yang works some odd shifts at one of the bars near the square. She’s not taking a lot of classes this semester, so she picked up more hours. I’m sure she didn’t mean to leave you alone,” Ruby offered. 

Oscar laughed, Ruby’s words stinging him. “Yeah… you probably think I’m so lame, hanging around you guys.”

Ruby shook her head. “No, no, not at all! Come on, do I look cool to you? The only friend I’ve made on my own is Jaune and Weiss, sort of. Everyone else, I’ve met through Yang. Notice how I don’t have any sophomore friends,” she replied. 

“Isn’t having older friends supposed to make you cooler?” he joked around.

“Maybe in high school,” she snorted. “Anyway, you have us now, and since Yang’s always bugging you, you’re kind of stuck with us.”

“That’s not too bad.”

Ruby stared at Oscar, a thought forming in her mind. 

“Hey. You wanna go get ice cream, or something? It’s kind of hot.”

Oscar looked up at her, a smile on his face, much to her relief. “Yeah, why not.”

Ruby didn’t know what she was expecting when she walked into Cherry’s Ice Cream Shoppe that afternoon, but she wasn’t expecting to be harassed by her coworkers. 

But of course, what did she expect from her job? 

Oscar followed her behind wordlessly, and Ruby hoped they could get their discounted ice cream and go back into the car before anyone made a scene. 

“Welcome to Cherry’s, what could I get you?” 

Damn it. 

“Ruby?” Nora squealed. Ruby sighed, before mustering up a grin for her friend. 

“Hi, Nora.” She forgot Nora had picked up a shift today, and now…

“And who is this?” the redhead asked, directing her gaze at Oscar.

“He’s Oscar.”

“Nora, I need you to stop talking, and take orders!” a yell came from the back of the shop. 

“Yikes, Cardin came in today?” Ruby whispered. 

Nora rolled her eyes. “Turns out he recovered from his mystery illness. Good for me, right?”

“Nora .”

“Okay, okay, I’m working!” Nora turned back to the pair and flashed her smile. “So what could I get you two?”

“You know me, Nora. Two scoops of strawberry cheesecake ice cream with extra syrup.”

Nora nodded, directing another employee to start making Ruby’s cup. Ruby moved down, letting Oscar order. 

“And what could I get you, Ruby’s friend?” Nora asked, her eyes teasing. 

“Uh… mint chocolate chip please? Two scoops.”

“Gotcha.”

Oscar neared Ruby, pulling out a twenty-dollar bill. 

“You… you don’t have to pay, you know. I’m the one who brought you here. Besides, I have a discount, Ruby said, bringing a red wallet out of her pocket. 

“Nah, don’t worry, it’s the least I can do after the other night,” Oscar said, insisting on paying. They were handed their ice cream scoops, and Ruby gave into Oscar’s persuasion, allowing him to pay for the treats. 

“That’s sweet,” the girl called Nora whispered to him, taking the bill. 

“Uh… thank you?” He wasn’t sure why paying for ice cream was such a big deal, but he took the compliment anyway. 

“You want to eat them outside? Or inside?” Ruby asked, leaving the front counter. 

“Inside, if that’s okay with you. It’s burning outside.”

So they stuck themselves in a tacky booth with red plastic seats, behind a couple with three energetic children. 

“So this is where you work?” Oscar asked, taking a scoop of his ice cream. 

Ruby nodded. “Yep.” She lowered her voice, and leaned in, as if telling a secret. “I hate it here, but that girl, Nora? She’s the only person that makes it bearable.”

Oscar whistled, impressed. “That… sounds difficult. But kind of rewarding if you get to eat ice cream like this all the time.”

Ruby scoffed. “Ha, I wish—“

“Well, well, well, look who’s showing up on their day off?”

Ruby gave a dramatic sigh, and Oscar looked up at the direction of the voice. The man standing in front of them wore a striped apron and a smile that didn’t quite reach the rest of his face. He looked like he belonged on a wrestling team, not serving ice cream to families. 

“Hello, Cardin—“

“Mr. Winchester , to you,” the man snapped back. 

“Okay. Mr. Winchester .”

“I thought you said you couldn’t work on Fridays.”

“I can’t . You ask me to come in at 2pm, and I have a lecture then. And the schedule is filled on Friday, everyone usually comes in for their shift.”

The man named Cardin crossed his arms. “College kids are so unpredictable. If they decided they’d rather… I dunno, party it up, then someone’s going to have to take their place! And that’s when people like you come in, Ruby.”

“People like me? I’m a college student, too...” Ruby felt her temperature rise, even in the air-conditioned shop.

“Yes…kids like you who don’t have a social life. I’m surprised you even found someone besides your sister to hang out with. What’s not surprising is that you couldn’t even take somewhere cool. You had to take him to an ice cream shop.”

Oscar didn’t like this guy’s sneering tone. He didn’t like how it was attracting customer’s glances and he didn’t like how he was humiliating Ruby.

“Sir—“

“Am I wrong? Is anything I said incorrect?”

Oscar spotted Nora out of the corner of his eye, balling up a napkin in her hand. 

And Ruby couldn’t say anything, it could cost her her job. If this guy was teasing her anyway he wanted, he was probably a manager. Meaning there was nothing he could do. 

Pity wracked his heart, watching Ruby, red-faced, stare into her cup. He knew she wanted to say something. He wanted to say something, but that could lead to her being fired, too. 

Instead, he grabbed his cup, and stood up, before pulling Ruby up with him. 

“O—Oscar?” she asked, her eyes wide. 

Oscar turned back to Cardin, looking him square in the eye. “Excuse me, sir. We have to get going.”

And without another word, Oscar pushed past Cardin, walked past the curious eyes, and pulled Ruby outside the parlor. 

When they were back inside Ruby’s car, the girl turned towards him, her eyes glistening. 

“Why… why did you do that?” she asked, her voice small. 

“I’m sorry… I overstepped, didn’t I? I… I just couldn’t take him treating you like crap. And frankly, I don’t care if he’s your boss, he shouldn’t get into your personal business like that.”

Ruby laughed, shaking her head. “I’m pretty pathetic, aren’t I? Probably think I’m a coward.”

“Nope.”

“No?”

“No, I don’t think you’re a coward. You did what you had to do by being the bigger person. I had half the mind to throw my ice cream at that guy’s face.”

Ruby giggled, blinking back tears. “I hate that place so much… but thanks. I… really appreciate it.”

And Oscar stared at her smile, and looked back to her eyes. 

Was it heart racing? Yep. Did he feel slightly overheated? Sure did. And the fluttering feeling in his stomach… 

He prayed Yang would never find out. 

“I’m sorry I ruined our little… hangout… is there any other place you’d like to go, or do you just want to drop you off?”

Oscar considered his options. “I’d love to hangout more, but I’m kind of sweaty.”

His friend looked down at herself. “Yeah… me too. Uh… odd question, but do you want to go back to my place? You… you can take a shower there.”

Oscar stared at her, not sure how to answer. 

“Right, right. I figured it was a weird question.”

“No, no, I was just wondering where I’d get extra clothes from…”

“Oh don’t worry, Yang and Blake always bring back a lot of extra crap they never wear when they go thrifting, so I’m sure we can find you something.”

Oscar gave in. “Okay, cool.” 

Ruby hardly could believe she convinced him to come with her. Not that it was a bad thing, but Oscar was a boy. And it was one thing to invite Nora over and let her borrow clothes. But Oscar?

Thankfully, no one was going to be around for some few hours, so they could just spend some time alone, maybe watch a movie.

She didn’t really know why she felt so giddy about it, but after what Oscar did for her… she really appreciated it. 

“You won’t believe what Yang did the other day,” Oscar sighed, pulling out his phone. 

“If you mean putting soap in the school fountain at midnight, I’ve seen it,” Ruby sighed, glancing in her rearview mirror. 

“The other people in the video, those are the friends of Yang I told you about. I think they’re okay people, cause she hasn’t been arrested yet, but you know…” 

“How…”

Ruby sighed. “Well, if you ever have the fortune of meeting my dad, you’ll understand why. Believe me, it runs in our family.”

Meeting Ruby’s dad? 

“You seem different,” he laughed. 

“That’s cause you haven’t seen me at my peak. I may seem like the levelheaded sister, but sometimes…”

Ruby didn’t finish her statement, leaving it up to Oscar’s imagination. They pulled into the apartment complex parking lot, and got out, heading for Ruby’s home. 

When they entered the apartment, Oscar stared at Ruby. 

“You can take a shower first. It’s down the hall on the left. There’s a clean towel under the sink and a plastic bag full of those travel soaps and loofahs. I’ll leave the clothes at the door for you,” Ruby said. 

“Seems like you’re prepared.”

“Those three always bring people over, so…”

“Thanks for letting me use your shower. You didn’t have to…” he trailed off. 

“Oscar, if I had a nickel for every time you say thanks to me, I’d be rich,” she laughed. 

He laughed back, but it came out more like a bark. Embarrassed, he made his way to the shower.

Of course, cosmetic products and curling irons were piled on the bathroom sink. Oscar found the towel and the freshly wrapped loofah and soap.

He wanted to make the shower as quick as possible. As the steam filled the tiny room, he thought about the realization he had earlier. 

The boy wasn’t going to deny the obvious. He already acknowledged that he found Ruby incredibly pretty, but…

“No, that’s just Yang,” he muttered to himself. There was no way he had feelings for a girl he hadn’t even known for a week. 

After he finished the shower, he wrapped himself in a towel and opened the door somewhat, just to pick the clothes up. 

It turns out Ruby had picked up an oversized T-shirt with peaches on it, and cargo shorts. What had compelled Yang and Blake to buy this, Oscar had no idea. He felt silly, but he could always change when he returned to his dorm. 

Straightening the bathroom, he left it, to let Ruby take her turn. 

Coming back into the living room, he found Ruby scrolling on her phone. 

“I’m done,” he announced. Ruby looked up, her eyes growing large. “Oh, was everything okay? Sometimes the water pressure is too much…”

Oscar ran his hands through his wet hair. “Nah, everything was great.”

“Oh okay, cool. I’ll just… get going. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen if you’re hungry,” she said, before leaving. 

That left Oscar on his own. Ruby did give him permission to use the kitchen, so he decided to take up the offer, heading to the fridge. 

Scrubbing her scalp as hard as she could, Ruby tried to remove the image of Oscar’s curls out of her mind. 

She had no idea what had compelled her to invite Oscar over and let him use her shower. She had no idea what had compelled her to spill her guts to someone she had known for a few days. 

Sure, they were friends now, but new friends, nonetheless. 

Something about Oscar put Ruby at ease and made her tense at the same time. She found herself relaxing around him, yet she would chastise herself internally if she ever said anything embarrassing to him. 

And Cardin! Ruby wasn’t a violent person, but the way he insulted her in front of her coworkers, the customers and Oscar… it didn’t sit right with her.

Oscar. She had to appreciate that he stood up for her in some way. It was important for her to keep her job, to help pay the rent, so no matter how Cardin treated her, she would have to bite her tongue. 

But part of her felt like Cardin was right. 

Ruby wasn’t your stereotypical cool college kid, rather she was on the other side of the scale. Stereotypical lame kid. The parties Yang had dragged her to just made her uncomfortable. It was only fun if she stuck by Yang the entire night. So yes, she could’ve picked up a shift if the schedule wasn’t full. 

And maybe taking a new friend to your job wasn’t cool. There were other fast food places around. They could’ve gone to watch a movie, or even go to the amusement park outside of town. 

The self-consciousness crept in, and Ruby started to feel that Oscar was probably putting up with her for Yang’s sake. He was nice, but she didn’t want to force their friendship, especially if he would rather be doing something else. 

She would make sure to make that clear when she was done with her shower. 

She chose to wear sweats and white tee, and pulled her wet hair back into the short ponytail. While she was debating growing out her hair or cutting it again, she had a sizzling sound coming from somewhere outside the door. 

Curious, she left the steaming bathroom, and headed into the living room to see what Oscar was up to. 

She spotted him in the kitchen, scraping something into a pan onto a plate. 

“You… you cooked?” she asked, baffled. 

Oscar smiled at her, a knowing and cheeky smile. 

“Yeah. I like cooking.”

Ruby muttered something indecipherable to herself. She couldn’t possibly tell him what she had thought about in the shower if she just made her food!

“Wow… so what did you make?” she asked, looking at the plates.

“Pasta, cause I think it’s something generic… I’m not sure what you liked…” he said, trailing off.

Ruby nodded, whistling softly. “It looks good.”

“Oh, good. I’m glad. There’s garlic bread in the oven too.”

Ruby moved past him to check the oven, while Oscar took their plates to the small circular table outside the kitchen. 

Warm steam wafted out of the oven as Ruby (using mitts of course) took the garlic bread out of the oven. 

“I can’t believe you did all this, Oscar. You sure you don’t want to be a chef?” she asked, putting the toast on a plate. As she walked to the table, Oscar passed her saying, “C’mon, Ruby, a chef? It’s just a simple meal.”

Simple? 

“Believe it or not, I’d burn water,” she admitted, as Oscar returned, a pitcher of water in hand. Ruby went back to grab glasses as Oscar sat himself down. 

“Burn water? No, it can’t be that bad…”

Oscar fell quiet when Ruby stared at him. Hard. 

“Okay… well… I could always teach you some basic stuff… not bragging, or anything! Just… just if you want to.”

Ruby poured herself a glass of water and took a long swig of it. 

“That’d be cool.”

Oscar flushed, looking down at his plate. “Cool.”

Ruby smiled to herself. Maybe… maybe Oscar wouldn’t mind being her friend. If she was being honest, he was just as big of a dork as she was.

“Thank you for the food. You didn’t have to do this,” Ruby said, picking up her fork. 

Oscar shrugged. “I figured you’d be hungry after working out, so why not?”

They began to tuck in. Ruby almost felt sorry for the creamy pasta as she ate it, but it was really good . It had the right amount of basil and oregano, and the garlic bread just made it infinitely better. 

“I could come home to food like this everyday,” Ruby sighed, staring at her empty plate. 

“Ruby… you flatter me. What about the other girls? I’m sure they can cook too.”

Ruby snorted. “Yang isn't any more of a cook than I am. Blake and I do most of the cooking, meaning I cut the stuff and Blake actually makes it taste good. Weiss… I don’t think Weiss has ever made anything in her life. I mean… she’s trying. She made salad the other night.”

Oscar laughed at Ruby’s description of her roommate’s cooking skills. It seemed very accurate to their character, at least. 

“I think I’d take your cooking over campus food everyday.”

“Don’t lie! The BBQ Pit has some nice stuff!”

“Ruby, the BBQ Pit shut down after people complained about food poisoning, remember?”

Ruby stopped. “Oh… oh yeah. Yeah…”

Oscar stood up to take their plates, when Ruby stopped him. 

“No, you cooked, so I’ll clean.”

“Is… is that a rule here? I did use your ingredients.”

“Yes, it’s a rule. It makes sure everyone in the household is responsible,” Ruby beamed. 

“Alright… if you say so…” he said, bringing the dishes to the sink anyway. 

So Ruby washed the dishes and Oscar cleaned the table. After they finished, they both slumped onto the couch, as the afternoon descended into evening.

“Hey, Ruby?”

“Hm?”

“Why did Yang and Blake buy cargo shorts anyway?”

Ruby sat up and stared at him with a smile. “Hold on.” She got up and disappeared into the hallway, leaving Oscar slightly befuddled.

The girl returned later with a picture frame and sat back down. She held it in front of herself so Oscar could see it as well. 

In the frame, was a picture of Ruby and Yang as children. Ruby sat on a tanned blonde man’s lap, and a darker-haired man stood behind an excited Yang. 

“See Yang wearing those cargo shorts? She gets them from my dad,” Ruby laughed, pointing at the tanned man. He was also wearing cargo shorts and Oscar could see how Yang resembled him. 

Ruby on the other hand…

Oscar looked at the darker-haired man with scarlet red eyes. 

“Is… is that your other dad?” he asked curiously. He heard from Yang that she and Ruby had different moms, but perhaps their father had moved on again? 

Ruby laughed shrilly. “DAD? Oh, Oscar, he’s not my dad. That’s my uncle, Qrow.”

Oscar ohhhed in realization. 

“So you lived with your uncle too?” he asked, trying to forget his blunder. 

“Ah, no. My uncle came in and out. But he’s a good guy, he helped take care of us when we were younger,” Ruby said, her voice softening. 

“Oh… it looks like they raised you pretty well,” he replied. He sensed something was off, but he wouldn’t bring it up.

“Yeah, they did. My dad… he uh, he actually was with Yang’s mom first. But she left after Yang was born. Then my dad married my mom, who was a really good mom to Yang and me. She… she died in a car accident when I was really little,” Ruby choked out. 

Oscar tensed up at Ruby’s words. He looked at the girl with pity, wishing he had the right words to soothe her pain with. 

“I’m sorry. It’s hard… it’s hard to lose someone you love. But I can tell that you had some good people raising you.”

Ruby sniffled, looking up at him, and that’s when Oscar realized their close proximity. “R-really?”

Oscar nodded. “You’re a good person, and I know your mom’s proud of you.”

Ruby let out a big breath. “Thanks, Oscar. But enough about me! You’re… I know you’re a good person too. You must’ve gotten that from your parents.”

Oscar rubbed his hands together, a sigh catching in his throat. 

“Well… most everything I know I learned from my aunt. We live on a farm a few hours from here,” he admitted. 

Ruby smiled softly. “I never really pegged you as a rural kid.”

Oscar nodded. “Uh, yep. My… parents… they died when I was a kid. In an accident. So… I don’t really know what I got from them,” he laughed. 

Ruby knew that laugh. The dry laugh used to cover up sadness. 

“Both? I… I’m so sorry, Oscar. Here I am, talking about my mom, when—“

Oscar shook his head. “No, please don’t say that. Losing someone you care about is hard. You can’t compare things like that. Yes, I hurt, but that shouldn’t take away from your hurt, Ruby,” Oscar said honestly, staring her in the eyes. 

Ruby tried to find the words. “Right,” she managed. Maybe bringing out that picture wasn’t the best idea. Just as she was about to return it to her room, a knock sounded from the door. 

“Huh? If it’s one of the girls, they should have a key, unless they left it here,” Ruby muttered to herself. Without hesitation, she opened the door, expecting it to be Weiss, Blake or Yang.

“Hey, kiddo.”

Oscar sat up, heading a gruff voice from the other side of the door. 

“Oh! Uncle Qrow… come in!” Ruby exclaimed. 

Oscar watched as a tall and lean man strode into the living room. He had a wispy goatee, and tired eyes. It was definitely the Uncle Qrow from the picture, but older and more… grouchy-looking. 

“What are you doing here?” Ruby asked nervously, shutting the door. 

“Uh, well, I came to visit you and your sister. Stop by and say hello,” Qrow croaked, his eyes landing on Oscar. Oscar stood up, his hands growing clammy. 

“Who’s this?” the older man asked, crossing his arms. 

“Ah! This is Oscar Pine.”

Oscar stood up, and neared Ruby’s uncle for a handshake. 

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Oscar said, mustering up his country-boy politeness. He stuck out a hand for Qrow to shake, and the man took it, giving him a firm shake. 

“Is he Yang’s friend?” he asked Ruby, not letting go of Oscar’s sweaty hands. 

“Uh… yes…”

“Then where’s Yang?”

“She’s… she’s at work,” Ruby swallowed. 

Qrow let go of Oscar’s hand and watched him as he backed into the couch. 

“So you’re home alone with Yang’s friend?” Qrow asked, eyeing the poor boy suspiciously. 

Ruby sighed. “He’s also my friend. But he met Yang first.”

“And where did he meet Yang?” Qrow shot back. 

Oscar didn’t understand why Qrow couldn’t ask these questions directly to him, but he didn’t dare speak up.

“At the library.”

“At the library? Not a party? Well, then, he can’t be too bad, then?”

Right at that moment, Ruby wished she could disappear. 

“Qrow, Oscar’s fine, okay? I trust him, and that’s all that matters,” she said firmly, crossing her arms. 

Oscar’s spirits soared. 

Qrow hacked out a cough. “Alright, alright. You’re old enough to choose your own friends. Proud of you kiddo,” the old man said, tousling Ruby’s hair. 

“Geez, Qrow. You’re worse than Dad.”

The older man froze, and glared at his niece as if she said some offending words. “Take it back.”

“Please go home.”

“Fine! I have to get going, anyway. See if I can make it to your dad’s place before midnight.”

Ruby swooped in for a hug from her uncle, and it reminded Oscar of being at home with his aunt. 

“Yeah, yeah, love you too,” Qrow mumbled. Before leaving, he turned to Oscar, a sort of smile gracing his face. “It was nice to meet you, Oscar.”

“It was nice to meet you too, sir!”

And then he was gone. 

Oscar sat back on the couch, and breathed a sigh of relief. Ruby came to join him, her gaze sympathetic. 

“I’m so sorry about him. He’s usually pretty chill…”

“No, don't worry. He’s just watching out for you.”

Oscar cleared his throat. 

“Uh... did you mean it when you told your uncle that you trusted me?”

Ruby froze, her cheeks growing pink. “I did,” she mumbled.

He couldn’t deny his feelings. Not with that face. 

“Even though we just met?”

Ruby’s eyes sparkled. “Yang’s crazy, but I trust her. And I wouldn’t invite just anyone back to my house.”

It was then and there that Oscar decided he trusted Ruby too. 

Some months down the road, Oscar realized he had found himself with a pretty well-rounded group of friends.

It was just after spring break, and Oscar had gone back to campus. And he was actually excited about it. He could hardly believe that his freshman year of college was almost over. 

Since his encounter with Yang, he had made friends with Blake, Weiss and Ruby. A few potlucks and trips to the ice cream shop later, he had gotten to know their other friends, Nora and Jaune. And at the beginning of the second semester, he befriended a transfer student named Penny, who was also close to Ruby. All was well. 

At this point, he felt comfortable enough to hang out with any one of them and crack jokes freely. 

It was a Tuesday afternoon when Oscar was having lunch with Yang. The blonde had came back from spring break tanned and bright. According to Blake, Yang was having a hard time with her classes, and the break was just what she needed to refresh herself. 

The two were seated at their regular spot outside one of the dining halls. Yang had gotten the fries and Oscar chose a simple sandwich. 

“Next time, I’m going to take you to that beach. The sun… the waves… it was perfect,” his friend said dreamily. 

Oscar took a bite of his BLT, nodding in amusement. “I saw the pictures. It did look pretty.”

“And how did you spend your break?” the blonde asked, her chin in her hands. 

“I didn’t do much. Helped my aunt around the farm. Then helped several neighbors whose cows were giving birth.”

“That sounds so gross,” Yang shivered. 

“Once you do it a lot, you get used to it. I visited some old friends, and that was it.”

“I take it there’s not much to do where you’re from.”

“As a kid, you can go swimming in the creek or play around with the farm animals. When you’re older… it’s just helping around, trying to sell your crops to make ends meet,” Oscar explained. 

Yang nodded as if she understood, a sympathetic smile on her face.

“My sister says hello, by the way,” she brought up. 

Oscar smiled a bit to himself. “Tell her I said hi too.”

“You haven’t asked her out yet, have you?” Yang asked, exasperated. 

“Yang, you’re also single, yet you don’t see me giving you unsolicited relationship advice,” Oscar pointed out. 

“I’m not trying to meddle! I just need you to be aware of what’s in front of you!” Yang protested. 

“You do realize you need to start taking your own advice, right?”

“Hush. I texted her to come over, so she’ll be here any moment from now.”

Oscar rolled his eyes. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Yang grinned, standing up. She hauled her bag over one shoulder. “I do indeed have somewhere to be. That’s why she’ll come here to meet you.”

Oscar grumbled, but Yang told him Ruby was almost there, so there was nothing he could do. As the blonde strode away, he called, “This is the lamest thing you’ve done all year!”

And without turning back, she replied, “You’ll thank me later!”

So Oscar waited by himself, and ten minutes later, Ruby appeared in front of him, a smile on his face. 

“Hey!” 

“Ruby, hi! You… you look different,” Oscar murmured. 

Ruby did indeed change up her appearance. She had chosen to cut her hair a little shorter, and because they had spent nearly every day under the sun, she looked slightly darker as well. Oscar also noticed new piercings along the cartilage of her ears.

“Ha, I just wanted to try something new.”

“Well, I think it looks really good on you.”

Ruby sat down, her cheeks red. Looking around, she asked, “Where’s Yang?”

“Oh, she had to leave early.”

“Then it’s just us? That’s even better, ‘cause look what I got.”

Ruby dug around in the black tote bag she always carried around, and pulled out two paper slips. 

“Guess who got tickets to the Temptation tour this summer?” Ruby asked, her voice giddy. 

Oscar’s eyes widened. “You didn’t. “

“Oh, but I did. We’re going to see Frost!”

Oscar grinned, then realized something. “Ruby, I’m going to have to pay you back for this, I’m sure those tickets were expensive!”

His friend shook her head, her dark hair falling into her eyes. “Absolutely not. I’ve been saving my money for concert tickets anyway. I was going to drag my dad to go with me, but I’d rather go with someone who would enjoy the music.”

Oscar could hardly believe she did that for him. “This is incredible Ruby. I can’t wait to go with you. Though I’m still paying you back.”

“No, I won’t take it!”

“You will take it.”

“It’s a gift!”

“But I didn’t get you anything!”

Ruby shook her head. “I don’t need anything from you Oscar. I just like having you around, y’know?”

“Y-yeah.”

One thing hadn’t changed between the two of them since they had met.  They were still incredibly dorky at times. Qrow did make a few more “surprise” visits, but eventually, he stopped picking on Oscar altogether. Oscar had once sent Ruby a video of him imitating Rane after a workout, and Ruby proceeded to drop it the group chat. Let’s just say Jaune wasn’t too pleased. And they were both very awkward when it came to the accidental touches. 

“I have to pay you back, though,” Oscar insisted.

Ruby patted down his hand, sending a jolt of electricity up Oscar’s arm. 

“No, you don’t. This is for us.”

Us.

Though she insisted, Oscar decided he would pay her back. He appreciated her friendship and he wanted to make sure she knew that. 

The two delved into stories of their own spring break, before taking a walk around the campus. 

“Spring break was nice, but admittedly, I missed you guys,” Ruby laughed. 

“Believe me, so did I. I never thought I’d prefer Rane’s 6 am workouts to a rooster’s call,” he joked. 

Ruby elbowed him. “Okay, Old MacDonald.”

And on their walk, Oscar received a text message from Yang, who asked how things were going. He replied with the emoji that rolled its eyes, hoping she got the hint. 

He had to admit, without Yang, he probably wouldn’t have gotten to see Ruby today. But he would never let her know how grateful he was for it. 

“This all you need, Oscar?”

The boy nodded. “Thanks, Aunt Em,” he smiled warmly, stopping down to kiss the woman’s cheek. 

Oscar’s Aunt Em patted the hood of her beat up blue truck, before nodding at the man in front of her, in a truck of its own. 

“And thank you for coming to see me, Sylvie,” Oscar said.

His neighbor simply waved back. 

“Take care of her, okay, Oscar? Make sure whoever you’re takin’ around knows how to clean up after themselves,” his aunt warned him. 

“Aunt Em, it’ll be fine. My friend is great, and she’s trustworthy,” Oscar insisted. 

“She?” his aunt asked, a mischievous smile gracing her face. 

Oscar didn’t want to spend the entire day playing twenty questions in the parking lot with his aunt, so he decided to cut her visit short. 

“Okay, you have to get back to the farm before sundown. So go,” he shooed. 

“Fine, fine. I will be meeting this ‘she’ someday, won’t I?”

“Sure, sure,” Oscar said, pushing her towards Sylvie’s truck. 

Aunt Em whirled on him, and crushed the boy in a hug. 

“You’re so grown up, my beautiful boy.”

“I love you too,” Oscar murmured. 

As the two separated, the older woman shook her finger in his face. 

“My truck better be in perfect condition when I come pick it up.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Oscar murmured. 

His aunt’s eyes softened. “I’ll see you real soon, okay?”

Oscar nodded, watching as his aunt sat in the passenger seat of Sylvie’s pickup.

He waved the two goodbye as they piled out the parking lot and maneuvered they’d way down the street. 

Oscar eyed the blue truck. He had a few stops he had to make before tomorrow morning. Everything had to be perfect. Everything. 

“So what’s the reason you asked me to meet you here on a Saturday at 11 am?” Ruby asked curiously. 

Oscar walked beside her, a playful smile on his lips. 

Ruby wasn’t quite sure what the occasion was, but she wished she had known what Oscar was wearing. Of course, Oscar said she could dress any way she wanted to, but she would not be underdressed (or overdressed). 

It turns out he was dressed in a corduroy jacket with a white shirt underneath and jeans. So casual, but not too casual. Ruby had made the mistake of asking Yang for advice, and ended up in a strawberry patterned dress and her hair clipped back. 

She felt ridiculous. It was a cute dress, but dresses weren’t exactly her thing. Especially when it was just to hang out with a friend. 

Oscar had complimented her on her outfit when she arrived, so it was good for one thing. 

The two walked side by side, until they got to the parking lot assigned to Oscar’s hall. 

Ruby questioned Oscar again but the boy wouldn’t budge. Eventually, they found themselves in front of a deep blue truck, whose wheels were caked in hardened mud. 

“What’s going on?” Ruby asked, looking to Oscar. 

Oscar grinned. “It’s Saturday. You have a day off… so I thought we’d just… drive around.”

“Drive… around?” Ruby had to admit, she was slightly disappointed. She was hoping for something… more. 

But what exactly?

“Yeah, there’s this place I used to go outside the city when I was a kid. You’ll love it, I promise.”

Ruby shrugged. “Alright, sure.”

So Oscar went around the truck, and doing the gentlemanly thing, he opened the door for his friend. 

“You did not need to do that,” Ruby asked as he helped her in. 

Oscar just smiled, and went around to the driver's seat, settling himself in. 

“Just in case you didn’t eat breakfast, there’s some food down there,” Oscar murmured, waving at the space below Ruby’s seat. 

“Breakfast too? This is getting too fancy,” Ruby joked, pulling out a white box. Inside were an assortment of donuts.

“Aww, Oscar, this is so nice,” Ruby smiled, taking a bit out of a chocolate donut. 

Her friend pulled out of the parking lot, and turned to her, a grin on his face. “I didn’t know what you liked so I got one of everything.”

Ruby didn’t have anything to say, but it did warm her heart that Oscar was doing this for her. She still had no idea where they were going, but she was sure that whatever he was planning, it was bound to be great. 

Soon, the radio was turned on, and whatever weariness the friends felt had subsided. Ruby took in the spring sunshine on her face as she gazed out the window, and Oscar tapped the steering wheel in rhythm with the music. 

They had a few conversations here and there. Video games, comics, whatever. But they also enjoyed it whenever it became silent, too. 

Soon, they found themselves out of the urban area, passing through endless green. Rolling hills with the occasional herd of cows or horses. 

“This is beautiful,” Ruby breathed, looking out the window. 

“It is, isn't it? There’s not much, but out here, it can be really relaxing,” Oscar replied. 

“Is your farm around here?” she asked hopefully, turning back to him. 

Her friend shook his head. “No, we’re headed in a different direction than the one that goes to the farm. But I promise I’ll take you there one day.”

“And then I can meet your aunt.”

Oscar laughed. “She’d love to have you over.”

Eventually, after passing through small towns and large acres of land, Oscar went down a winding dirt road towards a small barn in the distance. Further away from the barn, was a yellow farmhouse. 

“Are you sure we aren’t visiting your farm?” Ruby squinted.

“Ruby Rose, I’d appreciate it if you’d be patient,” Oscar joked. 

“Fine, fine.”

As they got nearer, they saw other cars parked out on a lot of grass, and that’s where Oscar pulled in. It was around 2 pm when they arrived.

“I’m trying not to ask questions, but I have several questions,” Ruby piped up, as they exited the car. Oscar was digging around in the backseats, until he found what he was looking for. 

“Baskets?” Ruby asked.

“One for you, one for me,” he answered, handing her the small basket. 

Ruby, still confused, watching as a family of three left their car and headed into the barn. Was this some kind of family event? Did Oscar know the owners of this place? 

Feeling very out of place in her tulle strawberry dress, Ruby followed Oscar into the barn.

It was dimly lit, but quite crowded when the paid entered the barn. It smelled of… dirt. And hay. What Ruby would’ve expected from a barn. 

“Hello,” Oscar nodded to a wrinkled man seated at a table in the front. 

“Orchard?”

“Yes, for peaches.”

“Two baskets? That’ll be $22, please.”

Ruby watched the exchange, blinking towards the quick pace in the way Oscar talked to the man. 

“Have fun you two,” the man called, waving at them. Ruby watched as another group of people moved up behind them to talk to the man. 

“C’mon, it’s this way,” Oscar waved, going through the back door of the barn. Ruby had somewhat of an idea of what they were doing here, but she wasn’t sure—

“Whoa…”

Oscar looked back at her, his eyes crinkling up. 

“It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?” he asked. 

“It is… this is amazing. I’ve always wanted to go to an orchard,” Ruby breathed. 

“My family used to know the people that owned this place, but they sold it to another family. There’s peach orchards in spring, strawberries and blackberries in summer, and apples in the fall. You can also buy fresh cow’s milk and see the petting zoo,” Oscar explained.

Ruby looked at him in awe. “This is so cool!” she squealed. 

“Well, let’s go then!”

The orchard was divided into columns, with the peach trees towering above everyone. It was beautiful, especially on a warm day like this. 

At the entrance, there were step stools visitors could use to reach the trees. Oscar took one, tucked it under his arm, and walked through the lane. 

Ruby could hardly believe her eyes, taking a few pictures to send to her friends later on. Ripe peaches poked out from the greenery, enticing guests to pick them. 

“A lot of people are here today,” Oscar murmured, inspecting a tree. 

“Guess peach picking is popular with the people, huh?” Ruby answered. Hushed conversations could be heard through the trees, among the screams of children some ways away at the petting zoo. 

“This is good!” Ruby said, stopping at a tree. A plump peach, just the right color, caught her attention. She tried to reach on her tiptoes to reach it, but her fingers grazed leaves instead. 

“You wanna use the step stool?” Oscar called from his tree. 

Ruby nodded. She and Oscar were around the same height, but if she had learned anything about boys from her dad, it was that they could sprout a few inches anytime. He also had longer arms than her.

So she unfolded the stool and stepped onto it, grabbing the fruit off the branch.

“Got one!” Ruby exclaimed excitedly. Oscar rumbled happily, jumping up to pick his third peach. 

“Make sure they’re not too soft,” Oscar reminded her as she stepped down. 

“Right!” Ruby’s eyes narrowed into the same competitive glint she got when she was really determined. 

“Okay, find some good ones then,” Oscar said. It fell on deaf ears, however, as Ruby had already ran ahead of him. 

“Oh, isn’t that lovely? The younger people are out at the orchard!” an elderly woman clapped, coming up to Oscar. 

“Yes, ma’am, it’s a wonderful time to do so,” Oscar said cheerfully. 

Yippy barks came from near the old woman and Oscar saw she had a small terrier.

“You’re a very good boyfriend to her,” the woman smiled, swinging her basket. 

Boyfriend? 

“Oh, no, ma’am—“

“You don’t need to explain yourself!”

Oscar just quieted down and smiled. Asking the woman, whose name was Gladys for permission, he leaned down and petted her dog, Milo. He was sure Ruby could handle herself, just for a while. 

Ruby had her basket halfway full of bright peaches. And on her way, she went past giggling children and happy couples. 

As she turned into the next lane, she overheard Oscar’s voice. She hadn’t even noticed he wasn’t following her anymore. 

“What about this one, ma’am?” he could be heard asking. Ruby, curious, peeked through the trees. 

She could see Oscar, reaching on his tiptoes to grab a peach. He dropped into a basket of a smaller person, an elderly woman. 

“Thank you, dearie. Usually my granddaughter helps me out with this, she’s buying some milk right now,” the old woman spoke. 

“No problem. Would you like me to get you some more?” 

“Oh, my basket’s quite full now, thanks to you.”

Barks came from the other side.

“Milo thanks you too,” the old woman could be heard saying. 

Ruby peered into the shrubbery, and watched as Oscar crouched down, petting a small dog. 

“Aren’t you a handsome boy, Milo?” Oscar cooed to the dog, who was wagging his tail. 

“Now, go back to her. I wouldn’t want to keep you with me all day,” the old woman laughed. 

Her? As in, me? 

Ruby straightened herself, and smoothed out her dress, trying to appear natural. She quickly found another tree, and continued to pick peaches. Oscar was helping that woman, wasn’t he? And the woman’s dog seemed to like him too… 

The scene reminded her of her own dog, her little corgi at home, and it warmed her heart. 

Oscar caught up to her several minutes later, jogging to where she had just finished picking.

“Hey, sorry I left you behind. I was helping someone with their basket,” he explained. 

Ruby turned to him, smiling wide. “That was really sweet of you.”

“Uh, is it?” Oscar asked, scratching the back of his head. 

“Yeah, of course it is. Not many people take time out of their day to help other people, y’know.”

Oscar shrugged, hoping to appear humble. Truthfully, Ruby’s compliment made him feel good. 

Half an hour later, the two had finally finished picking their peaches, and they had taken many, many pictures, and Oscar returned back to the truck to keep them there. 

When he returned, Ruby was waiting for him, wanting to go see the petting zoo. 

“You want to see the petting zoo?” Oscar asked again.

“Please?” she begged, her eyes quivering. 

“Really? The puppy dog eyes?” Oscar laughed. “C’mon, let’s go”.

So they left the peach orchard, and found themselves in a clearing where animals were sectioned off in separate pens. 

“Look, Mama! Oink, oink! ” a child squealed, tugging on their mother’s shirt. The mother in question picked her child up, and allowed it to lightly touch a mama pig’s back. 

“Oink! Oink!” the child repeated. 

“Oh my gosh! Look! Baby goats!” Ruby exclaimed, pointing at a pen in the center. She nudged Oscar through a group of people, until they reached the bleating goats. 

“They’re so cute! I wish I could take them home with me!” Ruby screeched. 

“You’re quite enthusiastic about baby goats,” Oscar noted. 

“Yeah, of course I would. Look at them!” she cried. She leaned over, reaching to pet a kid with black patches of fur. 

Oscar joined her at her side, petting a more active kid, that was bucking its little legs at the guests passing by. 

“Don’t tell me… are those ducks?” Ruby gasped, her eyes targeting a pen at the periphery of the petting zoo. Oscar had no choice but to follow her, eventually spotting the plastic kiddie pool the baby ducks were swimming in. 

“I love ducks so much!” she sighed, nearing a brown-feathered female. “They are so cute!”

 Ruby thought everything was cute, apparently. And she wasn’t wrong, these animals were adorable, and he was happy that she was excited to see them.

The petting zoo soon expanded into a mini fair. Bobbing for apples, sack races and egg-and-spoon races took place all across the fields. Ruby enjoyed apple cider and Oscar got his hands on cotton candy. 

For the first time in a long time, Ruby felt the stress melt away from her. Even though she was feeling quite sticky in her dress, she hadn’t felt this light in a long time. Just for a moment, she could forget stress about school, about work, about her family… and just take it easy. 

Sunset soon came, and the amount of visitors dwindled down. Ruby didn’t work on Sundays, so she wasn’t in a rush to get back home, but the friends were college students, so they would have to do their schoolwork as well. 

The two were making their way out through the barn when Oscar stopped Ruby from going any further. 

“Wait here, let me warm up the truck,” he said.

Ruby was feeling breezy. 

So she waited in the corner of the barn, nodding goodbyes to certain people she had encountered at the petting zoo. Darkness was coming quickly, and Ruby hoped they would be able to make it back to the university without having to stop for the night. That would be awkward.  

Oscar came back inside, waving her over. She followed him back to the grassy patch where they had parked. Oscar turned around, and smiled at her, as Ruby jogged up to him. 

Inside the back of the truck, was a blanket, with a picnic basket and two plates set on them. Pillows were situated nicely at the front, and candles lit the entire area up.

“Oscar… what is this?” Ruby asked, her skin prickling from the night wind. 

“I figured dinner would be nice before we go, right?”

Ruby looked back at him, speechless.

“Why... how did you do this?” she asked, her voice hushed. 

“Let’s go wash our hands in the barn,” he said instead. 

So the two returned to the barn in silence, washing their hands in the basin. Oscar dried his hands on his jeans, turning back to Ruby, who hadn’t moved an inch from the sink. 

“Aren’t you hungry? Come on,” he smiled, beckoning her over. Ruby let a small laugh before joining him at his side. 

When they returned back to the truck, Ruby hoisted herself up into the truck, and Oscar did the same. 

The back was a lot more spacious than she thought, and Oscar had even brought two blankets for them to sit underneath. They settled against the pillows, looking at the spread before them. 

“This… this is wonderful, Oscar,” Ruby smiled, turning to him. Oscar swore her eyes glowed like the moon in the sky above them.

“But what did I do to deserve this?” Ruby asked, picking at her fingers. “You brought me to this place, made all this food… why?”

Oscar looked at Ruby in disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe she would question something like this. 

“Ruby… are you asking why I did this? I mean… I trust you. This place,” he waved, gesturing at the land before them, “this place is just like home to me. It has a special place in my heart.”

Ruby realized Oscar didn’t answer her question, but his response only made her all the more confused. Of course they trusted one another! But Oscar trusted all his friends, right? So why her?

“Well, thank you for this. This day has been really fun,” she smiled softly. 

“Of course,” Oscar said, opening the basket. He brought out a plate of croissant sandwiches, complete with turkey and cheese, and a bowl of pasta salad. Ruby watched in awe as he pulled out a tray of grapes and cherries, and finally two bottles of homemade strawberry lemonade. 

“When… when did you get time to do all this?”

“Heh, since the only people on campus who have apartment-style dorms are the honor students, I asked Penny if I could use her kitchen. Bought some stuff and went over to her place this morning to make it. And I kept it all cool in the cooler, in the backseat. For the lemonade, I asked the owners if I could keep it in the farmhouse refrigerator to keep it cold.”

Ruby was at a loss for words. Penny was a good secret keeper, and even if Ruby had suspected anything, her friend would never tell.

Oscar gave her a look of amusement. 

Ruby felt flustered. “I… I don’t know what to say! You put all this effort in… for me .”

Oscar punched her playfully. “And you’re acting like you don’t deserve it. Come on, let’s eat.”

So he brought out spoons, tongues, and forks and they served themselves underneath the night sky. 

“Are we allowed to be here this late?” Ruby asked, filling her plate with the salad. 

“Others are here too. This is a great place to watch the stars, in the middle of nowhere,” Oscar murmured to her. Ruby turned and saw he was right. A few other groups of people had brought trucks or blankets, and spread it out over the grass, watching the sky above them. 

“The stars are beautiful,” Ruby said breathlessly, settling back into the pillows. There was no way anyone could see this many stars from the university. But here? So many tiny white specks. 

Oscar cracked open a bottle of lemonade before taking a long swig from it. Afterward, he looked up at the night sky above them. 

“When I get to see the stars, everything kind of feels… brighter, you know?” he said, turning to Ruby. His hazel eyes met her silver ones, and she took a large sip of her own lemonade, before saying, “Yeah, it does.”

And they watched the stars in a brief silence. The chatter from other visitors seemed to fade a way as they two found themselves lost among their own little universe. 

Ruby put a grape in her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. Oscar’s focus was solely directed on the stars, so she could sneak a glance or two at him without feeling embarrassed. 

Many thoughts ran through her head as she considered the subject in front of her, Oscar. Why had he brought her out here? Alone? 

Were they exactly best friends? Of course not. Arguably, Ruby could say that position belonged to Weiss. Yet… Oscar hadn’t asked anyone else to this orchard before, right? Was it just her? 

“Oscar,” she spoke up, her heart set on the question she wanted to ask him. 

“Hm?” The boy turned his attention towards her.

Ruby sat up and pulled the blanket over herself. “I… I was wondering… am I the only person you’ve brought out here before?”

Oscar slowly smiled. “Yes, you are.”

Ruby blew air out of her nose. “Oh. That’s nice.”

Oscar pointed at the sky. “Do you know what I’m reminded of every time I look at the moon? It’s funny, but they kind of remind me of your eyes.”

Ruby felt shivers from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. She had no idea how to process that statement, and the way he said it so casually . 

“The—the moon? In my eyes?” she sputtered, her face growing red. 

“Is… was that weird? Sorry, I meant it as a compliment!” Oscar exclaimed back, turning away from her. 

Great, now it was weird. Ruby grabbed a cherry from the platter and popped it in her mouth to prevent herself from saying any more embarrassing things. 

But… she was curious. She looked up, just a bit, and focused on the bright full moon in the night sky. 

She got her eyes from her mother, and no doubt, every time Ruby looked in the mirror, it was a constant reminder that she would never see her again. But looking up at the moon, it felt like her mother had never left. Like she was looking down on her, waiting for the day they would be reunited again. 

He saw the moon in her eyes.

There were so many questions, so many things she wanted to say and do, but she had to push them aside for now. Her heart was telling her something, and for once, her mind agreed. 

So she prayed they were right and cleared her throat. 

“Oh?” Oscar asked, facing her. 

Ruby smiled a little. 

“Oscar… today was really nice. It’s still hard to believe that you did all this for me.”

And then did the little head scratching thing he did when he didn’t know what to say. “Well, I wanted you to enjoy yourself, so…”

So Ruby gathered all the courage she had been collecting in her soul for 19 years and scooted a bit closer to him. 

“Ru—Ruby?” Oscar asked, his voice dropping lower. 

“It’s just a little cold,” she murmured to him. It was the hope that what she was about to do would go well, but if it backfired, they would both pretend nothing happened and ride back home in silence. 

“Cold? Cold, right it is very windy tonight,” he laughed. 

“Oscar, could I ask you a question?” Ruby asked, leaning in. She could make out his brown freckles, spatter over his face like paint. And then the same eyes she had been drawn to when she first met him. The golden specks that lay inside…

“Yes?” he asked, his voice catching in his throat. 

Ruby gently, and almost hesitatingly, grabbed his arm. The wind howled louder and louder, almost swallowing Ruby’s voice as she opened her mouth. 

“Can I kiss you?” she asked. 

Oscar’s eyes shot open. 

“Kiss me?”

And Ruby almost wanted to retract her statement, but she didn’t dare. Instead, she whispered, “Yes.”

And instead of verbally answering, Oscar reached out with his free hand, and tucked a strand of Ruby’s hair back behind her ear. Ruby nearly froze, surprised he would do something like that. 

He met her eyes again, and said the words she was waiting for. “Okay.”

Ruby reached up and cupped Oscar’s face with her right hand, and pressed her lips onto his. She was worried she would’ve missed, but they just bumped noses a bit. They quickly adjusted to one another, leaning in to each other as the wind blew the candle lights out. 

No one around them noticed, but the two didn’t care. The moon and the stars shone on them instead, as they embraced each other. The wind settled down to a cool breeze. 

Ruby couldn't describe how she felt during the kiss, except that it made her feel…lighter. She was buzzing, and it was something she hadn’t ever felt before. Then they let go, and looked at each other goofily. 

“I… you kissed me back,” Ruby smiled.

“I did want to kiss you. And I want to do it again,” Oscar admitted, looking at her. 

Ruby nodded and Oscar eagerly leaned in while Ruby was looking up, causing them to knock heads. 

“Ow!” Ruby exclaimed, moving back. Oscar sat himself back, rubbing his forehead. 

“Sorry, Ruby… that’s not what I meant to do,” Oscar murmured. 

But she just looked up at him and smiled. “I think we’re both pretty new at this. It’s less embarrassing when you think about it that way.”

“So can I try again?” he asked hopefully. 

Ruby nodded, and let Oscar come to her. The second time was still a little sloppy, but it still made their hearts race with the excitement of it all. 

Once again, they let go, and just took each other in. 

“Thank you for coming with me today,” Oscar murmured. 

“I’m glad you took me,” Ruby agreed. She looked back at the unlit candles. “It seems the wind kind of ruined our dinner.”

Oscar gently took Ruby’s hand. “I don’t think anything’s ruined. This… was one of the best nights of my life so far.”

Ruby squeezed his hand back. “You’ve got a long life ahead of you. Are you sure you want to make such a bold statement?”

“I’d like to take that chance.”

In the end, the two ended up snuggling for a little while more. Cars started to leave and soon enough, they were one of the only people left. It was when Ruby started to yawn that Oscar realized it would be best to head home.

They picked up their dinner and arranged the back of the truck for the ride home. Then Oscar helped Ruby out of the back and they settled in the front. 

“Ready to go home?” he asked. 

“Do you want me to drive? You must be tired,” Ruby hummed. 

“No, no. You need to rest. It’s only a few hours.”

And so thus their journey back began.

Oscar kept his focus on the road, his hands gripped on the wheel. Fatigue threatened to take over him, but he knew had to get Ruby back to her apartment as soon as possible. He had several missed calls from Yang and a few texts from Blake and Weiss, but he hadn’t replied to any of them since he had kept his phone off all day. Ruby had taken a few pictures earlier in the day, and he was sure they had contacted her too. But as soon as he found himself in a town, he’d pull over and text them that they were safe.

The farm boy’s heart was still racing from the night’s events, and could hardly believe that Ruby had kissed him. She was feeling what he had been feeling, probably all along. The faint feeling of her lips on his was enough to make him blush again. 

Every so often, he’d take his eyes off the road and glance at her as she slept. Her head was slumped against the cool window and her mouth was slightly opened. He’d always turn away moments later in fear of feeling like a creep.

Her soft snores were enough to keep him alert as he drove past the small towns and the expansive ranches. Yang had replied to his message and when he could, he had to reassure her that her sister was not dead and she was okay. 

Happiness alone couldn’t describe the way he was feeling. Ecstatic, maybe. His emotions caught him off guard, because never in a million years did he think he’d feel this way.

He guessed Yang was right. Her “subtle” matchmaking had sort of worked. Not that he would let her know that anytime soon. But Oscar ought to be grateful to Yang; she was the one that introduced them to each other after all. And he had known Ruby now for quite some time… enough to get to know her entirely on his own. There was no Yang around to feed him facts about Ruby. He got to know her himself and see so many sides to her. And now… now there was a chance he’d get to see more. 

After some time, he found himself turning into the parking lot in front of Ruby’s apartment. They were here. 

He let out a yawn, and turned to look at his friend—Ruby— with a smile. 

Then, he got out his phone and called Yang. 

“Oscar Pine, if you aren’t here in the next thirty minutes—“ Yang growled. 

“Shh! We’re here, but Ruby’s sleeping. I need you to come pick her up, please,” he murmured. 

A sigh came from the other end. “You’re lucky I like you.”

So Oscar got out of the car and grabbed Ruby’s belongings as well as her peach basket as Yang came hurriedly down the steps, wrapped in a robe. 

“Nice to see you in one piece,” the blonde snorted. 

“We went to a farm, Yang. We were perfectly safe,” Oscar laughed. 

The taller girl stalked up to him. “When it comes to my sister, I don’t joke. I trust you, but you need to pick up your damn phone, okay?”

Now that was enough to scare him out his wits. 

Nodding quickly, Oscar gestured to a sleeping Ruby in the passenger seat. Yang opened the door, gently hauling her onto the younger girl onto her back. 

“God, what did she eat today?” Yang groaned, shifting herself to accommodate for the added weight. 

Oscar just shrugged and followed his friend up the stairs. 

“Hmhmhm...Os…” Ruby muttered sleepily. 

“Heh… you want to explain… anything?” Yang huffed, directing her gaze to Oscar. 

“There’s nothing to tell, Yang.” Despite those words, he felt warmth creep up his neck.

“Right .”

Oscar opened the front door for Yang and followed her inside, closing the door behind him. 

Blake was seated on the sofa closest to the hall, a knowing smile on her face. She had a green face mask on and was watching the nightly news with a bowl of cereal in her hands. 

“Welcome back, young one,” Blake murmured, eyeing him. Yang continued down the hall, opening the door to Weiss and Ruby’s room. 

“Hi, Blake,” Oscar sighed, placing Ruby’s bag and basket on the coffee table. 

“Peaches? Sounds like fun,” his friend said casually. 

Oscar was too tired to tell Blake to stop listening to Yang and leaned on the wall behind him. 

Yang soon returned from the room, clapping her hands slowly. 

“So you did it.”

“Did what, Yang?” Oscar asked. 

“I don’t know, but it must’ve been pretty good if you ignored my calls for hours,” Yang pointed out, her arms crossed. 

“Yang, I genuinely have no idea what you’re implying. Ruby and I went to go pick peaches. There was a little fair on the farm, we had fun, we had dinner and looked at the stars and came right back here. Nothing happened. ”

Yang eyed Blake, who shook her head in amusement. 

“You could fool someone else, Oscar, but not me,” Yang said. “Looking at the stars?”

“I wasn’t aware that looking at stars was inherently a romantic activity,” Oscar shot back. 

“See, but I never said anything about romance, but you did ,” Yang grinned. She walked over to Oscar and tried to pull him to the couch. “What exactly happened over there?”

“Yang, I’m exhausted and have been up for hours. Please let me go back to my dorm.”

Yang released his arm. “Don’t think I’m finished with you. You’re being so obvious right now.”

Oscar stood up straight, staring at his friends. “You two are so funny. I’m obvious? ”

Blake coughed, before spooning her Cinnamon Toast Crunch into her mouth. 

“Changing the subject won’t get you out of this. Not when it concerns my sister,” Yang stated. 

Oscar headed towards the door, and opened it. “Yang, if you’re concerned, you should ask Ruby herself. Now, goodnight you two.” With that, he shut the door and jogged downstairs back to the truck. 

Once he was back on the road, Oscar thought back to Yang. He could understand the worry of an older sister, but wasn't she the one who wanted to set them up in the first place? Besides, it wasn’t really his place to tell. He didn’t want to spill anything to Yang and Blake if Ruby wasn’t comfortable with it. For all he knew… this could’ve been a one time thing. And maybe Ruby would realize when she woke up that it was a mistake, and she didn’t have any feelings for him after all. 

He didn’t want to fill his mind with negativity, but he couldn’t help but feel that way. As he returned back to campus, he decided he would need to have a conversation about it with Ruby soon. 

When he got back to his dorm, he quickly texted a thank-you message to Penny and cleared out the food from the basket. His bones weary, he forced himself to take a shower, though he’d rather collapse on the floor. After the long day, he could finally give into a long night of rest. As he slipped into unconsciousness, his thoughts wandered to the sky, the stars, and the moon.

“Over here!” Jaune called across the field. Oscar and Penny jogged to where Yang and Jaune were tossing a football.

“Hey, guys,” Oscar waved breathlessly. 

“Hello, everyone!” Penny cheered. 

“Hey, Oscar, hey Pen,” Yang replied. 

“Nice to see you two today,” Jaune smiled warmly. 

“Where’s everyone else?” Penny asked, scanning the premises. 

“Weiss and Blake should be here any moment with Nora and Ruby,” Yang answered, throwing the football back to Jaune. 

Oscar’s heart fluttered at the sound of Ruby’s name. He had woken up but bright and early to finish his work so he could come hang out with his friends. 

Even though it was Sunday, the park was pretty empty, so the friends could do as they wished. Penny joined Yang and Jaune in football, claiming she wanted to “maximize her arm flexibility”. Oscar sat on a bench, pretending to watch the game, when he was actually on the lookout for Ruby. 

If he was being honest, he was quite nervous to see her. They hadn’t talked this morning, and he wondered if it was because they were to see each other later in the day or if she just didn’t want to text him. 

“Hey, guys!” Nora’s voice called. Oscar looked up to see Nora, clad in pink, running over to where they were situated. 

“Hi, Nora”, Oscar waved, anticipating a hug. Nora loved to give hugs. 

“Hiiii,” she gushed, squeezing him. Not going to lie, Nora’s hugs were the best. Oscar liked to listen to her stories about her boyfriend, Ren, or the newest hobby she had picked up, and she loved to give advice too. 

“How’s work been?” he asked her as Blake and Weiss approached them. 

“Ah, you know. Annoying. Hoping I can get that paid internship over the summer so I can quit that place,” Nora shrugged.

“You’ll get it, don’t worry,” Oscar reassured her. Nora winked in response, then went off to join Yang’s side in the football match. 

“Oscar,” Weiss waved. Blake waved as well, mouthing something to him. Oscar ignored it however, and greeted them as if nothing had occurred last night. 

The pair chose to sit at the base of a nearby tree, reading some magazine Oscar had never heard of. 

“Hey, guys!”

And there she was. That familiar voice. 

Ruby came running from the other side of the park, and joined the group in their area. She was neither breathless nor sweaty, as she loved to run and was fast . 

“Rubes, nice of you to join us,” Jaune joked. 

“Haha, very funny. I had to finish an essay, you know,” she said defensively. 

It got silent, when Ruby spotted Oscar over the football flying through the air. Oscar stood still, as if he couldn’t move. He didn’t know what to say, or what to do. 

But he watched as Ruby made his way to him, walking around Jaune and Penny and nearing him. And Oscar swore his heartbeat was getting louder and louder. 

Ruby wasn’t all dressed up today, but she looked rather casual, just like the first time they met. 

“Hi, Oscar. Um… I should’ve texted you… thanking you for bringing me home last night,” Ruby laughed, hugging her arm. 

“Oh! No, don’t worry… you were fine. Yang was the one who hauled you up.”

“Oh, yeah! Thanks… for that. And the peaches… and dinner… and everything else,” she said quietly, her face aflame. 

“If I have to watch another minute of you two being so damn awkward, I’m going to puke!” Weiss bellowed. 

Everyone jumped at the sound of her voice. They turned to see the shorter girl staring down at them. 

“W-Weiss?” Yang stammered. 

“What? Am I wrong?” the girl shrugged. 

Ruby turned to Oscar, Oscar turned to Ruby. 

“I guess our secret’s out, isn’t it?” he asked. 

“It was never that much of a secret anyway,” Nora admitted. 

“Yeah, I kind of figured it out too along the way,” Jaune added. 

“Well, when you asked to come cook a large amount of food for Ruby at my dorm, there were only a few logical explanations,” Penny piped up. “I learned that a way to some people’s hearts is through their stomach.”

“Penny!” Ruby hissed.

“Pen’s right, I think,” Yang added. “I would like to add that this was all my idea.”

Ruby turned to her sister, her hands planted on her hips. “You were trying to set us up?”

Yang flashed her a smile. “Since the beginning, baby.”

Well that explained the strawberry dress. Ruby whirled back onto Oscar. “Did you know about this?”

Oscar put his hands up innocently. “I did… but at first, I was trying to ignore Yang. Because you know, she’s Yang. But… the more I got to know you, the more I realized she was right. You’re just… amazing. And I like you. A lot.”

“This is so cute,” Blake could be heard whispering to Weiss. 

“You… you like me?” Ruby asked, in disbelief. 

“Well, sure. I hoped that was obvious after last night,” Oscar grinned, murmuring the last part. 

“Right! I just… part of me had doubts.” Ruby straightened herself, aware of everyone’s eyes on them. “But now that I know for sure, I think it’s safe to say that I like you too.”

And as if it were clockwork, the two were drawn to each other and leaned in for a kiss. 

“Omigosh!” Nora cried.

“Take a picture!” Blake could be heard saying. 

Their friends could be very, very overdramatic at times. 

“My baby sister’s first kiss,” Yang sniffed. 

Oscar separated from Ruby, but their foreheads still touched. “Should we tell them?” he whispered. 

Ruby scrunched her nose. “Nah. They’re treating us like babies, so I think we should keep this to ourselves.”

And so they did.

Chapter Text

In the rundown library off Summer Lane, I reside peacefully in the young adult fiction section, crammed between a classic fantasy series and the newest dystopian teen drama. I am constantly checked out and checked in, written in, spilled on, torn, yet I always return to this same place at the end of the day. My routine is the same, I am read to capture the reader’s attention, yet they never catch mine.

Until you.

My story is the same every time the tattered book is opened. I live my life as a performer on a stage, so I must stick to my act, lest I get thrown out. It’s a story of a farmhand who loses three of his family members, and searches for the last one, all while trying to establish himself in the world. It is the tale I am doomed to repeat, every time I feel cold hands pry me out from the shelves.

The book is covered with a thin layer of dust when you grab me, and I awaken with a jolt. Though I cannot see you yet, something is different. You… you’re warm. You hug me tightly to your chest. You hold me as if you’ll never let me go.

How foolish of me to think otherwise.

When you gently crack open the novel, I’m so curious to get to know you before you’ve even met me. That is the way I am with all of my readers. My fascination and curiosity about the world of the “reader” is enough motivation to keep me going. To keep acting the role I was delegated. So as you gently drag your finger across the title page, murmuring out familiar words, I peek over the thin pages to get a glimpse of who you are.

Immediately, I am transfixed by a pair of silver eyes. Bright and round, they scan over the page, eagerly taking in words. You’re patient, but I feel you brimming with excitement of the journey you’re about to take. The one all too familiar to me. I am unable to see nothing else, as you flip to the first chapter. I must fall in place, get in line, and my eye must not stray, in fears of being noticed. 

The scene starts out as it always does, and I feel myself shrink a bit smaller, a bit younger. Of course, it starts off with the flashback. Oftentimes, as I’m forced to replay this role, I think of the milkmaids I pass or the newsboys around the farm village where I grew up. I’m filled with envy because while they play minor roles in the story, once the scene is behind them, they are free to do what they wish. To fall in love with whom they choose. To celebrate, to laugh, to hold another. But for me? Instead, I get to watch my family destroyed in front of me again, and again, and again, a—

You close the book with a sudden swiftness and I am shut out again. I hear a faint call, a “Ruby!” before your thudding footsteps disappear down the hall.

Ruby. That is my new reader’s name. I shall no form no attachment to her, no matter how piqued I am by her eyes. Once those warm hands leave the book spine for the last time, I will be sentenced to another lifetime collecting dust on the shelves.

I stand paused between scenes of my younger self, after storming out from the dining room. Soon you’ll reach the break-in scene, the one that results in the death of my parents. I wonder how you, my reader, will react. Possibly the same as most others, with pity, sympathy, before hurriedly flipping to the next page. Rarely do they cry.

I must rely on my hearing, as once the book is shut, my view of the outside world is, as well. I wait patiently for you to return, to the moment you will pick me up again, and immerse yourself in my world.

You return much later than I expected, leaving me to dwell in my own inner turmoil for hours (what I suspect are hours) on end. As a main character, I’m not allowed many breaks like minor characters are, as the reader can reopen the book at any time, and I must always be perfectly in place when that occurs. Conversations with my family have gone dry over the years, leaving us to only murmur about the weather and better days as the scenes go by.

When you open the book again, you go at a much faster speed, eagerly waiting to return to where you stopped. I tuck my wandering thoughts away and focus on the plot I am meant to live by. When other characters talk briefly, I sneak glances at you, hoping to know you a little better. This is what I do for all readers, of course. It’s a… formality, of sorts.

My aunt and uncle are discussing the recent robberies, and while I know I should be paying attention, my attention is drawn to you, reader, instead. Not to appear out of place, I carefully drag my eyes away from the dining table I’m seated at, and towards you. Your chin, then your lips, murmuring the words under your breath, then your nose, drawing right back to those beautiful eyes. The ones that hold so many memories and ideas and pain and wonder—oh! Readers are so much more interesting than the stories they claim to love.

All of a sudden, you stop. You pause over a certain sentence and I watch your eyes go back to a previous line. Did you notice me? Did you notice that I wasn’t in place, like a doll at a tea party? I focus my attention back towards the conversation, but I can’t help but wonder, if just for a moment, you saw me too.

I can tell by the way the light reflects around you that it’s getting late, yet there’s no sign of you stopping. A lamplight near you is turned on. I feel your strong grip on the covers, holding it as if your life depended on it. If I could capture your attention again, just for a moment, could I finally get to bask in your beauty? Not with the hurriedness and the sneaky eyes, but to be fully enthralled by your presence.

No. No, this isn’t right. I briefly forget my purpose and return to the scene where I’m shivering in a dark closet as hell breaks loose downstairs. A smaller, younger, scared version of myself shakes against my aunt’s apron, gripping her hand, wishing my parents would be come back to me—

But they never do. That’s how it’s always been, hasn’t it? No amount of begging or pleading can overcome the will of the one who wields the pen.

And my curiosity gets the best of me again. I hear the sniffles, I hear the heavy breathing. Fat droplets, tears fall onto my pages, my farm. You’re crying. You’re crying so hard, that your face is red and your nose is runny. You try to keep yourself quiet—it’s nighttime after all—but you can’t help yourself. The way you rock yourself, hands trembling, all indicates that I have managed to reach your heart. I don’t take pride in tears, however, this time it is different. I moved you.

You wipe your tears, hoping to convince yourself to stop sobbing. Readers’ expressions have always fascinated me, and this is no exception. You reread and reread, and I go backwards in time, reliving the scenes that often time hurt. I push it aside, however, because I know my place.

There is an interruption, what sounds like a knock. I strain my ears as you turn your attention away from the book and towards the door.

“Ruby? Are… Are you crying?” a voice snorts. I’m perplexed by this person, until they come into view, nearing you. A blonde girl, with violet eyes, pats your head. “What’s the book about?”

And in between sniffles, you answer, “A farmhand and his best friend search for his aunt after the rest of the family dies in bad circumstances.”

“Huh. I thought you liked fantasy books,” the blonde said.

Another sniff. “Yes, I do, but my teacher recommended this one, and I love it so far. It’s really sad, though.”

My heart warms at the sound of your world and I can only thank the teacher who introduced you to me in spirit. Fantasy is a genre I wished I found myself in often, instead of being relegated to such a traumatic and slow-paced drama. But for you to come to the library and pick my story up—it’s enough to keep me going through the same agonizing scenes.

The voices become faint again, and I make out the blonde insisting for you to go to sleep. You agree, but once the door is closed, you eagerly turn back to the earmarked page where you last left off. The funeral scene, when my childhood friend comes to offer her condolences.

Her name is named Ophelia, or what she is known throughout the book, Fi. As another main character, she often has to stick to her script, glued to me the entire novel. Of course, she is meant to represent my other half, signified by our intertwined hands at the end of the novel—but I can’t think about her today. Whatever fabrication of love we’ve been allowed to partake in, is merely what it is, a fabrication. The feelings we produce have been so run down to the ground that whatever magic that was supposed to be between us has faded.

At least, for me it has.

I watch as you inch towards the glowing light in the darkened room, pressing your index finger under a line.

“Ophelia was his comfort through the early days of his grief, alongside his aunt and uncle. Tragedy wracked his person and she was the only one who could truly hold him through his tears, comfort him through the long summer days.”

Hearing your voice again, reading over our words, well, it was nothing short of spectacular. You were hushed and well-paced, and I could tell, you liked Ophelia. You’d grow to love her more, with her headstrong ways and stubborn values. You’d admire her more and more as the story went on, as Fi grew into a beautiful young woman. A pang of jealousy tore through my heart. 

Sometime later, I hear soft snores from above me. I noticed you changed positions while reading, from lying upside down, to seated, to curled up in a corner. The book changes angles as you do, and eventually, it falls next to you, flat open, the pages gently flipping themselves. In the moments before you turn away from me, I catch a glimpse of your face, and I can’t help but smile. Your short hair falls over your face, and you hold your fist with so much strength.

Though I know all that separates you and I is a page, a page is a large thing. So many words and ideas and plots and creativity fill a single page. How can I reach you? How can I go beyond my predetermined destiny and get to you? I can only touch your heart, with words that are no longer mine. Words given to me by a creator, who wills me to do their bidding. You only know me by this page, and because of that, I can never be happy.

The next few days are a whirlwind of emotions. Reader, you are quite active. There are days where you spend all day with me, curled up with a hot cup of coffee I can smell from the pages. There are days where I am completely shut out, leaving me behind in darkness. Sometimes the book is dropped, thrown—oh, not the dog!—reader, I often question how responsible you are. Never mind, that. I forgive you, because today, you find yourself with a bookmark. It’s gold upon first sight, but it shifts between colors in the light. It’s gorgeous, and though the pages are already worn, I’m grateful that you bought it anyway.

I shift between your names. Reader is what you are; the monolith you are a part of. But my heart can’t help but call you Ruby. May I? It will never reach your ears, yet I can only hope you hear me too. Ruby! It’s me, Oscar Pine!

My favorite days are the one you spend under the sun, reading aloud to yourself. Occasionally, the blonde one, whose name I learned is Yang, comes with your small dog, sits on the steps and listens to your voice. I can act out the toughest scenes without a problem when I know it’s you reading me.

Fi and I reach the point in the books when I find another clue leading to my aunt’s whereabouts. I am older and wiser, and stronger. I take my eyes off of you for a moment, but listen to you read aloud as I continue my journey.

“At this time, Oscar had reached the age of seventeen. His hair, yes, the unmanageable mess from before, was finally trimmed and thanks to Fi he finally learned a thing or two about looking presentable.”

A giggle spewed from your lips, and Yang joined you. I struggled not to blush in anger, but continued to follow Fi through the tavern. Once again, I meet with the woman who supplied my aunt with my uncle’s medication. And as the scene goes, the woman is shifty, and Fi erupts, leaving me to be the peacemaker. It’s almost exhausting going through this scene, the that leads to a fight. Soon enough, the fist fight breaks out and I am caught in the middle of it. I’m desperate to save Fi, as per usual, but of course, she can take care of herself. The pages pass by as I am mercilessly punched and thrown across tables, and finally, they reach the point when I’m cut by a rowdy salesman from behind.

The agonizing yell, the blood, the dizziness, Fi’s cries… I hear it all in your animated voice. Somehow, you manage to capture every inflection and tone of the people around me, as I descend slowly into darkness, as I have been commanded to do.

The gold bookmark slipped between pages, and I understand, that once again, we must part ways.

As our days together draw to a close, I think about the life I’ve lived with you, Ruby, and how much joy you have brought me. I didn’t know what to make of it at first. What made you stand out from the other readers? Every person who had read my story had impacted my life in some way, but never to this extent. Why did I find myself drawn to your disposition?

Oh, but you hardly know me. You only know what these pages tell you. You couldn’t possibly know about my dreams and hopes and fears. Is it the same for you? I can only get to know you once your callused fingers reach the covers and flip open to where you were before. When your starlit eyes widen at the good scenes, and tear up at the bad ones. When you stare down at the book with a look of adoration on your face, I can almost picture that you’re looking straight at me.

Today, you read the pages of Fi’s confession, when I am in the middle of a breakdown after finding my aunt’s locket at the rocky shore. Tears fall from my face as Fi’s familiar footsteps follow after me. Just like we do every time, Fi touches my shoulder, and I turn around, eyes red and bleary.

“Oscar… it isn’t over,” Fi said gently, patting his arm. A gentle, brief touch to remind him that she would never abandon him. Now wasn’t the time to give up hope.

The boy ripped his arm out of her grasp, distancing himself from her. “Ophelia, this is it! Don’t you understand? It’s over! Emmaline is dead and gone and I will never see her again! Just like my parents! Just like my uncle! We came all this way—you even tried to help me, and now we’re at a dead end. Why can’t you see that? Why are you even helping me?”

It was a sudden gurgle of so many words he didn’t mean, but Ophelia heard them anyway. He didn’t call her the beloved nickname he had held onto since their childhood. He was upset and scared, and she knew he didn’t mean any of those words. So why did they hurt?

“We’ll find her,” Fi said, after a moment of silence. Oscar looked up at her, focusing on the eyes of the girl who had always been at his side. She truly believed that Emmaline could be found.

Waves crashed over the shore, moving in rhythm with their hearts. Oscar gripped the locket in hand, feeling the engraving of his aunt’s initials on the back. Then he met Ophelia’s eyes.

“I still want to know why you followed me here. Even when everyone else told me Em was dead, you still came after me, fought for me. I don’t… I don’t deserve your kindness.”

Ophelia just chuckled, crossing her arms. The wind blew through her braid, unraveling it before him.

“Why? Oscar, how long have we known each other?”

Oscar thought it was an odd question, but answered anyway. “Twelve years, of course.”

“Right. Over a decade of friendship means that I wouldn’t ever let you do this on your own. Wherever you go, I go, and we protect each other, remember?”

Oscar shook his head, amusedly. “We were five.”

“Yet we’ve never broken that promise, have we?”

"You love me that much, huh?” he asked, teasingly.

And unbeknownst to the young farmhand, she did. Ophelia loved him more than a brother, more than a friend. But now wasn’t the right time. As Oscar turned his head back towards the sea, she could only murmur what she wanted to say to the wind.

“Oscar, I love you.”

I stopped, paused, my heart lurching in my chest. Though those were Ophelia’s words, from Ophelia’s mouth, your voice echoed louder. Thundered, even. Those four words left your lips and struck me.

And this is when it fully hits me. I love her. I love my reader, there’s no denying it.

I love you.

It feels so strange to hear it on my lips, and though I’ve said it a dozen times on paper, nothing compares to the true feeling. It’s irrevocable and genuine, it has to be. I’ve had so many encounters, come across many different kinds of people, yet none have ever piqued my interest as much as you do, Ruby. It’s you. Like the waves that crash over the rocks, my love for you does the same, washing over me.

Immediately after my epiphany, a sudden shadow is casted over me. The book is nearly to the end, and our journey will soon come to a close. I will be stripped from your hands, from your presence, and to be returned to the high shelves of the library. Oh, dear Ruby, why must it be this way? Why must I be reduced to a work of fiction, a mere imagination? Oh, if only I could talk to you. Then I could tell you how much you mean to me before I go.

On our last today together, there is only a chapter left. The epilogue where Ophelia and I find ourselves in front of my aunt’s new cottage. After being separated in the tornado that killed my uncle, I would finally get to see my beloved Aunt Emmaline again.

You keep the pages open with your hand as Yang enters your room.

“Hey, your book is due today, you know,” the blonde reminds her.

“I know,” you say softly.

“You can always check it out later. But someone else has it on hold,” Yang sighs, patting your shoulder.

“I know,” you reply again.

You haven’t reached the last pages, but you stand up and grip me to your chest the same way you did when you first checked me out. My heart knew this day would come, but honestly I wish it hadn’t. I am sick to my stomach knowing that the next time my book will be opened, it won’t be by your hands.

It’s funny, I think, how quickly I’ve managed to fall in love with you. I can hardly focus on my role when you open the pages again. Your beauty transcends everything I’ve ever known, and I know the following days will leave me in misery.

I hope you know your worth, as I’ve heard you whisper lies about yourself and your appearance. The insecurities you think no one else knows, I hear. But it doesn't matter to me. All your faults and your quirks and your mistakes are lovely, lovely, lovely.

“Ruby,” Yang groans as you sit in the passenger seat. “It’s just a book. Don’t tell me this is Ravena all over again.”

Ravena, I’ve heard that name before. You and Yang have mentioned it plenty of times. She was a character from a series of yours, one you had a strong attachment to. I’m envious that this Ravena spent multiple books by your side, while I only have this one opportunity. Still, it makes my heart flutter that I am the sole object of your affections at that moment.

I dread the moment we’ll part, and it will be any moment from now. The clock ticks on by while you read line after line, the end drawing near.

I hold my breath while acting my role. Every moment until the final pages, I wish you would stop and reread a page or two. But you don’t. You know as much as I do, that we can no longer go on like this.

When Ophelia grips my hand in the final scene before my aunt’s house, I am smiling. Not because I have my supposed happy ending, but because I know what awaits me in the coming moments. Words are etched on my heart as you read the last words. I sense your heartache, and relief that I got to be happy. But little do you know, it is because of you, that my smile is brighter than ever.

My love, I am so grateful that I got to know you. In the time you spent, laughing, crying, smiling at my pages, I spent the same exact time, lost in your eyes, reading your own story. I can only hope you will revisit me again, one day when you’re older, taller, and possibly in love— but never forget me. And oh! You’re crying? You’re crying as you reach the final pages, the final destination where we must part ways. But don’t cry, my dear, don’t worry that your teardrops have stained the paper—it hardly matters now. If I could reach out of the pages and caress your cheek, oh by the gods, I would. Dear reader, no, dear Ruby, as you made me your world for these moments, you were mine in kind. I can only pray that we meet in another lifetime. So no, don’t cry, though our time may be over, the memories that come with it, well, those are quite permanent. You’re very much irreplaceable in my heart, Ruby Rose. My heart aches, but I continue to thank you, thank you though those words fall on deaf ears. So, as you close this book, and return me to the rundown library on Summer Lane, remember me, my love, for our journey together while brief, was one for the ages.

Chapter Text

The early morning was a brisk one. It was clear, but the only thing you could see in the inky sky was the shattered moon. 

Oscar sat outside his tent, huddled next to Ruby, gripped Crescent Rose in her hands fiercely. Even in the dark, lit only by their oil lamps, he could tell that she was itching to fight. 

If he was being honest, he was growing more and more aware of their close proximity. He knew it was only because it was cold, but he couldn’t help but notice how close their shaking knees were. 

“Maybe the 2 am shift wasn’t the best idea,” Oscar admitted, pulling his gloved hands higher. 

Ruby shrugged. “It’s cold, but it’s not too bad. We get three hours until Yang and Blake’s shift, so we can just hang out until then.”

Oscar watched his friend’s eyes flit to the moon above them. He wasn’t sure that being on guard for Grimm was considered “hanging out”, but he had to admit, he was glad to spend more time with Ruby, regardless. 

The village was quiet, save for their breathing and the distant animal sounds.

The village they were at was one off the coast of Mistral, far away from any other modern civilization. Other towns around the village had been previously destroyed due to scrimmages and battles, leaving Grimm to slink around in the ruin. However, for weeks now, the Grimm had attacked civilians and destroyed buildings. The town leader had previously hired Huntsman to clear out Grimm from the neighboring villages. Everything seemed to be normal, until the Grimm mysteriously reappeared one night, back to their old antics. Ruby’s group just happened to be traveling by when the town leader begged for help. It was their fifth night here, taking shifts with the others and killing any stray Grimm that happened to come across the town. 

“It’s so peaceful, almost like there’s nothing hiding in those woods,” Ruby whispered, her eyes still glued to the moon. Oscar looked up as well, wondering what was drawing her to it. 

“Have you ever tried to picture what the moon looked like before? Before it was destroyed?“ Ruby asked, her voice hushed. 

Oscar squinted. “Well, it would’ve been a whole moon, right? I heard before that, the moon would go through phases, having a different appearance every few days. That’s hard to imagine.”

“This is all we’ve ever known. The land is a remnant of what once was, the people, even the moon. We all grew up thinking this was peace, that this was good enough. But since learning about Salem… and how people used to have magic back then. There was true peace back then. Imagine that.”

It seemed that Ruby was speaking more to herself now, so Oscar kept quiet, his eyes drifting from the moon, to her. Ruby was right, ultimately. Remnant was named that for a reason. But he watched her curiously, her face lit up by the lamplight. In that moment, however, she seemed perfectly entranced within the moonlight, as if it had casted a spell on her. 

The night was still again, and eventually Ruby broke away from the moon, yawning loudly.

“I’m wondering if we’ll see any Grimm tonight.”

“Hopefully not,” Oscar replied. 

Just then, a cry broke from the forest. Ruby and Oscar stood up, alert. The hairs on Oscar’s skin stood up as he turned to the dark woods at the edge of the city. 

Before he could even process anything, a blur of black burst through the trees, past the entrance of the village. It let out a loud hoot, one that could wake up the whole village. 

Ruby was on it within seconds, using her semblance to catch up with the winged monster, Crescent Rose at its neck. Oscar tried to catch up, but stopped at the sight of Ruby swiftly decapitating the beast, letting it disintegrate into the air. 

“Whoa”, Oscar murmured to himself. She was so cool. 

Folding up Crescent Rose, Ruby jogged up to Oscar, just as another cry broke out from the woods. 

“It’s starting. The Grimm are going to try to be attacking the villagers now.”

“So do we wake everyone up?” Oscar asked, his hand on Long Memory. 

Ruby shook her head. “We’ve been on the defense for days. We need to find out this new hideout of theirs and get rid of it. Tonight.”

“We’re supposed to be defending the town…” Oscar trailed off, hardly believing the words coming out of Ruby’s mouth. 

“Yeah, but we can’t stay here forever. We have a mission,” Ruby explained. 

Oscar nodded, understanding. “I’ll get Yang and Blake up early. You pack up, make sure to grab our scrolls.”

Ruby saluted him with a smile and sped off into the distance. 

Oscar headed towards the small building their group was allowed to occupy for the night. 

Inside the dark house, Oscar could hear the soft snores of his friends. He knew how exhausted they were, but if Ruby’s plan worked, none of them would have to take shifts anymore. 

“Blake,” he whispered, shaking the older girl awake. She slept on the floor in a sleeping bag, only a few feet away from Yang. 

“Blake!” he hissed louder, not wanting to wake up Jaune, who was also on the floor. 

“Wha—wha…?” Blake sputtered, her eyes opening. “I—Oscar?” she exclaimed, her eyes wide. 

“Shh!” Oscar hissed. He knew Blake could see excellently in the dark, but he must’ve given her quite the scare regardless. 

“What’s wrong? Where’s Ruby?” Blake whispered, sitting up. 

“Ruby’s fine. I just need you and Yang to wake up for your shift early. Ruby wants to hunt down a Grimm nest.”

“You want to do what ? Alone? Let’s just wake everyone else up!” Blake argued, reaching for Gambol Shroud next to her. 

“Blake, please, you have to believe us. We need you guys to guard the city, but we have a plan to get rid of the nest for good.”

He did not have a plan. 

Blake looked conflicted. “I don’t like doing things separately. It’s one thing if we split up, it’s another if only two of us know what you’re doing. What if you two get hurt, and we can’t find you?”

“Ruby’s getting our scrolls, we’ll make sure our location is on, and you can also check our Aura levels. If you sense we’ve been out too long or are in danger, you can wake everyone else up. Do whatever you feel is necessary.”

Blake sighed, but nodded in agreement. “Okay. Do you need any supplies?”

Oscar thought quickly. 

“Uh, does Weiss have any combustion dust? Preferably in crystal form?”

Blake narrowed her eyes. “Oscar, you didn’t have a plan did you?”

Oscar grinned. “I’m doing my best here.”

“Right”, she sighed. “I’ll get it for you.”

Blake jogged up the stairs and soon returned with a handful of cut crystals, orange in shade. “You’re going to have to get her some more.”

“I figured. Now I have to go, Ruby’s waiting for me!” Oscar smiled, waving Blake off. 

Blake shook her head as Oscar made his leave. “Ruby’s waiting for me, huh…” 

She stretched her neck and moved around to wake her own partner up. 

“Took you long enough!” Ruby exclaimed, her bag on her shoulder. “They’re coming right?”

“Yeah, Blake’s getting Yang up right now.”

Ruby opened Oscar’s knapsack to put the crystals inside. “Combustion dust?”

“I have a plan. We're also going to need to dismantle our tents. We need all the rope we can get.”

Ruby watched Oscar with curiosity and amusement, as he tied the shorter pieces of rope together. She could see where this was going, and was grateful for his presence. She knew they didn’t always agree on things, but it was nice to have him trust in her leadership.

“We’ll be following our instincts to find this nest of theirs, you know,” Ruby reminded him. “We follow the sound.”

“Right,” Oscar said, hauling his knapsack on his back. “I have a plan, I’ll tell you while we’re walking.”

Ruby grinned. “I love the sound of that.”

Oscar’s skin prickled, and not just from the wind. 

As they left the perimeter of the village, the wind began to die down, leaving them in silence. Their boots crunched under dry leaves, making their presence known. 

“So, what’s the big plan?” Ruby asked, her eyes big. 

Oscar shook his head. “Did you have a plan? Or were we just going to storm in there?”

“I usually have plans, but I kind of guessed you were going to have one. So I didn’t worry too much about it,” she smiled back at him. 

“You... really trust me like that?”

“Duh. I was kind of planning to have a cool combo attack where we just went all out on them!” Ruby exclaimed, making wide gestures with her hands. 

Oscar laughed up to cover up his shakiness. 

“That would’ve definitely been cool. But , this is what I was thinking,” Oscar started, weaving around a tree. A sharp caw came from the left, and following Ruby’s lead, he darted after her. The trees covered the night sky, but still, the moon peeked through giving them light. 

“Yeah, spill,” Ruby panted, slowing down.

“You said you’ve studied this Grimm at Beacon right? It’s like an owl. They occupy hanging nests, and they’re very territorial right?”

“Yep. We aren’t sure if the Grimm sleep, but we think they enter periods of dormancy when their bodies slow down. Unfortunately for us, these owl Grimm are like real owls, which means they’re awake at night,” Ruby sighed.

“And usually these Grimm nests are guarded by an elder Grimm who defends the younger ones from getting into trouble with humans.”

“Correct! You’re good.”

Oscar was grateful for Ruby’s nightly lessons on the Grimm. Having never been to a combat school or a Huntsman academy, he had to rely on his knowledge of his Grimm encounters on the farm or books he managed to get his hands on. But the advanced or ancient Grimm were all a mystery to him. When he and Ruby had free time, or at night, when they watched the big moon together, she would tell him about the Grimm she had come across, and the ones she had yet to see. 

“So what I’m thinking is that we lure the older Grimm from the nest and use the ropes to trap it, then I get rid of it.”

“Okay... okay, and what about the Dust?”

“That’s where you come in. While I deal with the elder one, you can use your semblance to get up to the nest and plant the combustion crystals. You escape and use your weapon to blow it all up. If any of the younger Grimm weren’t in the nest, the fighting will be sure to bring them here. We do what we need to do and get rid of them.”

Oscar felt a light punch in his shoulder. “That’s pretty good for a plan you came up with within minutes.”

The boy looked down so Ruby wouldn’t see his red face. “Uh, thanks.”

Another caw in the distance. The Grimm were preparing for another attack. They had to carry out their mission before more of them arrived at the village. 

“Look!” Ruby exclaimed, pointing at the sky. Overhead, two winged Grimm burst through the sky. 

“Should we get it?” Oscar asked, grabbing his cane. Ruby shook her head. “Yang and Blake are there. If any of them head back to the village, I know they’ll take them down.” 

“Right.”

“And look at the direction it came from! That means we’re nearly there!”

The moon shifted as the time went by, and Oscar knew that within a few hours the sun would rise. Allowing another night to pass would mean allowing another villager to be at their mercy of the Grimm. 

“I think we’re nearly here, you hear that? They’re shifting,” Ruby whispered, standing behind a large tree. Oscar followed her lead, peeking her head out. 

There was a small clearing, and in the back was a giant sac of branches and twigs, presumably for the young. 

A hulking shadow was on the tree branch, its head twisting around. Oscar had never seen an owl before, but this had to be ten times scarier than the actual animal. 

“This is so gross,” he shuddered.

Ruby handed him his scroll, and Oscar pressed his finger on it, letting Ruby, Blake and Yang know both his location and aura levels. 

“Rope”, Ruby commanded, holding out her hand. Oscar dug in his knapsack, taking out the thick rope and placing it in her hand. 

“You see this tree? There’s one across the clearing. Move around there and when I call you, you come out and slide underneath the underbelly of the Grimm, typing it’s leg to the other tree. They’re really quick, so it’s hard to aim at them, especially when they have wings,” Ruby explained. 

“But you’ve fought winged creatures before. Single-handedly,” Oscar reminded her. 

“Yes, that’s true. But these guys are a bit tricky, maybe you’ll see why in a bit.”

Oscar nodded. “I trust you.”

“Ready?” Ruby asked, a grin on her face. Oscar knew that smile, that good luck smile. Ruby believed in him more than anyone else and that’s why he….

“Okay, let’s go!”

Oscar nodded, taking his leave. Ruby watched as he quickly moved and stayed still behind trees, waiting, and watching carefully. Eventually, he reached the other tree and poked his small head out. 

“Heh,” Ruby chuckled. Now it was her turn. With Crescent Rose at her back she gripped the long length of rope and began to creep around the tree, wrapping it around tightly. She nodded at Oscar through the darkness to do the same. 

“Right. Now to be bait,” she muttered to herself. 

She dragged herself out towards the clearing. 

“Hey, buddy! Over here!” she cried, waving her free hand. 

With a swift whoosh of its wings, the elder Grimm descended upon Ruby, snapping at her. She ducked away from its sharp beak, leading it away from the tree. She couldn’t allow it to get far, or it would run out of rope. 

The Huntress quickened her steps, dodging the Grimm’s talons gaining on her. Side to side, zig-zagging, before stopping abruptly, and quickly sliding under the belly of the Grimm, fixing a knot on its left leg. A cry sounded from it, and Ruby knew that the younger ones would come out of the nest soon. The Grimm flapped its giant wings, nearly sending Ruby flying. She brought out her weapon, and quickly reloaded it, shooting at the Grimm to keep it at bay. 

“Oscar, it’s your turn! Hurry!” she yelled, jumping out of the Grimm’s way. 

The owl Grimm’s specialty was hearing the slightest footsteps. It made them very difficult to sneak up on, and even harder to escape. Out of the corner of her eye, Ruby spotted Oscar trying to move towards the creature 

He had to be quick, because the more the Grimm flapped its wings, the weak ether tie of her rope was. This species of Grimm were restless and usually needed to be weakened to kill. If they could tie it down, they could let it thrash, or quickly decapitate it.

Ruby dodged another frantic attack, and heard a cry, but before she could warn him, a dark shadow swooped Oscar off the ground. 

A yell ripped from the boy’s lungs, as he was carried away to the nest, in the Grimm’s talons. 

“Oscar!” Ruby cried. Not a second later, the Grimm knocked her back with its beak, getting more and more restless. 

She had a choice now. Did she destroy the elder Grimm or reach the nest and help Oscar out? There was bound to be plenty of smaller Grimm in there. Would he be able to fend for himself? 

She grit her teeth and pulled herself off the ground. 

“Oscar?” she yelled, through the cries of the elder Grimm and the ones in the nest. 

“I—I’m okay! Don’t worry, I’ve got another plan!”

“You sure?” she asked. 

“Remember when you said you trusted me?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to need you to do that again. Just get rid of that one, and on my signal, you’re going to blast this nest to pieces!”

Well, he was speaking, which meant he wasn’t dead yet. And she heard sharp thwacking noises, which meant he was using his weapon as well. 

Trust. It was the foundation of any good relationship. And if they played their cards right, it was how they were going to make it off of the woods alive. 

So Ruby hauled herself up, and took a deep breath. The Grimm nearly pulled the rope loose. 

She focused her weapon into its scythe form, and readied herself. 

Oscar didn’t know what time it was, but he knew it was nearly daybreak, meaning the moon had almost faded away and the sky was taking on a deep purple, almost indigo hue. 

Currently, he was fighting for his life in a nest. 

He didn’t do well with swings, and this nest was swaying. He tried to keep his balance nevertheless, keeping the winged monsters off of him with the Long Memory. There had to be at least five of the beasts here, and they outranked him in both size and number. He had never felt so tiny before. 

He heard Ruby’s yells outside the nest, and knew he had to continue to play his part, no matter what. 

But these Grimm were so persistent, and he had no semblance to rely on. He was knocked down so many times, he was afraid he was going to run out of Aura soon. 

“What did Ruby say to aim for? Their necks?” Oscar muttered to himself, as the quintet prepared themselves for another match.

One of the Grimm rushed towards him, tilting the nest upwards. This was getting quite difficult to do, but he had to hold off until Ruby finished with the other Grimm. He nearly felt guilty for making her deal with such a difficult creature alone, but he believed that she could do it. 

He ducked down from the Grimm’s talons and practiced what he was supposed to do on the ground, and slid underneath the beast, popping up behind it. Stabbing it in the back, Oscar watched victoriously as it disappeared into smoke, until he was slammed against the other side of the wall, the nest violently shaking. 

He was out of breath, and almost out of Aura too. His cane lay on the other side of the nest, guarded by the Grimm. There’s no way he could kill four more Grimm by himself. They were much too large for him, even at their young age. 

A fierce, almost guttural cry came from the outside, as the younger Grimm inched towards him. They would strike any minute. 

He could do this. Ruby trusted him, and she believed that everything would fall into place. He had a plan, he had a plan, he had a plan. 

Sucking in a breath, he took his knapsack and dumped out the combustion crystals. Then, watching the monsters, he dove at them, sending them at him, but managed to grab one by the leg, giving him the momentum to swing himself underneath the beasts and grab his cane. Once he secured it in his hand, he prepared to face the beasts once again. 

Oscar wasn’t sure he had the upper hand here, but at least he was closer to the nest’s entrance. The nest swayed gently now, rocking back and forth. 

He heard a yell, this time, Ruby’s. It sounded… like she had won. 

“Oscar? Oscar, I’m coming!” her voice cried. 

“No! No, I’m okay, wait for my signal!”

He held the cane out, and inched towards the exit, the bird-like creatures watching him with a curiosity. 

One of them lashed out at him, and Oscar slashed it in half, quickly. This was only making the others more agitated. Watching them slowly, he put Long Memory back on its holster and crept to the entrance of the door. There was a possibility he was going to fall, but that was exactly what he was hoping for. 

He grabbed the entrance of the door, bracing himself. 

“Ruby! When I call for it, I need you to blow this thing to pieces, got it?”

With the sound of Crescent Rose shifting into gun form, Oscar stared back at the Grimm. 

“Alright then, come at me!” 

And they dove. 

Oscar let himself fall out of the nest, but at the right angle, he could do what he planned. When held first gotten snatched, he noticed the woven nest had some gaps in it, ones his hand could fit in perfectly. 

“Ruby!” he cried, latching into the nook. 

“Right!” A quick shift and a projectile was aimed at the nest the Grimm were about to come out of. Oscar felt the vibrations, the rumble, and soon, there was nothing left for him to hold. He was falling. Branches and leaves and dirt went flying—

“Whoa—“ he cried, his eyes blurred. He could make out the sky brightening, the green trees, and oh, he was about to hit the ground and he was low on Aura—

“Got you!” Ruby’s voice appeared in his ear. They were still in midair—

“You didn’t think I'd let you hit the ground, right?” she laughed, her face scratched and slick with sweat. Oscar was too nervous to reply, trying to process both his fall and the fact that he was in Ruby’s arms right now. 

Then, they were cocooned in red and Oscar really couldn’t make anything out then, but they soon touched the earth, Ruby stepping down lightly. She gently put him down, though he was still wobbly from the entire experience. 

“We—we did it!” Oscar murmured, staring at his hands. 

“Hey! It was your plan, of course it worked,” Ruby elbowed him. 

“I—I mean, you fought that giant Grimm by yourself,” Oscar stuttered. 

“And you defended yourself against a whole bunch of them up there! You were amazing!”

Amazing. She thinks I’m amazing. 

“Uh, you were too. And thanks for trusting me,” Oscar replied, sheepish. 

“Of course!” Ruby said, laughing nervously. 

Oscar narrowed his eyes. 

“Ruby…”

“Fine! Fine! I was actually… going to come get you, cause I saw your Aura levels were low… but I totally trusted you! The whole time! I’m sorry,” she apologized. 

Oscar crossed his arms teasingly. “You’ll have to make it up to me.”

Ruby raised an eyebrow. “How?”

“Watch the sunrise with me?”

It fell out of his mouth before he could register how weird the question was.

“Why not?”

Oscar hardly believed she said yes. 

The sky was a splash of color, clouds forming in the pinkish hues. It was nearly time .

“You do realize we have a long way back, right?” Ruby reminded him. 

“I do.”

Suddenly, Ruby’s scroll buzzed. It was her sister. 

“Yang!”

“Ruby, thank goodness! Are you guys okay? Your Aura levels are low,” Yang’s voice crackled through the speaker. 

“Yep! We destroyed the nest!” Ruby exclaimed, her voice giddy. “How did it go on your end?”

“Good, some of the people were woken up, but we managed to get it under control. Jaune helped too,” Yang replied.

“Nice. We’re heading back but it’ll be a while. The walk is long ,” Ruby added, giving a knowing glance to Oscar. 

“That’s fine, the sun’s out, so I’m not worried. Use my location to find your way back here,” Yang sighed. 

“Got it.”

Ruby hung up and turned to Oscar, a big grin on her face. “I’ve got just a bit more Aura for us to see the sun from up high, what do you say?” 

Oscar nodded, bracing himself to be swept up into Ruby’s semblance. 

“Okay, I’m read—“

Couldn’t she have just waited a second longer? 

They found themselves on a sturdy branch on a taller tree, high off the ground. The thick branch curled up towards the sky, letting Ruby lean on it while Oscar nearly hugged the tree itself. 

“This is so cool,” Oscar breathed, once he got over his initial nausea. 

“It’s beautiful,” Ruby said, kicking her legs. 

The two watched as the sky began to shimmer, the pink mixing with a tangerine shade. 

“When I’m ignoring the fact that I could fall to my death at any point, this is one of the best things I’ve seen in my life.”

Ruby snorted. “Didn’t you climb trees as a kid?”

“Not trees fifty feet tall, Ruby,” Oscar retorted. 

“Okay, well, it’s the same concept!”

“Look! The sun’s coming up!” Oscar cheered, his finger pointed towards the sun. 

“Wow…” Ruby whispered. They sat there in silence, watching the sun slowly rise over the horizon. The shifting colors, purple, blue, pink, orange—it was wonderful, all of it. 

Oscar noticed Ruby’s awe, and couldn’t help but smile at her face bathed in the warm orange light. 

“W—what? Is there something on my face?” Ruby exclaimed. 

“No! No, I just—nothing! Sorry!” Oscar exclaimed, turning his head back towards the sky. At this rate, he might as well have flung himself off the tree to spare himself the embarrassment. 

Not sure what to say, the two spent the next five minutes watching the world come alive. The forest animals were revived and everything seemed just a bit brighter. It was a different kind of peace from the night time, but it still felt whole, and serene. 

After the sunrise, Ruby launched herself straight to the ground, urging Oscar to do the same. She had pulled much more dangerous stunts before, and Professor Ozpin had launched them off a cliff. 

“Oscar, come on , I’ll catch you before your bones break,” Ruby laughed. 

“That’s not a very convincing argument!” Oscar yelled from above. 

“How many times do I have to ask you to trust me, farm boy?” she yelled back. 

“Fine!” 

Ruby watched from above, finding amusement in how long it was taking Oscar to jump. The kid had followed a voice in his head all the way across a kingdom, befriended strangers and fought monsters, yet this is what scared him? Part of this line of work is that there was a lot of jumping. And flipping. It took a lot of guts, and a lot of bravery. 

So she knew he could do it. 

“I’ll catch you!”

When he finally jumped, Ruby was pretty quick at the whole catching thing. Of course, Oscar wouldn’t look her in the eye, instead mumbling a “Thank you,” and asking to be put. Unbeknownst to Ruby, being carried twice in one day was too much for his poor soul. 

As they started the long trek back towards the village, they began to feel the effects of the battle with the Grimm, and without Aura, they felt like they had been run down. 

Though it was early in the day, the sun began to beat on their backs as they carried on through the woods. Though Ruby was tracking Yang on her phone, the girl caused them to wander in circles, until Oscar took the lead. 

“Ruby, are you directionally challenged?” Oscar asked, jokingly. 

“No! I’m not! I got us to the nest, didn’t I? My scroll’s just wonky,” Ruby huffed. 

The boy rolled his eyes in return. 

“You have to be—“

Everything happened in a flash. Oscar slipped, his body almost falling in a creek, and if it weren’t for Ruby, he would’ve been soaked. 

“Thanks,” he muttered.

Ruby pulled him up, the bottom of his boots covered in a thin layer of mud. 

“I should've let you fall,” she snickered. 

Oscar continued his muttering, until he noticed that their gloved hands were still intertwined. 

It seemed Ruby noticed at the same time, because she immediately ripped her hand away from his. 

“Sorry!” she shouted.

“No! No, it’s okay, it’s okay, it wasn’t… bad?” he replied, phrasing it more as a question. He couldn't say anymore or his cheeks would be a brilliant shade of red. 

“So… it’s okay? If I do it again?” Ruby asked. 

“Save me from falling in the creek? Yeah, that would be nice if I ever slipped up again,” Oscar murmured. 

“No, I mean, holding your hand, dummy,” Ruby laughed, nervously. 

“Oh!” 

“Oh?”

They were a bunch of blushing dorks.

“Yeah, uh, sure. Heh.”

So she snaked her hand into his shaky one, and held it loosely, as if she was afraid of hurting him. 

“This… this is nice,” Oscar sighed, not sure what to say. 

Ruby grinned back. 

“Now come on, we got a long way back, according to your scroll. Let’s get going,” Ruby replied, tugging his hand along. 

And he followed her back, under the heat of the sun.

Chapter Text

4:18 pm

Oscar returned home, silently, shutting the door behind him. Ruby stood up from the couch, as if to greet him, but instead, he dropped his bags on the floor and headed to the kitchen, without a word towards him. 

Ruby thought he was probably just tired. He’d get a drink of water and come back to greet her, right? Unsure, she followed Oscar into the kitchen, where the water from the faucet was filling up his cup. 

She leaned on the doorway. “Hey, how was your day?” she asked softly, hoping to grab his attention. Yet, Oscar didn’t answer. Ruby watched curiously as he gripped the glass, as if he wanted to break it into a million pieces. She watched as the water bubbles rose up and overflowed, spilling across his right hand, wetting his sleeve.

A moment later, Ruby reached over and grabbed his arm. “Hey! You’re wasting water!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide. Oscar turned to her suddenly, as if he realized what he was doing. Ruby let go of his arm, and he turned off the faucet, before dumping the water into the sink, not even taking a sip. Oscar wiped his hand with a kitchen cloth and quickly moved past Ruby without a word.

Had she done something wrong? Or has something gone wrong at work? Oscar liked to keep to himself often, but he also knew when to confide in Ruby. Maybe this was one of the moments he wanted to keep to himself. Yet, she couldn’t help shake the feeling that this wasn’t one of those times. Oscar keeping to himself didn’t mean that he ignored her or had this glazed look in his eye. They had only been together for a year, but she had known him much longer than that. Enough to study his mannerisms, the way his face twisted when he lied, the way he dug his nails into his hands when he was nervous…

But maybe this was another part of Oscar she hadn’t met yet. People always claimed that you never truly knew a person until you lived with them. So perhaps this was it. 

Ruby sighed. She didn’t want to leave it at that. She’d only leave Oscar alone if it was clear he really wanted space.

She looked towards the doorway where he had entered, most likely into their room. If everything went the way it usually did, Oscar would come out of the room a mere minutes later, in his home clothes, and kiss her on the forehead. 

Minutes passed. Oscar hadn’t emerged. Ruby crept towards their room, pressing her ear against the door. But what was she so afraid of? It was their room, she had as much right to enter it as he did!

“Oscar, I’m coming in!” she announced, pushing open the door. 

Steam wafted from the open bathroom into the bedroom, smelling like the generic brand shampoo Oscar loved to use. Smelled like honey and warm vanilla, the bottle claimed. Ruby thought it was mostly just vanilla. But the room smelled of him, and she loved that. 

The person-in-question was most likely fresh out of the shower. 

“Are you decent?” Ruby called from her spot in the bedroom, stifling her laughter. She loved to ask that question, because even after all this time together, in times like these, Oscar’s blush lit up his entire face. 

No answer. 

Ruby, out of concern, made her way to the bathroom, her body tense. Her toes curled up the carpet fibers, leaving her small footprints all over the floor. She was nervous, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Oscar’s strange behavior worried her. 

She peeked through the door, and saw Oscar, in a robe, his hair freshly wet, staring at himself in the mirror. His palms were pressed around the sink, as if he needed to hold himself up. 

“Oscar?” she murmured, trying to get his attention. 

Oscar turned to her, not a smile on his lips. His eyes were dull, and dark circles were prominent beneath his eyes.

“Long day at work?” she tried again. 

Oscar said nothing, but his eyes flitted to where Ruby’s fingers were clenching her arm, turning the skin around it red. He knew that was what she did when she was nervous, to the point where she felt nauseous. 

His eyes returned to hers, but he said nothing. 

“You wanna lie in bed? I’ll bring you tea,” Ruby suggested. She reached on top of her toes, to muss Oscar’s wet curls, but he moved away from her. 

“... Oh. Sorry,” Ruby whispered, her voice tight. “I’ll bring you some tea.”

She left the room quickly, so Oscar wouldn’t see her eyes filled with tears.

“He must be mad at me,” Ruby sighed, outside the door. She would bring him his tea, but maybe at a later time. Maybe when he cooled off. 

5:33 pm

What had stopped Ruby from entering the room multiple times was the idea that Oscar was angry with her. She knew it was stupid to feel that way, as she couldn’t recall anything she had done wrong in the past few days, but maybe he was frustrated? 

It had been over an hour since she promised him tea, and she hadn’t delivered it. She felt a bit guilty, but shoved those feelings down as she prepared Oscar a cup. 

“I didn’t do anything wrong! I don’t think so… I mean… I just said hello, and tried to mess with his hair, that’s all!” she exclaimed to herself. 

She couldn’t take people being upset with her. No matter how much she tried to convince herself, she hated not knowing why people weren’t talking to her. Or if she knew why, she just didn’t like how tense the atmosphere could be.

Ruby finished with the tea, and put it on the tray to be easier to carry. She remembered the time Oscar had brought her tea when she was sick, and he had dropped the tray all over himself. That whole thing had ended in Oscar laying in bed with her, after staining his favorite shirt… and the carpet. 

She reached the door and deftly opened the door, entering, before shutting the door behind her, with her other hand. 

“Oscar, I brought you, tea,” she whispered, in case he was asleep. 

But he wasn’t. Oscar was on the bed, in pajamas, his hair still wet, but it looked like he hadn’t even tried to get any sleep at all. Was he waiting for the tea the entire time? 

“Oh, I thought… you would have fallen asleep. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner,” Ruby exclaimed. 

Oscar didn’t say anything and a bout of frustration welled up in Ruby. She wanted to yell, but wouldn’t. Oscar might’ve had something seriously going on, and she didn’t want to scare him, or make him feel uncomfortable. 

She brought the tray over to him, a sudden wave of nausea coming over her, again. Feeling wobbly, she set the tray on the bed, before backing up, until she reached a wall. Then dug her fingernails into her arm. 

Ruby closed her eyes, trying to steady herself, as she heard a creak from the bed. She opened her eyes to see Oscar trying to see her, but she waved him off. “It’s okay, it’s okay, drink your tea and get some sleep, okay? I’m just a bit dizzy.” Inside, she felt warm. At least he acknowledged her presence. 

“Do you want to talk about anything?” she asked, hoping to ease into the conversation. Get some insight on what had gone on with him at work. When he had left this morning, all was well. He was talkative, warm, and cracking bad jokes he had learned from Yang. 

Oscar shook his head. Well, that was that, then. 

Suddenly, a thought came into Ruby’s head. “Wait, are we still up for watching the match tonight?” 

Ruby and her family loved to watch boxing, and when Oscar had joined into the family, he fell into the tradition too. He wasn’t a big fan of the sport, but he could understand why so many people liked to watch it. 

Oscar didn’t utter a word, but he drank his tea, taking small sips of it. 

“Oscar… please tell me what’s wrong,” Ruby asked, her voice small. “If I did something wrong, tell me, please, so we can talk about it!” The more she spoke, the more she wanted to yell, let an unearthly scream rip out of her lungs. 

Deep breaths, Ruby. Deep breaths. Oscar isn’t at fault.

“I… want to help you, but I can’t do that if you don’t let me know what’s wrong with you,” Ruby whispered, easing her grip on her arm. 

There were no words. He made no other movements, just sitting, staring into his cup of tea. 

“Okay. I—I’m going to make dinner. The match starts at 7, if you’re feeling up to it,” she replied, her voice small. Letting go of her arm, Ruby made her way out of the room, shutting the door behind her. 

Ruby didn’t cook alone, ever. Oscar could do it alone, but she would probably burn the kitchen down if Oscar wasn’t there with her. She didn’t think she was too shabby now, living with him for a year, but she was still shaken up from Oscar’s silence. The woman wasn’t sure if she could focus on the cooking.

But she was sure he was hungry, and she was too. 

Cracking her knuckles, she made her way to the kitchen, wondering if this day was the best day to have a day off. She had been feeling a little unwell, and decided to use up her hard-earned vacation days to relax at home. She was also hoping her boyfriend would spend his free time with her, but it just seemed like he would much rather be by himself. 

But she had to focus. Maybe Oscar would be coaxed with some food. 

7:05 pm

Ruby placed the thick slices of casserole she’d attempted to make on the coffee table, feeling the slightest bit proud of herself. She had done it, without Oscar. Felt kind of nice. 

Around this time, she finished cooking and cleaning the kitchen, and frankly, was just exhausted. But the match had started, and Oscar still hadn’t left the room. 

Maybe he had finally fallen asleep? To be sure, she crept to the door, and knocked softly. “Oscar? Are you awake?”

She pressed her ear to the door, but when she didn’t hear a reply, she stepped back, her heart aching. 

“He must be tired,” Ruby smiled to herself softly. “That must be it.”

Ruby began to feel very alone, but moved back into the living room, before turning on the television. 

The match blared on, loud colors flashing across the screen and cheers filling the empty living room. Ruby nestled in the couch, her plate of casserole in hand. 

She suddenly didn’t feel very hungry, but forced a forkful of food in her mouth anyway. The chicken was an odd texture in her mouth, and it didn’t taste the same as Oscar’s. Ruby wasn’t sure if that was due to her being a bad cook or because she didn’t feel like eating anymore. 

Setting the plate down, she did her best to focus on the match, when her cellphone rang. 

“Hey,” Ruby murmured to Yang, on the other line. 

“Hey, are you two watching the match?” her sister asked, excitement in her voice. 

“Mhm. I’m watching it,” she whispered, her grip on the phone strengthening. 

“Hm?” Yang asked, as a shout erupted from the other end. It must’ve been their father, as Iridium had just landed a blow on his opponent. 

“Oscar’s not watching with you?”

Ruby shrugged. “He’s a bit tired today.”

There was a brief pause before Yang continued. “Is everything okay? You don’t sound too good.”

“I’m okay, Yang. Just a little exhausted.”

“Then go join your boyfriend,” Yang joked. 

A dry laugh escaped from Ruby’s lips, and suddenly she felt very cold. “Yeah. Maybe I will.”

“Ruby… did something happen between you two?” Yang asked, her tone growing serious. 

Ruby bit her lip. “We’re fine,” she sighed. “Just a bit of a bumpy patch. Every couple had their days, right?”

“You’re right, but… you sound so sad. I just want you to be okay,” Yang admitted. 

“Aha! Let’s go!” Taiyang’s yell ripped through the phone. “Yang, come on, you’re missing the best parts! You can call your sister afterward.”

“Give me a minute, Dad!” Yang yelled back. 

“No, no, you should go, Yang. We’ve been waiting for this match for weeks. Dad would hate for you to miss it,” Ruby smiled, hoping she sounded cheerful enough. 

“Rubes…”

“I’ll talk to you later, okay?” 

She pressed her finger on the end call button and set her phone away from her. Her eyes darted back to the screen, as the two world star boxers went at each other. They landed blow after calculated blow, yet neither could ever predict what the other one was really thinking. No matter how well they watched the other’s movements, the opponent could always be hiding something. Something to pull you under right when you least expect it. 

Her eyes left the screen and to the empty seat next to her. Then the second plate of casserole, growing cold. The gnawing feeling growing in her chest was trying to tell her something. 

Ruby wondered if she was more concerned with Oscar’s wellbeing or how his despondency affected her . Was she being selfish in her feeling this way? It’s not like she and Oscar always had to be together. They both treasured their alone time, and didn’t mind a quiet day at home, but there was something wrong with Oscar. The silence between them was a product of his pain, not a mutual understanding of privacy. 

Her skin prickled, but the apartment wasn’t cold. She tried to focus on the match, but her thoughts kept weaving in and out, in and out. Her focus landed on the hallway that led to her bedroom, and back to the TV again. 

Oscar never came out, not once during the match. When the program was over, Ruby faked her enthusiasm with her father over the phone, then dumped her and Oscar’s plates of casserole away. She shoved the rest of the food in the refrigerator, hoping it would taste better tomorrow. 

8:26 pm 

Ruby’s pajamas were in her bedroom, but she refused to enter it. 

Their apartment had a second bedroom and a smaller bathroom, but it was usually reserved as a guest room, when family or friends came over. But tonight, it was Ruby’s room.

None of her clothes were in the empty guest room, devoid of any pictures of the couple or their loved ones. Simple portraits and pictures hung from the walls, and a single vase was placed on top of the night table. 

She had taken a quick shower, but her toothbrush wasn’t with her either. She felt disgusted, and frustrated. Oscar was probably fast asleep, and she didn’t want to disturb him. He would probably wake up the next morning and be alright. At least that’s what she hoped. 

She stared at the bed in front of her, with its multiple pillows and soft comforter. It looked comfortable. But it was going to be cold, and empty. 

But she got underneath the covers and pulled them up right underneath her chin, hoping to simulate her own room. Even if this was her own place, it was odd sleeping in a different bed than she was used to. 

Ruby’s thoughts drifted between her wants and Oscar’s, leaving her restless. It was one of those moments when Ruby wanted to know what was going on so she could fix it. Even if Oscar felt better tomorrow, it wouldn’t explain his behavior today. And everyone had bad days. But what if this wasn’t just one day? What if this had been going on for days and weeks and months, and Ruby had only started noticing now. What if Oscar had been unhappy from the beginning and—

She desperately wished her brain had an off switch. 

11:27 pm

Ruby ripped her the blanket off of her. She could no longer take it. It had only been three hours since she had gone to bed, but she had woken up four times already. She couldn’t sleep , there was too much on her mind. 

She was now out of bed, shoving her cold feet into slippers and before she could even think, she was in the hall. 

A groan escaped her lips, her head still woozy. But she didn’t stop moving, she didn’t hesitate when she reached for the doorknob, turning it.

A simple push, that’s all it took. But she was gentle, opening the door with such ease. The room was swallowed in darkness, and she kept pushing, until she heard a groan. 

“Oscar? Did I hit you?” she gasped, slipping in the narrow space she had opened. 

She instinctively reached for the lights, and as they flickered on, her knees already hit the carpet, to pick up a fallen Oscar. 

“I’m sorry!” she explained, her hands flying. “I… I thought you were sleeping, and I couldn’t sleep in the guest room, and I didn’t mean to hit you—just, I was trying to get my pajamas so I could be comfortable…”

She trailed off, not sure if she was making any sense. She didn’t think Oscar would think too much of it. He’s probably let her do what she wanted, and go back to sleep. 

But wait… what was he doing by the door? Was he… waiting for her?

“Why were you at the door?” she swallowed. 

Oscar blinked, as if didn’t expect that question. Then he blushed, his whole face reddening. But it wasn’t one of shyness, it was more of shame. 

“... I’m sorry.”

“Sorry…?”

His voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m sorry for hurting you. I just… I just…” 

He inched back towards the foot of their bed, setting his back against it. Ruby watched as Oscar’s head dropped into his hands, trembling. 

“No… no, Oscar, you don’t need to apologize, okay? Do you want to talk about it?” Ruby whispered, coming to join him near the bed. 

She closed the gap between them, until their knees touched. Ruby reached for his back, rubbing it in circles. What had got him so bothered that he couldn’t sleep? Couldn’t tell her? 

“No, I’m sorry. I hurt your feelings, and I didn’t mean to, I… it shouldn’t be this hard to tell you.”

Ruby shook her head. “No, that’s okay. I’m not upset with you. I should’ve been a bit more patient. But I love you, okay? I love you so much, and I’m not leaving your side.” 

Ruby shifted herself until she was in front of Oscar. “I’m not leaving, okay?” she whispered, grabbing his face. 

“I’m sorry,” he repeated. He looked exhausted, and his face was pale, as if he had a nightmare. 

“You don’t need to apologize. Take your time,” she murmured. She reached out for him, mussing his hair, which he allowed her to do this time. Ruby wrapped her arms around his torso for a hug, and felt his grip on her tighten. She wasn’t sure how to respond, but she kept her arms around him, letting him know she was here. That she wasn’t going to let go. 

The smell of the vanilla shampoo burned her nostrils, but she didn’t mind, she was just happy that he was responding to her. And she’d do her best to help him in any way she could. 

In their tight embrace, Ruby noticed a piece of plastic on the carpet, that looked awfully like Oscar’s name tag. He usually kept  it on his part of the nightstand, what would it be doing on the floor?

A sigh escaped her lips. She wasn’t disappointed, and she wasn’t upset. It was a discussion for another day, when they had both gotten enough rest. 

She said nothing, and instead let go of her boyfriend, sat back down in her place, and stretched her legs out. 

Then she glanced at Oscar, and patted her legs. “Come on. You’re tired.”

“Ruby…”

Hearing her name on his lips was almost enough to bring her to tears. “Come on,” she whispered. 

Oscar obliged, and carefully rested his head in her lap, his face facing hers. His hazel eyes crinkled at the sight of her smile, and he reached his hands out, his fingers slightly skimming her cheek. 

“I don’t know how to tell you this,” he whispered. 

Ruby’s hands found her way to his hair. “Then tell me later.”

“But…”

“I promise you, no matter what you’re going to say, I will always love you, Oscar. Tonight, why don’t you get some sleep, okay?”

She leaned forward, and kissed the tip on his nose lightly, sending another blush across his face. A giggle escaped Ruby’s lips. 

“You wanna go to bed? It’s almost midnight,” she asked. 

“Okay.”

They helped each other up, weariness finally settling into their bones. 

Ruby didn’t bother reaching for her pajamas, as they were of no importance to her anymore. She crawled into her side of the bed, settling in their abundance of pillows. This felt familiar. It felt warm. 

Oscar came in from his side and looked at Ruby, asking her for permission with his eyes. 

When she nodded, she pushed herself up into the pillows and allowed Oscar to rest his head on her chest, his body slipping lower. Ruby felt the pressure on her chest, but she didn’t mind. She smiled warmly at her boyfriend, kissing the top of his head. They’d probably end up tangled up by morning time, but she didn’t mind. He was here, his chest heaving in and out on hers. She couldn’t say she wasn’t scared for the future, no, she was terrified. Tomorrow would be a new obstacle to face. 

Eventually, Oscar succumbed to his exhaustion, and Ruby allowed herself to shift, until Oscar was curled up to her chest, his back against her chest, and her face was just at the top of his head. Though he was now bigger than her, she still attempted to wrap her arms around his torso and bring him in. There. That was better. 

Chapter Text

After leaving Jaune and Ren, Ruby’s eyes were drawn to the door. And there… there was Oscar. 

Something was wrong with him. He was… limping? 

She jogged to the entrance of the Schnee Manor, and her eyes drawn to the dark… scorch marks on his shirt. He looked bruised, battered, and most of all tired . He still wore a small smile, as if to reassure her that he was okay. 

“... Oscar? What happened?” she asked, the panic in her voice rising. What had he gotten into, who did this to him, for how long? 

“Ruby, it’s okay—

“Uh…”

Ruby’s expression immediately turned sour at the sight of someone she didn’t think she would have to face so soon. Why was she here? 

“ Emerald?” she spat. Cinder’s sidekick hands flew immediately to her weapon, as did Ruby’s. What was going on? Did she do this to him?

Anger filled her being and just as she was about to say something, Oscar intervened, holding up his hands in front of Ruby. “I… I know what this looks like, but Emerald wants to help us now.”

“She does, does she?” Ruby laughed in disbelief. “She’s working with us?”

“Allegedly,” Yang called back, from inside the manor. They could use all the help they could get, but Emerald? 

There was so much Ruby wanted to say, to do. She wanted an explanation from Emerald and she wanted proof that she was going to help them out. But that wasn’t important right now. Oscar was hurt. Emerald could be interrogated later. 

“Whatever. If you say she’s going to help, then she should prove herself,” Ruby said pointedly, earning her a scoff from Emerald. 

“Oscar, come with me,” Ruby murmured, her attention back on him.

“Is everything okay?”

Ruby sighed. “I want to know what happened to you. All of it.”

Ruby went back inside, her heart hurting at the sight of Oscar’s injuries. This wasn’t supposed to be happening. This wasn’t how they were supposed to come back together. How had everything fallen apart so quickly? Penny, Nora, and now Oscar. Ruby couldn't even begin to wonder what had happened to her uncle. 

“Oscar? Do you want me to call Klein?” Weiss gasped, as they walked inside. Ruby shook her head. “No, he’s busy. Weiss, could you just bring any medical supplies you can? I’ll be in the guest room next to Nora’s. And Blake, can you Yang and Jaune be on guard from any word from May?”

Blake nodded, and Ruby returned the gesture with a small smile. 

“Do you need help climbing the stairs?” she asked, turning to Oscar. 

Oscar eyed the shattered window and the glass sprinkled on the floor. What had gone on here? 

The boy shook his head, trying to reassure Ruby he was alright. “Jaune kind of gave me a hug when they found me. After that, I think I can face anything,” he joked. Ruby’s face didn’t change from its worried state, causing Oscar to falter. He was okay , now. He was with all his friends, and he even got Emerald to help them. He was more concerned with Nora. 

“Is Nora okay?” Oscar whispered, climbing up the stairs with Ruby, his hand up the rail. The Huntress’ eyes lowered, as if she had been expecting the question. 

“She got really hurt. But… she's resting. And Ren’s here, so she’ll get better,” Ruby nodded, offering him a hopeful smile. 

Oscar bit his lip. If Nora, of all people, was hurt, then something had gone terribly wrong. He knew something wasn’t when she wasn’t there to greet him with a bear hug. What if she didn’t get better? 

“Oscar, you know Nora,” Ruby piped up as they reached the top of the steps. “Right now not she’s okay, and she might not be okay for a while—but she doesn’t give up easily.” Her silver eyes were drawn to the hole in his chest. “It seems you don’t either.”

Oscar stayed silent, as he didn’t know what to reply with. They passed by Nora’s door, hearing muffled voices, before Ruby opened the next door, inviting him in. 

“Sit on the bed?” Ruby asked, more of a command. Oscar felt nervous, and took to picking imaginary lint off of his gloves. He sat on the edge of the bed, taking in the cleanliness of the guest room. He had been in the manor before, but it was still so surreal that one family could own all… this. Ruby sat in a chair in the corner, her eyes on the window. Oscar couldn’t read her expression, whether it was fear, or rage, or worry—he couldn't tell. 

“Ruby? I brought everything,” Weiss’ soft voice announced, coming through the door. She held a bowl of water in one hand and a kit in the other. 

Ruby nodded gratefully to her partner, taking the supplies from her and setting them in the nightstand next to Oscar. 

“Do you need anything else?” Weiss asked, looking from Ruby to Oscar. 

“Can you get Oscar some clean clothes? I’ll get him cleaned up so we can go over what happened and then figure out where to go from there.”

“Time to bother Whitley again,” Weiss joked. As she made her leave, Oscar noticed a faint smile on Ruby’s lips. Amusement, but mostly weariness. None of them had slept in days. Who knew so much could happen in that little time?

Ruby motioned with her hands for Oscar to lay back on the pillows. He had to admit, he was nervous. Still paying with his fingers, he turned his head to the side only to see Ruby seated sideways on the bed, taking off her gloves. 

“T—that’s not necessary! I’m okay, I promise,” Oscar panicked, trying to laugh away his nervousness. 

“Oscar. Please . Please, don’t try to play this off,” Ruby whispered, her voice weary. “You… you don’t need to pretend you’re okay. It’s… sometimes, it’s okay to just let yourself feel hurt. That pain? You can’t ignore that. The more you try to cover it up, the worse it gets,” she murmured. 

Oscar wasn’t sure if that comment was directed more towards him or herself, but he couldn’t stand seeing Ruby down like this. Her eyes didn’t have that same shine. Something else had definitely gone down at the mansion while he was gone. As if the gaping pit in the front yard and the glass wasn’t proof enough, Nora had gotten hurt and the rest of them were clearly shaken up about something. 

“I… I got taken by a Grimm. A Hound, that could talk.”

Ruby gasped, her eyes pooling. “ That was what took you? We… that thing broke into the manor… it… it…” 

Oscar leaned over, taking Ruby’s hands in his. She choked on her sobs, her cries growing louder. The person she saw in there... was once like her. Like her mother. Salem wanted to do that to her . 

“Ruby, Ruby…” Oscar murmured, reaching in for a hug. Ruby shook her head wildly, pushing him away. 

“No—you’re hurt . I… we need to take care of that first,” Ruby sniffed, wiping her face. 

“No.” His voice was firm. 

“Oscar, I—”

“No, you're not going to tell me that after all of this. You hurt, Ruby, and you can’t just pretend you’re fine.”

“But—“

“ No. ” Oscar placed his hands on Ruby’s arm, to calm her down. “If I tell you what happened to me, you’re going to have to do the same.”

Ruby sighed. He was right. Of course he was. It was just so hard to let herself feel scared when she felt she had no time to. If she gave into her fears, everything would soon fall apart. She couldn’t allow her mind to stray too far. She didn’t even know if she could describe her feelings to herself . 

“Okay. Sure,” she smiled softly. Oscar returned the smile, happy that she was trusting him. 

“Okay,” Oscar sighed. Now for the awkward part. 

He took off his outer coat and belt, gently putting it next to him. 

“Ruby…”

“Relax. I’m not here to judge, okay? And tell me if it hurts,” she whispered, smiling at him. 

He nodded, and removed the second belt. 

Ruby grimaced. The Hound brought him to Salem, hadn’t it? And… she did all of this. 

“You were out of Aura, too, right?” she asked softly, cocking her head at the damage. 

“Yeah. Uh… I can’t say much. It felt like I was being torn in two. I’ve never felt that kind of pain before,” he answered, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. 

“What… what did she do?”

“Salem wanted to know about Beacon’s relic. And the password to the lamp. When I refused, she used her magic on me.” Oscar turned away from Ruby, his eyes on the window. “It was a brilliant display of color. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Ruby covered her mouth. “That’s… that’s horrible”.

“Ozpin took the pain too. I don’t think I would’ve survived if I had taken it by myself.”

“Ozpin’s back, huh?” Ruby said, as if she wasn’t surprised. 

“Yeah.”

“Well, thanks Oz, for helping him, and sorry that you had to go through that,” Ruby stated. 

A moment later, Oscar giggled. “He says thanks for the concern. And that’s he’s tired so he might be a little quiet for a while.”

Ruby was glad that Oscar wasn’t too down, but she knew whatever Salem said to him there had really shaken him up. She admired his bravery, his honesty… but he was just a kid. They all were. How did they get here? 

Oscar had fully shed his clothes and Ruby held her breath. 

“You should’ve taken off your belts”, she said angrily, inspecting her skin. “Your skin is…”

It was frankly, quite grotesque. His chest could hardly be distinguished as one, the raised dark marks were scattered across his body, a reminder of the witch’s capabilities. It was a reminder that she and Ozma, Ozpin, Oscar, whoever were locked in a battle that transcended time. They would keep going until they could no longer. 

“This, this is going to sting a bit,” she told him, her voice breaking. 

“Okay,” he nodded in understanding. 

She placed the rag in the bowl of water, now much colder than before and squeezed the water out. She hardly noticed her fingers were shaking, until she was about to dab the rag on his torso. 

“You seem more afraid than I am,” he chuckled softly. 

“Oscar, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You’re not. I promise,” he reminded her. 

Ruby sighed and placed the corner of the rag on Oscar’s chest, feeling the bumpiness underneath the cloth. 

Oscar sucked in a breath and Ruby muttered a sorry, before going at it again. The damage was done, and Ruby wasn’t sure if what she was going to do was helping, but until he regained his Aura to numb the pain a bit, this was the best they got. 

“You know— ooh, I didn’t take you for the…. nurse—type,” the boy huffed out. 

“Oscar, please, be quiet,” Ruby scolded him. Her cheeks were rosy, but she was more concerned that he was draining himself of energy by talking. 

“Gods, why does this— ow! ” he cried out again.

“Sorry!” Ruby gout the rag down, letting the injury dry, before placing the rag back in the bowl. Her thumb found its way to his black eye, rubbing his temple gently. Oscar froze. 

“Salem wasn’t the only one who hurt you.”

Oscar sighed. “Uh, you’re right. Hazel… also… did a number on me.”

“ Hazel? ” Ruby seethed. 

“No! No, it’s okay! He… helped me escape as well. Helped us get away from Salem. He… he lost his life trying to help us”, Oscar admitted.

It was just one thing after the other with this kid, huh? 

“You’re a very forgiving person, Oscar Pine.”

Oscar shrugged. “Hazel’s hurt us before, but he did help us out. As for Emerald… I know she hurt you and your friends. Only you get to decide whether or not to forgive her. Whatever the case is, I know she’s going to help us.”

“I’ll choose to believe you,” Ruby smiled. She wasn’t going to think about Emerald for the moment. Forgiveness isn't something she wanted to hand out easily. But she would believe Oscar, and believe that Emerald could earn her forgiveness. Then her face returned to the same look of worry she had on before. “You’re really scratched up.”

Oscar looked apologetic. His hand reached for Ruby’s cheek, to her surprise, but she didn’t move an inch. 

“I don’t like it when you’re worried,” he muttered. 

Ruby didn’t know whether to move away from his touch or lean into it. Her heart as still as her body, she just said, “Then don’t give me a reason to be worried.”

“This is not how I thought we’d see each other again,” Oscar laughed, removing his hand from Ruby’s cheek. 

“Me neither,” she laughed. 

The two stared at each other, happy to be in each other’s presence again. 

Ruby opened the kit Weiss gave her, giving Oscar some pain relievers. 

“Let’s get you wrapped up, and… I’ll tell you about the Hound.”

Oscar’s face grew serious. “Alright.”

“Ren! How’s Nora?” Weiss asked, waving over her friend. 

Ren smiled warmly. “I think she’s getting better.”

Weiss rolled her eyes. Everyone in this house was so clueless. She tucked a spare of Whitley’s clothes underneath her arm. “I wanted to get some tea for Oscar and Nora. Maybe whip up something for everyone really quickly? Yang and the rest are on guard at the front. We have to figure out our next move, which is… you know, getting the Relic.”

Ren nodded, and followed Weiss downstairs and towards the kitchen. 

Once most of his torso had been bandaged, Ruby sat down to tell her side of the story. The breaking in to the Academy, her semblance development, all the way to the events with the Hound. 

“.... Your mother?”

“She… what if she was one of those things? Mangled up, charred, in pain —for all these years?” Ruby shuddered. “That face… Oscar, there was a person in there. It doesn’t matter what they did or didn’t do.” She turned to him fiercely. “No one deserves that kind of fate. It’s wrong, so wrong to fuse a person with the Grimm. Imagine the pain, the mental toll it had on them...”

“That doesn’t mean that’s what happened to your mother,” Oscar said gently. 

“There’s no other way to explain it, Oscar!” Ruby burst out. “She knows about my mom and she knows about me. You saw how she broke through my silver eye powers, she must’ve done the same thing to my mother. To hundreds of other silver eyes warriors. We’re rare because she hunts us down and stuffs us into Grimm. What if she gets me? What if I see my mom again?” Her voice dropped down to a whisper. “What if I have to fight her, Oscar? I can’t—I can’t do that.”

She was breathing wildly, her eyes swimming. This, this was what Ruby was afraid of. Letting her fear take control of her, cascading from one thing into another. It was entirely possible—

“Ruby, please, don’t think that way,” Oscar pleaded, leaning up to grab her hands. 

“We won’t let Salem get to you.”

“She’s going to regenerate in a few hours… what if she gets me like she got you? She could have dozens of hounds… she could hurt all of us!”

“Ruby, we won’t let her get to you. This is what Salem wants, she wants to break you down and she’s going to keep using your mother until she does so. But it won’t happen to you. You’re never going to be a Hound. You’re not going to fight your mother,” he said. 

“Do I want to know what happened to her?” she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Or would it be too much for me to bear? I…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, take your time. I’m here to listen. It’s okay, just… whatever you need to say, say it. It’s fine to feel this way but Ruby, please remember, we will never let you go. I went missing, and Ren, Yang and Jaune came back to save me. I know Yang would do anything for you. No matter who you’re up against, you have a whole army of people that will follow you into war.”

Ruby was crying now, she couldn’t help it. These things—they worried her. Everything was happening too quickly, and everyone was getting hurt, nothing was working in their favor...it was hard. She could finally admit… it was difficult.

“Where do we go from here, Oscar?” Ruby asked, tearfully, trying to wipe her tears. 

“Hey, hey,” he said gently in reply, reaching for Ruby’s wrist. He brought it down, and snaked his hand into hers. 

“We can’t predict the future. We can’t sit down and draw out a fifty-part plan because we simply don’t have the time. I know it is a lot to have the world on your shoulders, and to feel that your childhood's just slipping away, but that’s why we’re doing this together. We each carry a part of the burden, so we can all keep moving forward. You’re never going to get anywhere by yourself,” he smiled at her. 

Ruby sniffed. 

“What are you feeling right now?” Oscar asked, his fingers still laced in hers. 

“Feeling? Confusion. Anger, sadness, fear—I think I’m really tired too,” she admitted. 

“Okay. And if you give up now, do you think you’re going to feel any better?” he asked. 

Ruby shook her head. “No…” 

“Right. I’m glad you trust me enough to tell me how you feel, but I always want you to remember that those feelings can’t go away because you want them too. Some of the hardest parts of life is trying to summon enough good feelings to cover up the bad. That’s why we try so hard to be happy. To numb the pain.”

“I hate that you’re right,” Ruby sighed, leaning back into the bed. Oscar scooted over to make room for her, and Ruby gladly stretched her legs out. Drying the rest of her tears, she squeezed Oscar’s hand tight. 

“So what’s the next step, Captain?” Oscar asked, nudging her shoulder. 

“Well we need to evacuate the people. We think the staff can help us transport people to Mistral… or Vacuo, but we can’t do that without Penny. And she’s…”

“Right. So while the others keep touch with May and the others, we focus on Penny. If Jaune has enough Aura left, maybe she can overcome whatever is the matter with her, while Klein deals with the rest. Penny’s not going to go down without a fight,” Oscar nodded. 

“Yeah. So we need to be on standby. Ready for whatever comes next,” Ruby yawned, settling into the pillows.

“How are you feeling?” she asked softly. 

“Me? Uh, tired, of course. Scared. But right now? I feel… okay. I get to see you all again. I’m alive, right?” Oscar laughed. 

Ruby said nothing, and waited for him to continue, sensing he wasn’t finished.

“I can say that this wasn’t what I expected when I said I wanted a big adventure.” He turned to Ruby, a smile growing on his face. “And despite… all this… I would’ve never traded meeting you for anything in the world.”

“Whoa,” Ruby said, her eyes widening. 

“I mean! I’d still want to meet you… ack! I mean, that I wish we could’ve met under better circumstances. You're part of the reason I’m still here, you know,” he joked. 

“Don't joke. You’re here because you want to help. You always have wanted to do this. And yeah, maybe not under these circumstances, but you’re helping out nonetheless, for a better Remnant,” she reminded him.

It wasn’t a joke , Oscar thought to himself. 

Ruby looked at him gently. Then, she reached for his forehead, pushing his brown hair off his forehead.

“Ru...by…?”

“Just wanted to make sure you’re not catching a fever,” she replied softly. 

“Oh,” was all Oscar could reply back with. 

“Ruby, Oscar, I brought tea—“ Weiss announced, opening the door 

Ruby let out a yell, jumping out of the bed, turning around to face Weiss and Ren, who was holding a tray of food. 

“What’s this?” Weiss asked, her eyebrow raised. She took one look at Ruby, and glanced at Oscar, whose face was as red as a tomato. 

“N–nothing! I was just making sure he was feeling okay! Yep!”

“Right… well, I managed to convince Whitley to let Oscar borrow his clothes. He’s a bit taller, so they’ll be big on you,” Weiss added. 

“Thanks,” Oscar replied. 

“And… we made lunch,” Ren muttered, bringing the tray over to Ruby. Two small cups of tea and triangle-shaped sandwiches were waiting for them. 

“Oh! Food!” Ruby exclaimed, trying to draw attention away from the situation she was just caught in. How could she let herself be that close to Oscar? 

“Yeah, we figured everyone would be hungry, so we just did something easy,” Weiss shrugged. 

“Thank you, Weiss, Ren,” Ruby beamed, opening her arms for a hug. The two older friends gave in, capturing Ruby in their embrace.

“Okay, we’ll keep you updated,” Weiss winked, before making her exit. She closed the door, leaving it open just a smidge, enough for her and Ren to peek inside. 

There, Ruby had returned to her chair, a teacup in her hand, moving it towards Oscar’s mouth. 

“I can use my own two hands, you know,” Oscar sighed.

“Oh! Right, right,” Ruby was saying. “Are you sure?”

“Ruby!” Oscar hissed. 

Weiss turned to Ren. “What did you see? 

“Do you even need to ask? Even without seeing the petals, there was a lot… going on between them,” he answered. 

Weiss almost brought up that Ren was the same way with Nora just recently. Instead, she sighed. “Come on, let’s go.”

Ruby stared at Oscar as he sipped his tea. Chewing thoughtfully, she thought of what had happened between them. Any second from now, May, Ironwood or someone else could call them, and she would have to leave him behind. She couldn’t forget that Salem wanted her as well as Oscar. They celebrated their small victories, Oscar was alive, and he was back with her. But the battle had really just begun. 

“Ruby?” Oscar asked, staring her at her with concern.

“Hm?” she was saying.

“Don’t worry too much, right now. Even if it’s for five minutes, why don’t you come rest? I’ll wake you up if anything happens,” Oscar suggested.

“No, no. I have to be alert and ready for anything,” Ruby said.

“Five minutes, and I promise I’ll wake you up. Come on,” Oscar said, nodding her over. 

“And where are you going to sit?” Ruby asked. 

“I’ll scoot over, the bed is big enough for the both of us. Besides, you already were here before Weiss and Ren came in,” Oscar reminded her. 

He made a good point. So Ruby slipped back into the bed, leaving room between her and Oscar. As soon as her head hit the pillow, a wave of exhaustion came over her. 

“You’re going to wake me up, right?” Ruby asked, looking up at Oscar, who was still seated up. 

He looked back at her, before reaching his hand to her hair. It felt… nice. No one had ever ran their hands through her hair before. Feeling fuzzy inside, Ruby sighed. 

“I promise I’ll wake you up. Five minutes, okay?” Oscar said softly. 

Ruby knew that she probably wouldn’t be fully asleep into five minutes. She also knew Oscar was planning on letting her sleep a lot longer than she wanted. But she closed her eyes anyway, her body giving into its needs. Fingers kept combing through her hair as she grew… sleepier… and sleepier… 

Oscar smiled at the girl, his... friend. She deserved this much, especially after what she had been through. He couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from her, from any of them again. 

And though an hour from now, May would call the manor with tragic news, the two let themselves pretend, believe, that for even a second, the peace and warmth between them could last forever.

Chapter Text

“Who’s ready to play Scrabble ?” Qrow cheered, bringing out a worn game board. 

“Scrabble?” Jaune asked, puzzledly. Qrow didn’t strike anyone as the type of person to enjoy board games. 

Yang, who was seated around the coffee table, sighed. “Only four people can play Scrabble, Qrow. Besides, no one wants to play that boring game.”

Oscar found Ruby in the kitchen, his heart in his throat. The girl was looking around in the fridge for something sweet to eat.

“H-hey, Ruby…”

“Oh, hey, Oscar, what’s up?” Ruby asked, slamming the door with her leg. Her arm was full of plastic-wrapped ice cream cones.

“Uh, I actually wanted to know if you… wanted to—“

“Ruby! Oscar, come on! We’re playing charades!” Yang’s voice called from the living room. 

“Charades?” Ruby muttered to Oscar. “That’s so lame,” she snorted, beckoning Oscar with her head. The boy stayed quiet, not wanting to bother Ruby, instead just followed her out of the kitchen.

“Ruby, when I said grab snacks, I meant like chips…” Yang sighed, staring at her sister. 

“Fine!”

Ruby headed back towards the kitchen, and Oscar took his place next to Nora on the floor. Qrow and Maria sat on the sofa behind him, while Jaune and  Weiss were on the other couch. Ren sat on the other side of Nora, and Yang and Blake sat across from them. In the middle of the table sat a brightly colored box.

Ruby came back from the kitchen, bags of chips tucked underneath her arms and bottles of soda in her other hand. 

“You’re crushing them…” her sister sighed. 

“Yang, if you’d like, you could get up and get the snacks yourself,” Ruby smiled sweetly. When Yang didn’t reply, she placed the snacks next to the box, and plopped herself next to Oscar. Giving herself a little room between them, of course. 

“Okay! We’re splitting into teams! You all know how this game works! Act, don’t speak! Pull a card and act it out to your partner. You get thirty seconds to guess. If not you lose the round and we move on,” Yang quickly explained. Jaune reached for a bag of chips as she continued. “Blake will be keeping score. No stealing points.”

“Blake and I will be a team. Jaune and Weiss, you’re kind of already sitting next to each other. Nora and Ren, and Qrow and Maria! So, Oscar, you’re with Ruby!”

Ruby judged her partner. “We’re gonna win! You’re good at charades, right?”

“Y-yeah… I’m decent,” Oscar laughed. If he was being honest, he was horrible at acting. Guessing, sure, that wasn’t too bad. But his quick thinking skills couldn’t save him in a game of charades. 

“Ha! Jaune and I have got this in the bag, I used to take acting classes,” Weiss boasted. 

“Nah, I can beat each and every one of you little squirts,” Qrow shrugged, motioning for Ren to pass him a drink. “Maria and I are practically unstoppable”.

“I agree”, Maria added. 

Ruby turned to Oscar with a grin. “We’ve got this, team Rosepine!” she asked, holding out a fist. 

“Rose… pine?” Oscar stared back. 

“Yeah, our last names? I was trying to think of a cool team name, but I think Rosepine works, right? Like they’re both… naturey… things,” Ruby trialed off, as if she hadn’t thought her sentence through. 

“Yeah, okay. Team Rosepine it is!” Oscar nodded, holding his fist out. Ruby bumped it, just as Yang had called out Weiss and Jaune to go first. 

“First category is animals,” Yang announced. 

Weiss pulled a card from her box, read it quickly, and got to the front of the living room. 

Eyeing Jaune, Weiss started to hop. A little hop here, a little hop there.

“Frog!” Jaune called out. Weiss shook her head and hopped again. “Rabbit?”

“Twenty seconds,” Blake warned.

Weiss took a bigger hop, then rubbed her hands together. 

Poor Jaune couldn’t seem to figure her out. “Washing hands? What does that have to do with hopping?”

Weiss put two fingers up behind her head, widening her eyes at Jaune. 

“Time’s up!” Yang cackled. 

“Jaune, it was a grasshopper ,” Weiss moaned, marching back to her seat. 

“How was I supposed to know?” Jaune shot back. 

“Hello? Grasshoppers rub their legs on their wings together to make their chirping noises,” Weiss said a-matter-of factly.

“Thank you, Madame Actress, but you sadly, did not earn enough points. Ruby, Oscar, you’re up!” Yang clapped. 

“You can go first,” Oscar suggested, his palms sweaty. 

“Right!” Ruby stood up and went to the box, taking out a card, before letting out a laugh. 

Ruby clapped hands together, and put them on her forehead. 

“Uh… triceratops!” Oscar shouted.

Ruby shook her head, stomping up and down. 

“Twenty seconds!"

“Elephant? No, uh, wait—rhino!” Oscar yelled. 

“Yes! Yes, you got it!” Ruby yelled, jumping up and down.

“Okay, two points for them,” Yang muttered to Blake. “We’re up next!”

Ruby came back around Oscar, and high-fived him. Hard. Oscar, stunned, stared at his red palm. 

The game continued on into the night, until Yang said she was bored and Maria and Qrow had turned in for the night. Eventually, Nora and Ren had reigned over them all, and had won bragging rights. 

“Now, those two are gone, the real fun can begin!” Yang grinned, rubbing her hands together. 

“Are we going to play a board game now?” Ruby asked curiously. 

"Nope! Now it’s time for truth, or dare?” 

Nora grinned excitedly, and Jaune looked at Weiss nervously. The last time any of them had played truth or dare was at Beacon after their fist exams. Ruby had ended up in the school fountain and Ren had snuck into Professor Goodwitch’s office. 

“Ready for this Oscar? Nora usually has the best dares!” Ruby said. Oscar reached for a bag of potato chips. He had played truth or dare before, but something was telling him his friends were planning on doing something dramatic.

“Oh, we’re not choosing our truths and dares. Last time, Ruby kept giving Weiss the lamest dares!” Yang exclaimed. 

“She’s not wrong,” Blake added. 

“Blake, you only picked truths!” Ruby shot back. 

“Did I? I don’t remember,” her friend shrugged. 

“Either way! I found an app for truth and dare and according to the reviews, they promise to be very, very good truths and dares,” Yang cackled, pulling out her scroll. She expanded the edges, stretching out the screen more. 

“I’m game for anything. I’m an open book,” Jaune yawned, relaxing on the couch. 

Oscar pat his hands on his knees. He wasn’t much of a secret-keeper per se, but there was one thing he wasn’t ready to admit.

He eyed Ruby, his worry evident. 

“Don't worry,” she whispered. “If you don’t want to answer, it’s totally okay. We aren’t going to pressure you to do anything you don’t want to.”

Oscar gave her a nod of thanks. “Have you ever backed out of a dare? Or telling the truth?”

Ruby shook her head. “Not really. There’s never really been anything that I needed to hide. And as for dares, I’ve never had anything too difficult before.”

“Okay! We’re going around in a circle! Starting with me, all the way around to Weiss! You get one free skip, otherwise you’re out. We go on until it gets too weird. Or we get tired, whoever one comes first,” Yang instructed. 

Oscar chewed his chips thoughtfully, eyeing Ruby. It couldn’t be too bad, right? These were his friends, they weren’t going to make him say anything he didn’t want to. 

“Okay, Yang, truth or dare?” Weiss asked, waffling her eyebrows.

“Dare.”

Weiss clicked the scroll and a red flashed across the screen. 

“Wear a blindfold for the rest of the game,” Weiss read.

“This early?” Yang complained, while everyone around her oohed . But nevertheless, the blonde complied, using the purple bandanna secured around her leg to cover her eyes. 

“Not too bad. Blake, you’re up!”

Blake picked the truth, and was asked, “Where is the worst place you’ve made out with someone?”

“What?” Blake laughed, looking around the table. “That’s embarrassing!”

“A truth is a truth, Blake! Now spill!” Nora squealed. 

“Tell us, tell us, yell us,” Nora started chanting, Ruby joining her. Oscar glanced at Jaune and Weiss, who had also started egging their friend on. Even Ren had gotten in on it!

“Tell us, Blake! I’m actually very curious,” Yang said. 

“Well, if you all have to know… ugh, okay, when I was really young, 13, or so? I met this boy on Menagerie at school, and he was kind of cool, you know? We got to know each other really well.” Blake sighed, looking up at the skies. “Well, one day I got in trouble, and at my school, they usually made us clean the custodial closet or a classroom or something. The boy ended up getting in trouble on purpose to be able to join me there, and we… kissed. It was cramped and smelled like chemicals and dirty water. It was disgusting,” Blake laughed. 

Weiss stared at her friend, sharing her sentiment. 

“I mean, was it a good kiss?” Yang asked, her arms crossed. 

“I don’t remember. We were 13, so I doubt it was any good.”

“My turn! ” Nora sang. “I’m picking dare!”

“Switch clothes with the person directly across from you,” Ren read. Nora locked eyes with Weiss and grinned. 

“Please, no.”

“Come on, Weiss, it’ll be fun!” Nora squealed, standing up. Weiss reluctantly followed her into the hallway. 

“I’ll pick dare as well,” Ren said. As it got closer and closer to Oscar’s turn, he figured a dare would be better than the truth. 

“Call a random number with a different voice,” Ruby read, gasping. “That sounds like fun!”

Ren groaned, but picked up his scroll, clearing his throat. A deep sounding “Hello?” came from his throat, forcing the others to cover their mouths. 

As Ren had his fake conversation about his knee surgery, Nora and Weiss returned. Nora spun in Weiss’ blue dress, showing of Weiss' heeled shoes. 

“I think I actually look kind of cute,” Weiss admitted. 

“Ruby, truth or dare?” Blake asked. 

“Oh, definitely dare.”

“Eat two raw eggs,” Blake grinned. 

Ruby’s eyes widened. “Gross, but I definitely can do that.”

So Jaune brought Ruby two eggs from the fridge and Oscar watched in astonishment as she cracked them into her mouth. 

She shuddered after she was gone, and helped her stomach. “I think that was a big mistake.”

Oscar couldn’t help but laugh, earning him an elbow in his side. “It’s your turn, Oscar, so I wouldn’t be laughing.”

“Uh, I pick dare as well,” Oscar stammered. He wondered what he was going to get. 

“Dance for thirty seconds,” Jaune read. 

“What, that’s too easy! I had to eat two raw eggs,” Ruby moaned. 

“You could’ve used your skip, Ruby,” Yang reminded her. 

“I will be saving that for a much worse dare.”

Oscar sighed, but stood up, doing his best dance, which really consisted of him swaying side to side and clapping his hands. 

“Get it, Oscar!” Nora yelled, while Ren videotaped. 

“I really had to be blindfolded, huh,” Yang snorted. 

“Okay, that’s enough embarrassment, thank you,” Oscar announced. 

He sat back next to Ruby, his heart racing. 

“Nice dance moves,” she snickered.

“Never bring this up again,” he warned. 

The game continued on for a few rounds, Weiss confessing that she had switched her dad’s hair dye as a kid and Jaune having to talk backwards for a round, which proved to be very difficult. Oscar noticed Ruby was more prone to doing dares, no matter how odd or gross they were. She ended up using a skip when she was asked to show the last nice picture of herself. 

“I don’t take pictures of myself,” she argued. 

“Then show us a picture in general”, Weiss shrugged. 

“My scroll’s dead, actually,” she had replied, and skipped her turn. 

Oscar hadn’t used his skip yet, but he had some pretty tame truths and dares. “When was the last time you cried?” and “Wear wet socks for the rest of the game.” It was absolutely revolting, but he did it anyway. 

Eventually, it was Ruby’s turn, and she picked dare again. 

“Kiss the person to your right,” Nora read.

“Wait, what? What kind of dare is that?” Ruby exclaimed, realizing that the person to her right was Oscar. 

“Ooh, Ruby, you have to kiss Oscar!” Yang giggled. 

“I don’t have to do anything,” Ruby huffed. 

“Well you’re out of skips, so…”

“Then I forfeit,” Ruby declared, standing up. Her face was red, but with anger or embarrassment, no one could tell. Her hair was still wet from water being poured on it, sticking to the side of her face. 

“Well, it could be a cheek kiss. Or like a hand kiss,” Yang said. 

“No thanks, I’m tired anyway! Good night everyone!” 

She headed upstairs without another word. Oscar didn’t know how to feel. It hurt, but at the same time he would’ve been uncomfortable with a dare like that as well. He was not kissing Jaune. 

It was now awkwardly silent, Oscar fiddling with the sofa bottle cap, Yang taking her bandana off her face. 

“I should go check on her,” Weiss said gently, as the game dwindled down. 

“I—I’ll do it,” Oscar offered, standing up. 

“Really?” Weiss asked. 

“Yeah, just to let her know that it’s not weird… or anything, or whatever,” he mumbled. 

His friends excused him, and he hurried up the stairs. 

Ruby hung upside down at the edge of her bed, a pillow pressed to her stomach. 

She felt lightheaded, but she would much rather forget the events of this evening. 

Kiss Oscar? 

It was such an odd dare, and though she had faced much more… stomach-churning dares, she couldn't bring herself to do that one thing. And she knew her friends wouldn’t shame her, but she was afraid Oscar was going to take it the wrong way. 

She wasn’t too keen on kissing her friends, but Oscar, would’ve been even worse. She could not think about his freckles, or his eyes, or the—

A knock sounded at the door. 

“Ruby, can I come in?” 

Why him? 

Ruby groaned, as Oscar opened the door slightly. The blood was rushing to her head, but she wasn’t in any hurry to get up. Maybe she could tell him she felt sick from eating raw eggs to get him to go away. What could she say? “I’m sorry for not wanting to kiss you?” No, that sounded too personal. 

Oscar shut the door behind her and sat himself on the floor, a mere inches away from where her head was laid off the bed. Ruby’s face grew warm. 

“You’re going to get dizzy,” he warned her. 

“I know,” she sighed, sitting up. She joined him on the floor, but distanced herself from him. 

Playing with her fingers, Ruby thought of the right words to say. Oscar didn’t seem upset, and she had told him herself that they’d be allowed to opt out of the game at any time. 

“Oscar,” she started. “I’m sorry I couldn’t… kiss you.”

Oscar shook his head. “I’m not upset, but I didn’t come up here to tell you that,” he laughed. That was a big lie. “If I had to kiss you, I’d freak out too. Not that you’re gross, or anything,” he added. 

“Oh. Oh .” Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

“I...that would’ve been my first kiss,” she admitted, immediately regretting her words. 

“Would’ve been mine too,” he grinned, meeting Ruby’s surprised face. “Since we’re being honest and everything.”

“Y-yeah?”

“Yep. So I can understand why you wouldn’t want to do it with me. Besides, it would’ve been really awkward,” he laughed. 

“For sure.”

Ruby felt a little better, relieved that Oscar wasn’t upset with her. 

“Anyway, besides checking up on you, I had a question I've been meaning to ask.”

“Oh… what is it?”

Oscar reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cards. “I know we’ve already played a lot of games, but I wanted to ask you earlier, before.. everything else happened. Just a game of cards, no strings attached.”

Ruby relaxed, as she just noticed how high-alert she was. 

“Just a card game?”

Oscar nodded slowly. “Yeah, that’s all.”

“Oh okay. Yeah, that’s cool, sure.”

So as Oscar dealt the cards, Ruby thanked her lucky stars that everyone (at least as far as she knew) was oblivious. Her affections for Oscar were a safe secret for another day. Granted, she should’ve guessed something like this would show up during a game of truth and dare, but that was specifically why she kept choosing dares! 

“Ruby?”

“Hm?” she asked, absentmindedly.

“Your cards?” he said, holding out her half of the deck. 

“Cards? Yeah, yeah, thanks!” Ruby exclaimed, grabbing the cards. In her haste, she touched Oscar’s hands, causing her to drop her cards. 

“Sorry!” they both exclaimed. They scrambled for their cards, heart racing in their chests. Ruby picked up the final card, but when raising her head back up, she knocked her head into Oscar’s.

“Ah, sorry!” she cried, holding her head. 

“No, I am, I shouldn't have been so close to you!”

“Shut up , I’m trying to sleep!” a gruff voice came from next door. 

“Oh, oops,” Oscar blushed. 

“Oscar, I’m so sorry for being weird. It’s just… ugh, how do I say this…” Ruby muttered, sitting back near her bed. 

“Ruby? It’s okay, we can forget about the game, if you want,” Oscar offered. 

“No! No, it’s not you. It’s just me. I’m the one who’s been acting really strange. And,” she took a deep breath, “it’s because I… like you?” 

Ruby froze. “Why did I just say that?” she asked herself. She didn’t even look at Oscar, but stood up instead. This was her room, but she would leave if needed be. She headed towards the door. 

“Just forget I ever said anything, please. That was…”

“Wait, were you being serious?” Oscar said all of a sudden.

Ruby turned to face him. “Um, I wasn’t. It was a joke. A really bad one.”

“Oh. Really. That’s too bad.”

“Yeah… I think I’ll go… um… wash up, or something.”

“I like you too!” Oscar blurted. 

Ruby turned around slowly. 

“... Are you joking?” she asked, suddenly. As if she had a fever, her skin flamed, and she really, really wished she could wake up from this bad dream. If Oscar was getting back at her for what had gone on in the last twenty minutes, now was a good time to tell her. 

“I mean.... I… think you’re great. And I do like you.”

Ruby pressed her hands to her cheeks. “Tell me this is a dream,” she whispered. 

“Is it bad that I still think this is a joke too?” Oscar asked, pulling his knees to his chest. “Then… why didn’t you want to kiss me back there?”

“W-well that's because it would’ve been in front of everyone! And you didn’t know I liked you, I didn’t know you liked me, it would’ve been horrible,” Ruby explained. 

“Okay, that makes sense. And yeah, I would’ve been way too embarrassed to do that.”

“Wow, so… uh… this is nice! Now that we know, and all.”

“Yeah… yeah.”

Now that they had confessed, red faces and all, the two were left at a crossroads. There were multiple reasons why they hadn’t asked to take whatever this was any further, and they were too hopeless at the moment to do so. 

“Do you want to continue playing the game?” he asked. 

“Mhm,” Ruby said, coming back to her spot. 

As they got started, Oscar asked her a question. 

“Ruby? We… we’re like… friends, right?”

“Friends? Yeah, yeah,” Ruby explained, picking up the cards. 

Never in her life had she been so flustered. Her head was just a whirlwind of emotions and she was just waiting to wake up from this dream. Life was a lot less stressful when Oscar was unaware.

Outside the door, Blake nodded. “I think they’re playing cards now,” she whispered to the rest of her friends. 

“Cards?” Nora moaned. “How lame.”

“Well, what did you expect Nora? Jaune asked, before adding, “Actually, don’t answer that, I don’t want to know.”

“Isn’t this invading their privacy?” Ren asked. 

“Guys, let’s go, they’re fine,” Yang sighed. “I can’t believe she’s had a crush on him this entire time and she didn’t even tell her older sister.”

“Or her best friend”, Weiss muttered. 

Back inside Ruby’s room, Ruby and Oscar (mainly Ruby) were plotting ways to get back at her friends for teasing her like this. 

“Me and my big fat mouth,” she muttered. “Weiss will definitely tease me about this later.”

“Jaune and Ren might not ask me too many questions,” Oscar murmured. 

“And they wonder why I’ve never told them.”

Oscar laughed. “I’m sure they mean well. Besides, we’re just… friends at this point, so they have nothing to worry about.”

Ruby shrugged. “Yeah, but you should be worrying about losing all your cards,” she snickered. 

Oscar watched as Ruby picked up another set of cards, and set his head back in competitive mode. 

“I’ll win, you know.”

“Go ahead and try.”

At the end of the night, Ruby won, and Oscar was promptly kicked out by Weiss, who wanted to go to sleep. As soon as Oscar had left, however, the older girl insisted Ruby explain when and where she first realized she had a crush on him. Ruby responded with a pillow, nearly knocking Weiss off her bed, before covering herself with her blanket. Weiss mercilessly hit her with her own pillow in turn. 

If this was how Weiss was going to act, Ruby couldn't even imagine what everyone else would be like tomorrow. 

Oscar, on the other hand, was worried about the silence from Jaune and Ren. Both boys had said nothing to him when he walked in, so Oscar got himself ready for bed. The silence was honestly quite odd, and just as he was about to slip into bed, Ren spoke to him. 

“You’re keeping this from Qrow, right?”

“Huh?” Oscar asked. He forgot about Ruby’s uncle. If he ever found out about this, Oscar would be sent back to his farm in no time. 

“I’m not going to tell him anything. And neither are any of you,” Oscar pleaded. 

“I wouldn’t worry about us,” Jaune warned, turning over to face Oscar. “Yang and Nora are who you have to be worried about.”

“So I’m screwed,” Oscar sighed. 

“Yep. Goodnight, Oscar.” 

Ruby wracked her head. “Do you think Yang’s really gonna tell Qrow?”

“You better hope not,” Weiss answered. 

“Weiss! I’m being serious!” Ruby pleaded with her partner. 

“And I am too! Your sister’s going to tease you, and Nora is definitely teasing Oscar. If Qrow doesn’t get it, he’ll find out eventually.”

“Thanks for your honesty, Weiss,” Ruby muttered, covering her head again. 

“What are friends for? Now, goodnight.”

Ruby sighed. If there was one thing she was grateful for, it would be Oscar returning her feelings. But something was telling her she was going to regret all her words come morning. 

Chapter Text

When Ruby came out of the hair salon an hour later, Oscar’s jaw dropped. She looked… 

“So cool,” he said in awe. The girl beamed proudly, showing off her spiky new hair. She looked more incredible than before. 

“You look like a mix of Rouge… and your uncle Qrow,” Oscar noted, rubbing his hand behind his neck. “Sorry, that was stupid of me to say.”

Ruby turned back to face him, her eyes sparkling. “Wait… you know Rouge?

Oscar nodded. “Um, yeah. Artist by day, hero by night. She’s my favorite superhero.”

Ruby gasped. “ Mine too! I have all the limited edition copies that Jaune keeps stealing from me! Wait—“ the girl narrowed her eyes. “How do you know about Rouge? I’ve never seen you with a comic book! Wait, do you have copies back home? Why haven’t you told me? Have you been reading them online?”

It suddenly dawned on Oscar that Jaune didn’t actually own any copies of Prodigal: Tales of Rouge and that he had swiped them all from Ruby. 

“Um… I got them from Jaune,” he laughed nervously. The Huntress narrowed her eyes before pinching her nose bridge. “Of course you did.”

She straightened up afterward. “Doesn't! I’m just glad we like the same comics! Finally, I can talk to someone about it!”

“What about Jaune?” 

“Jaune only reads Rouge because of sidekick, Vert. She’s kinda cool, but people only like her that much cause she’s pretty. We always end up fighting over who’s better,” Ruby replied. 

“Ah, okay.”

“Well, time no waits for no man! Weiss asked us to get her those fancy teacups, so away we go!” And before he could even think about it, the girl had grabbed her hand and sped off. 

Oscar was so preoccupied with seeing Ruby’s hand in his that he didn’t notice how fast they were going through the crowds of people. She had actually grabbed his hand!

“Oscar, I’m gonna speed up a bit, okay?” she asked. 

“O—“ And they were off. When Ruby said “speed up” she really meant use her semblance . Oscar couldn’t recognize anything as his being was broken down to its smallest components and rearranged into a force. Speed. He felt Ruby’s presence, tugging him along. Being in the bolt of petals felt like being tangled up with someone else. He felt like he was being pushed together. He barely had time to register his thoughts as they halted to a stop in front of a fancy-looking store. Teacups hung on a rack in the display window. 

Oscar eyed Ruby, whose hand was still intertwined with his. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet. 

“Let’s go in!”

In the store, Ruby looked curiously at a teapot with blue swirls painted on it.

“What kind did Weiss ask us to buy again?” she murmured. 

“Uh, the one with the gold trim and the roses.”

“Right.” Ruby walked around to the next aisle, while Oscar stayed where he was. They perused the aisles, eyes on the lookout for the cups. 

Oscar peered at a certain design on the shelf, when he heard a giggle. He looked up a bit, catching Ruby’s bright eyes peeking at him. 

“Hi,” she giggled. 

“You’re so childish,” he laughed, shaking his head. Ruby pouted before coming around the shelf, and flicking Oscar on the head. “You’re childish, too.”

“On the contrary, I’ve been told I act older than I look,” he said, his eyebrow raised. Ruby stifled her laughter. She knew how much the younger boy disliked being treated like a child, but he was so adorable sometimes. 

He was 14, right?

“Hey… Oscar, when is your birthday?” Ruby asked curiously, trying to sound nonchalant. 

Oscar’s face flushed hotly, and he tried to keep his face away from hers. “Uh… it was last week,” he mumbled.

“ Last week?”

Ruby sped around the corner to where he stood, her face an expression of alarm and urgency. “Last week? Why didn’t you tell me?” She practically rattled him, shaking his shoulders. 

His face still turned, he replied, “I didn’t think it was that important.” 

Oscar was trying to ignore how close Ruby was to his face, and instead tried to find the teacups. 

“Are you kidding? Birthdays are the most important things ever! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me, we would’ve celebrated!”

“Uh, Ruby, we haven’t celebrated any of our birthdays. That’s fine, I didn’t do much at the farm. Well, besides a honey cake…” Oscar mumbled, thinking of his aunt. His eyes got all wisty, and Ruby knew he must’ve missed home. 

“Honey cake? I can do that! What if we start celebrating everyone’s birthdays? Yours today, Weiss’ tomorrow… uncle Qrow’s on Saturday…”

“Ruby…” You can’t bake, he wanted to say. Instead he smiled at her. “It’s not anything important. Let’s just find Weiss’ teacups and go. Please?” he asked softly. 

Ruby nodded slowly, her hair shaking into her face. “That’s fine. No birthday parties, I promise.”

The girl perked up. “Okay, let’s find those cups!”

After half an hour more of searching (and Oscar almost fighting a little girl for a handkerchief Weiss also wanted), Ruby finally found the teacups tucked away in a large box. 

“That will be 300 lien,” the cashier announced, ringing up the prices.

“Geez, Weiss sure knows how to spend money,” Ruby scoffed, digging money out of pocket. 

“They’re not just any cups, young lady. These cups were once considered very valuable,” the cashier sniffed. 

“Then why are they tucked in a corner instead of at the museum? These are probably made in some potter’s shop and they probably make thousands of these a day,” Ruby snipped, slamming the money on the counter. Oscar tried to hold in his laugh. Never had he seen Ruby so sassy before, but he kind of liked it. 

The cashier glowered at Ruby, but passed the receipt to her anyway, before shooing them out the door. 

“Wow, Ruby. I can’t believe you told him off like that,” Oscar muttered. 

“That’s his fault for butting in when it wasn’t necessary. Lame . Anyway! We got the cups, and we can’t drop them because they’re expensive,” Ruby nodded. Oscar agreed. 

“So… you heard about the Rouge movie coming out next year right?” Oscar asked. 

“Yeah! I don’t think we’ll be able to catch a movie next year, though,” she chuckled sadly. 

Oscar held his shoulder, falling behind Ruby a bit. 

“That’s okay. We’ll get to it someday. You’ll always be able to find it somewhere,” Oscar told her. 

A brief silence filled their conversation. Oscar knew exactly what Ruby meant. War was brewing, they wouldn’t just be able to catch a movie. They couldn’t just ignore the problem ahead of them. But… here they were, getting haircuts and buying fine china. That wasn’t exactly a mission, was it? And although it wasn’t the free time they’d envisioned, they still got to spend time with one another. And that’s what mattered. 

“I wonder what Weiss needs these cups for,” Oscar thought aloud. People didn’t really drink out of these, right? 

Ruby spun around to face him, walking backwards. Oscar cringed at the sound of the cups jostling in the box in her hands, but said nothing about it. “Oh, I think she wants to give them to her little brother. Whitley?”

Oscar recalled hearing something about Weiss’ younger brother. Mostly that he was annoying, but even Oscar could tell, underneath it all, Weiss cared for her brother. 

“I’d guess rich people need fancy cups for no reason,” he joked, inching towards Ruby to take the box. The girl let him, spinning around to face the front again. 

“I mean… I guess it’s like a cute decoration? Like those random splotchy paintings people have in the houses? I guess it’s to make the place look nicer.”

Oscar chuckled. “Random splotchy paintings, huh…”

They kept walking towards the edge of town, nodding at passersby and busy children. Oscar kept staring at the back of Ruby’s head, trying to seem as casual as possible. If it got too quiet, it would be awkward, and he’d be left with his insane thoughts in his head. 

The emptiness in his mind was quite nice though. Though Oz had yet to make a reappearance, Oscar was relieved. It was nice to pretend that he wasn’t hosting an ancient wizard in his mind. That he wasn’t the current reincarnation of the warrior who had known Salem. The Salem, from before. 

Yeah. It was nice to be able to forget that for a second. 

“Hey, can we stop at this bakery place? I want to grab some stuff for everyone back at the house,” Ruby asked, stopping in front of a shop. 

“Uh, yeah, sure,” Oscar murmured, following his friend inside. He placed the box of china on his hip, as the door shut behind them. Smells of sweet bread and sugar enveloped the room. It was so warm… so quaint, and peaceful. Oscar glanced at the display stands, fillers with breads and desserts of all kinds. Two women worked the front while others flew in and out from the back. It was quite busy, as other customers were seated at tables, chatting and sipping hot drinks. 

“Wow, everything looks so good,” Ruby sighed dreamily, bending down to look at a tray of croissants. “Hey Oscar, what type of dessert do you think Ren will like?”

“Ren?” Oscar echoed. It wasn’t like Ruby couldn’t buy things for Ren, they were friends after all. But… why? 

“Uh, yeah, you know, he’s always cooking stuff. So why not thank him? Right?” Ruby asked, laughing lightly. Her face was still turned away from his, and Oscar had a sneaking suspicion that there was something going on. 

“Oh, but not just Ren! I’m buying enough for everyone. Saphron, Terra, and Adrian too.”

“Mhmm,” Oscar murmured. Well, whatever Ruby was thinking, was none of business. He was kind of hungry and would be willing to eat anything. If it weren’t for Weiss’ errand, he would probably be cooking dinner with Jaune. It was their night, after all. Oscar was glad the older boy was no longer angry at him, and after a long lecture from Saphron, Jaune had offered to help cook dinner on some days. If it wasn’t their day, Terra, Saphron, or Ren would do the cooking, the others either popping in to help, or choosing to clean instead. 

“W–what about those custard tarts? I’m sure Ren would like them,” he piped up. 

“Ooh, they have mini raspberries on them! Good idea, Oscar!” Ruby clapped happily. She popped up, her cape flapping in his face. 

“Okay, so we need a lot of tarts. Uh, one, two…” Ruby started, counting on her fingers. She then headed to the counter, ordering the vanilla custard tarts. Oscar giggled as his friend pulled out lien, looking gloomy at the costs. After the cashier handed her the brown paper bag, Ruby turned to him. “Lemme carry the box, you carry the desserts.”

“Ruby, I can carry the box just fine,” he told her. Did he look that weak? He did grow up on a farm. 

“No, it’s not that.” His friend scrunched up her face. “I’m afraid I’ll eat all of these before we get back. So… it would be safer with you.”

Oscar shook his head in amusement. “Yeah, sure. Let’s get back.” So the two switched their items and made it back outside. 

Once they were back on the sidewalk, they began to discuss the Rouge comics, dissecting their favorite scenes. Oscar guessed she was a real comic book fanatic. He watched her avidly talk about Rouge’s greatest pursuits while simultaneously making plans to kill Jaune for stealing her comics later. 

He laughed a little to himself, hoping it wasn’t noticeable, but Ruby stopped and looked at him. “What’s so funny?”

“No, nothing. I… you’re really passionate about comics. It’s really cool.”

Ruby squeezed her eyes shut. “I was rambling again, was I? I’m sorry—“

“Are you kidding? Don’t apologize, okay?”

I could listen to you talk all day , was what he wanted to say. But that sounded terribly creepy. But truly, there was never a dull moment with Ruby. 

His friend’s cheeks were a faint pink, but Oscar tried to reassure her there was nothing to be embarrassed of. If he really wanted to, he could go on for days about his favorite book series as well. 

“Uh, excuse me,” came the voice of a young boy. Oscar and Ruby looked down at a small freckled child, his hand gripped by an apologetic mother. 

“Marshall, let’s leave these nice people, alone, okay? We have to get home to Grandma, remember?”

“But Mama, that’s Rouge! And Vert!” Marshall exclaimed, his eyes aglow. 

Oscar turned to Ruby, his eyes widened. “We’re who?” he mouthed. 

“No, Marshall, that’s not Rouge. Rouge lives far away, remember? She’s from a different universe,” his mother tried to explain, tugging his hand. “I’m sorry, he really loves superheroes.”

“No, Mama! That’s Rouge! She looks exactly like her, I know a matter-of-factly,” Marshall hump her, slipping out his mom’s grasp. 

“Marshall, but isn’t Vert a lot taller than Rouge? Remember? They have different outfits, too.” 

Oscar didn’t know how to feel about being called short indirectly, but he said nothing of it. 

“Mama, I just knowwwww this is Vert! Right? Where’s your staff?” Marshall asked, his blue eyes wide.

“Uh, uh, right here!” Oscar smiled at the younger boy, pulling out Oz’s cane. Marshall lit up, while his mother, embarrassed at the scene, kept apologizing. 

“Wow! I didn’t know you got an upgrade! Cool! Can we take a picture with you two?” the boy asked. 

“Now, now, Marshall. Rouge and Vert are very busy superheroes. See? They’re on a very busy errand,” the boy’s mother pointed out, nodding towards the teacup box and the bag of pastries. 

“Why are you guys walking? Can’t you fly?” Marshall asked, confused. 

Ruby winked. “Today… Vert and I decided we needed a vacation. Right?” Ruby improvised, staring at Oscar. 

“Exactly! You see Marshall, Rouge and I fight a lot of bad guys, and sometimes it gets really messy. So our superhero costumes are at the dry cleaners!” 

Oscar heard Ruby stifle her laughter, and resisted the urge to glare at her. Instead, he bent down until he was eye level with the little boy. “You have to keep our identities a secret!” He put his finger to his lips, indicating Marshall to do the same. “We thought we were blending in well with everyone else without our masks and costumes. But you’re a very bright kid, Marshall, so I’m entrusting you to keep our secret safe, okay?”

Marshall nodded eagerly. “Yes! I will!”

“We can still take the picture if you want, Marshall,” Ruby piped up, glancing at the mom for approval. 

“Yes, yes, yes!”

“If you’re sure it won’t be a bother…”

So Marshall’s mother took out her scroll and went around the three. Ruby and Oscar stood on the other side of Marshall, crouching down near him. 

“Now everyone, say ‘We are the victors of the night!’” Marshall’s mother exclaimed, recalling Rouge’s catchphrase. 

“We are the victors of the night!” the three chorused. 

After the photos were taken, Marshall’s mother kept apologizing over and over. 

“It’s alright, ma’am! Marshall was such a polite boy, and he’s promising to keep our secret too,” Oscar grinned. “He’ll be a great hero one day.”

“Me? Thank you, thank you!” Marshall jumped up and down. “I promise I won’t tell anyone!”

As the pair watched the mother and son walk away, they could hear Marshall say, “I can’t believe the two greatest superheroes are here to protect us!”

“Hm, what a cute kid,” Oscar laughed. 

“He’s very excitable. Seems that everyone likes Rouge,” Ruby shrugged. 

“We look nothing like them, though,” Oscar pointed out. Rouge had longer hair than Ruby and Vert was nearly a foot taller than Oscar. And was a woman.

“I guess it was the color scheme. Red and green,” Ruby noticed as they continued their walk. “It’s crazy how he thought we were superheroes.”

Oscar snorted. “You’re a Huntress with a speed semblance, how is that any different?”

Ruby looked up at the sky. “I dunno. I’ve always looked up to superheroes in my comics. Their influence, their power. Their desire to help people. Sometimes, it really sounds like a fantasy, like it’s not possible.”

“Hey. Don’t say that. Ruby, you’re one of the most hardworking people I know. You’re basically a Huntress and you are helping people. You want to stop Salem and you want a better world for everyone. If that isn’t the desire to help others, I don’t know what is.”

“You really think that?” Ruby murmured, her smile growing. 

“I do. You don’t have to look up to comic book heroes all the time. Sometimes it’s okay to be proud of yourself. Your achievements and the things you’re going to do in the future. I look up to you,” Oscar murmured. He didn’t mean to spill all that out, but he couldn't help himself. 

They arrived at the Cotta-Arc household, and Ruby turned to him.

“You always seem to know the right thing to say Oscar.”

“Uh, do I?” he chuckled nervously, turning away. Her eyes were on his for far too long. 

“Yeah. Now let’s get inside, I’m so hungry.”

“We’re back!” Ruby announced. “And we brought back desserts!”

“Cookie!” Adrian’s voice could be heard from the kitchen. Oscar shut the door behind them, following Ruby into the kitchen. 

“No desserts till after dinner, Adrian, remember what your mother told you?” Ren reminded the young boy, who was in Yang’s arms. Ren was busy stirring something heavenly in a pot. 

“Hi, guys—whoa, Ruby! Your hair!” Yang exclaimed, her eyes wide. Ren looked up, and nodded. 

“You do look nice," Ren noted.

“Ha… thanks. I just wanted to change it up a little.”

“Cookie!” Adrian babbled again, trying to work out of Yang’s arms. 

“ After dinner, okay?” Yang reminded the toddler. 

“Yang, you can bring Adrian to me!” Jaune called from the living room. 

“Jaune Arc, I have a bone to pick with you!” Ruby yelled, setting the box down and marching out of the kitchen. 

“She found out about the comics, didn’t she?” Ren asked, shaking his head.

“Yep,” Oscar sighed. “What’re you making?”

“Coq au vin'', Ren answered. 

“I have no idea what you just said, but it smells wonderful.”

“Thank you. What did you guys buy from the bakery?”

“Uh, some tarts. I guess I could put them on a plate.” 

“That would be nice,” Ren answered.

As Oscar went to grab a platter, Weiss walked into the kitchen. “Oh, my teacups! You got them!” she smiled. Oscar couldn’t help but smile back. 

“You can thank Ruby for that. It took us a while to find them,” Oscar answered, placing the tarts on the plate. "I couldn't get the handkerchief though, some kid took it before I could," he muttered.

“Well, thank you, anyway. This means a lot to me,” Weiss murmured, taking the box with her. 

“You made her very happy, you know,” Ren noted. 

“Did I? I didn’t really do anything,” Oscar insisted. 

“Weiss likes you. And Ruby does, too,” Ren noted. 

“Ren, if this was about the other night, then—“

Ren looked up Oscar. “ I like you, too. And so does everyone else. Please believe me when I say that.”

Oscar flushed. “You don’t have to say all this.”

“Maybe not, but I want you to know. You’re a good person, Oscar, I know that much. You’re a part of the team and whatever happens, know that we’re always going to have your back. From now on.”

Oscar nearly felt like crying, like a dam had burst forth. Ren’s words of reassurance were really what he needed. Sure, he had bought himself some new clothes and made a casserole, but inside, deep inside, he hurt. He had never felt more useless in his entire life, more weary. Tired of just… being there. So he had to leave. Just to get his mind cleared. 

“Thanks, Ren. That means a lot to me,” Oscar murmured, trying to smile. 

Ren turned off the stove. “I know an apology isn’t enough—but we’re going to do better to show you we care. Now, would you mind grabbing the plates? The food’s done.”

Oscar nodded warmly, and helped Ren serve the plates. Then all thirteen of them crammed around the table, some having to sit on the floor, and enjoyed their meal. 

After dinner, Yang and Oscar volunteered to wash the dishes, while Nora and Weiss helped clear the table. Terra, Saphron, and Adrian retired to their room, as did Qrow and Maria.

The evening was quiet, and everything had settled down. 

Oscar scrubbed the dishes, and Yang rinsed and dried them. 

“Doing dishes with you is so easy,” Oscar joked, hoping to start a conversation.

“You think? I guess I’m pretty fast. I hated washing dishes as a kid, so I tried to get them over with as quickly as possible,” Yang explained, drying a plate.

“Oh, I see,” Oscar nodded.

“Ren, can I talk to you for a moment?” Ruby asked from the living room. Out of curiosity, Oscar paused his washing and strained his ears to listen.

“Sure, Ruby, what is it?” Ren replied.

“Uh, actually, it’s a bit of a private thing,” Ruby’s voice lowered. “Can we talk upstairs?”

Oscar wondered what was so secretive that Ruby couldn’t tell anyone but Ren. He had no idea what was going on, but he knew it had something to do with the tarts she had bought this afternoon. 

“Hey Oscar, your aunt never told you that staring at people is rude?” Yang joked, elbowing him in the side. 

“ Gah! ” Oscar jumped. “Yang! I wasn’t staring!”

“Really Oscar, you have to be a bit more discreet,” the older girl said, rinsing a bowl. 

Oscar’s cheeks flamed. “Discreet? With what?”

“Don't try to play with me. You stare at my sister all the time, it’s kind of obvious you think she’s cute.”

“I don’t think that!” Oscar hissed back. “I mean, I do, but like, she’s not ugly! Just… her being cute has nothing to do with how I feel about her. It’s just a statement. And I don’t mean to stare, I just…”

Yang turned off the faucet and turned to face the younger boy. “Oscar, let me give you some advice. You shouldn’t deny the obvious because you only look stupid.”

“Once again, Yang, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Oscar denied, rinsing his sudsy hands. 

“Whatever, I have to go to bed.” As Yang left the kitchen, she turned back to Oscar. “Don't worry, she doesn’t know yet.”

“Yang!” Oscar groaned. He did not like Ruby. That was an absurd and embarrassing accusation. He just stared because he had never met a silver-eyed warrior before.

Pushing the conversation with Yang to the back of his mind, Oscar went to freshen up, before going upstairs to the room he shared with Jaune and Ren. 

“Where’s Ren?” Oscar asked Jaune when he had finished his shower. 

“Still talking to Ruby,” Jaune answered, not looking up from the book he was reading. 

Still? 

“Jaune? Is that Ruby’s comic book? Didn’t she threaten to kill you if she didn’t get them back?” Oscar asked, amused. 

“I returned most of them, but I haven’t ready this one yet,” Jaune explained. Then he turned to the younger one. “Wanna read it together?” 

Ruby was going to kill them. She was definitely going to kill them. But he hadn’t read this edition either, so he sat on Jaune’s bed and shrugged. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

Oscar shrugged. “You got yourself a deal.”

The next morning, Oscar didn’t wake up to the sun, but to a fairly unpleasant smell. 

“Ungh… Jaune? Ren?” he groaned, rubbing his eyes. There was no reply, telling Oscar they other boys had woken up earlier than him. 

Stretching his stiff body, Oscar hauled himself out of bed. It smelled like… burning food. Was there a fire in the house? If so, why was no one calling for him? No one sounded like they were in any grave danger either. 

The boy went to the door, and just as he opened it up, Jaune appeared, still in his pajamas. 

“Oh, Oscar! You’re up!” the blonde laughed, a bit suspiciously. 

“... Yeah. Is something burning?” Oscar asked, craning his neck.

Jaune stepped in front of him. “No, no, it’s nothing. Uh… Saph burned breakfast, so Ren went down to help her.”

“Okay…” Oscar moved towards the entrance to go downstairs, but Jaune blocked his exit again. 

“Jaune, what are you doing?”

“Terra wants to know if you want to take Adrian on a walk!” he blurted. 

“Take Adrian on a walk?” Oscar repeated. “Why me?”

“Well, the daycare is closed today, Terra’s got work… um, Saph’s busy with Ren. The girls, Maria, and Qrow went out shopping…”

“And you?”

“Oh, me! Uh, I actually planned to go visit… Pyrrha’s statue,” Jaune admitted, lowering his head. That much was true. 

“Oh, I’m sorry for asking,” Oscar murmured. He couldn’t begin to fathom his friends' grief over Pyrrha, especially Jaune’s.

“I’d love to take Adrian out. There’s a park nearby, right?”

Jaune nodded, before squeezing Oscar in a hug. “Thanks, Oscar.”

It was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Oscar sighed, he was hoping he could spend more time with Ruby today before they had to leave for Atlas, but he was sure taking Adrian out would be fun too, right? 

“Let me get changed.”

Jaune beamed and jogged back downstairs, leaving Oscar to get ready. Being an only child, he didn’t have much experience with children. Adrian seemed tame enough, he liked to babble, and cry, but he was mostly just playful. 

When he finished, he headed downstairs, the burning smell disappearing a bit. He stuck in his head in the kitchen, seeing Ren flipping pancakes. 

“Where’s Saphron?” Oscar asked, causing Ren to jump. 

“Oscar—wow, you scared me”, Ren admitted. Sneaking up on Ren wasn’t an easy thing to do. Was he okay? 

“Are you okay Ren? Jaune told me Saphron had a hard time in the kitchen this morning, which is surprising, she seems like a really good cook,” Oscar murmured, walking in the kitchen. 

Ren knitted his eyebrows together, until his eyes grew wide. 

“Yeah, yeah, she was having a hard time… with a new recipe she wanted to try out. She stepped out for a bit.”

Oscar whistled. “It smells really weird… what was she trying to make?”

“Uh—“

“Oscar, Adrian’s ready!” Jaune called from the living room. Oscar nodded quickly to Ren and met Jaune and Adrian on the couch. On the table was a small handbag, presumably filled with things for toddler. 

“Oscar, I am trusting my nephew with you. You have to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself. If he cries, he either needs to be changed, is hungry, or slept. If he doesn’t stop crying, come back here immediately,” Jaune instructed. 

“Okay, I think I can handle that,” Oscar said, holding out his arms for Adrian. “Hey, buddy, you wanna go to the park?”

Adrian replied with garbled excitement, letting Oscar carry him. He was so tiny . 

“I’ll be back really soon,” Oscar promised. 

“Okay, bye guys,” Jaune waved, smiling as Oscar and Adrian made their way out the door. 

When the door shut behind them, Jaune let out a sigh of relief. Saphron came out of her room, dressed in a taupe pantsuit and a briefcase in hand. 

“I can’t believe you guys let poor Oscar believe I was a bad cook!” she grouched. 

“Thanks, Saph, we owe you one,” Jaune thanked her. Ren came out of the kitchen, a plate of pancakes in one hand. 

“You’re off to the publishing company?” Ren asked. 

“Yep, to see my lovely editor,” Saphron groaned, tugging on a heel. “Adrian’s okay?”

“I’ll be going out too, so I’ll keep an eye out of them,” Jaune promised. 

Saphron let out a big breath, looking around the room. “Good, good. Uh, Ren, Jaune? Please… let’s keep the burned food to a minimum. That kitchen has been through a lot for the past few days.”

“Don’t worry, Saph. The fire hazard just needs a little more training. We promise not to burn anything again,” Jaune grinned, earning a pulled ear from his sister. 

“Love you,” Saphron grinned back. 

“Saph—my ear, ow —“

“Bye, you two!” the woman called out, making her way out the door. 

“They’re almost back, Ren,” Jaune said, checking his scroll. 

Ren closed his eyes and muttered something to the skies. 

“You’re a smart baby, aren’t you?” Oscar asked Adrien, pushing him gently in the baby swing. The boy babbled, clapping his hands excitedly. 

“Cute.”

Oscar watched dozens of children scream and play with one another, climbing the monkey bars and chasing each other underneath the jungle gym.

“One day you’ll be old enough to do that, huh, Adrian?” Oscar asked the toddler, who just whooped in reply. 

In a few days, they’d be in the highest city of Remnant. They’d leave the Cotta-Arc household, a place of warmth and family, to whatever… whatever lay in the clouds above. 

Adrian soon signaled he was tired of the swing and Oscar hauled him out, bringing him over to sit on the bench. Adrian gleefully clapped his hands, leaning over to inspect the baby bag Oscar brought with him. 

He kept his eye on the toddler, until his eye wandered away from him, the playground and to the sidewalk, where people were just passing by.

He watched a lady pick up her dog and a man and a woman with four teenage girls trailing behind them. 

Wait. 

Those were his friends.

He spotted a familiar red cape dark head of hair. 

“Adrian,” Oscar whispered to the baby, “that’s Ruby isn’t it?”

Of course, Adrian couldn’t respond, instead begged Oscar silently to open the back to get him some snacks. Ripping his gaze away from them, he gave in to Adrian’s commands. By the time he had gotten everything situated, Ruby and her friends had disappeared. 

Oscar was beginning to acknowledge the idea that while he was warming up to everyone else in the house, there was still something there. He didn’t doubt his friends’ promises and apologies, but from the beginning, he felt the closest to Ruby. Something about being separated from her didn’t sit well with him. She always tried to convince everyone that he and Oz were separate beings and that he wouldn’t lose his soul. No matter how everyone else saw him, Ruby had never given up on him. Not once. 

There was something to be said about that, he thought, but he didn’t have much time to analyze it, as he was approached by a young woman, a toddler Adrian’s age, and a dog. 

“Is this your little brother?” the woman cooed, her eyes like stars at the sight of Adrian. 

“ Little brother?” Oscar asked incredulously, staring back to the woman. 

“Oh he’s so cute! You’re so responsible! I only wish my older son would want to take his little sister out. Here, Cherry, say hello to the other baby! What’s his name, he’s so cute?”

Oscar tried to process the quick-mouthed woman’s words as the child, Cherry, grabbed the air in front of her as a way of saying hello. 

Adrian blew raspberries in response. He had flecks of banana teethers across his cheek, but he was more focused on the dog than Cherry or his snack. 

“His name is Adrian. It’s nice to meet you, ma’am. And Cherry,” Oscar added with a smile. 

“Oh, do you have a scroll? I think Cherry and Adrian should have play dates together! Cherry's been having a hard time making friends at daycare, but look, she already likes him!” the woman said, returning her attention to Adrian leaning off the bench to grab Cherry’s hand. Oscar quickly held him back, before deciding to sit the young boy on his lap. 

This woman was moving quite fast for someone he had just met. He would have to clear up the misunderstanding quickly. 

“Uh, Adrian isn’t my little brother. I’m watching him for a friend,” he explained. 

The woman ohhhhed in realization. “Well that’s too bad. I’m sure they would’ve gotten along, wonderfully.”

Was this her way of guilt-tripping him or was she being honest?

“If you’d like, I would be willing to pass your number along. I think Adrian’s parents should get to know you first, if you don’t mind,” Oscar suggested. 

The dog barked eagerly, moving its tiny body around. 

“Sure, we’d love that,” the woman grinned. 

After the three had finally left the park, Adrian had decided that now was the best time to let out his ear-shattering cries. 

“Shh, shh, you ready to go home, buddy? I am too, come on,” he muttered to the toddler. 

Ruby was exhausted. She had broken out in a sweat so many times that she had to pull her hair up in a ponytail. She had tasted batter so many times, she was beginning to feel sick. 

Ren had left her to clean the kitchen, and just as she finished, Oscar had returned, Adrian in hand. 

“Ruby?” the boy asked. 

“Oh! Oscar… you went out with Adrian? I was wondering where you were,” she laughed. 

“Yeah, he has a new friend now and everything, isn’t that right, Adrian?” Oscar asked the snot-nosed baby. 

“I think Saphron’s back from her meeting, so maybe Adrian would like to see her?” Ruby suggested. 

Adrian seemed to like the sound of that. “Good idea,” Oscar grinned back. 

As the two left the entrance of the kitchen, Ruby noticed the bag of flour was still on the counter. Cursing to herself, she shoved it back in the cabinet , before Oscar returned. 

“I think babies are too much work,” he sighed, leaning on the doorway. 

“I agree,” Ruby laughed nervously. 

Oscar almost wanted to bring up seeing Ruby and the others at the park, but didn’t. Instead, he asked, “Did Ren cook something else?”

Ruby’s eyes widened, and she slowly stopped wiping the counter. “No… I just noticed the kitchen was dirty, so I offered to clean up.”

“... Okay… it smells really good in here, that’s why I’m wondering. Better than this morning at least,” Oscar noticed. 

“ Really? ” Ruby asked, her eyes dazzling. “I mean… really?”

“Uh, yeah. It smells like… I don’t know, but it’s very familiar.”

Panic set in Ruby’s face, and just as he was about to say something else, Saphron called for him. “Hey Oscar, do you have Adrian’s pacifier?”

“Coming!” the boy yelled back, turning back to Ruby with a smile. As he disappeared, Ruby frantically finished cleaning, before hurrying back upstairs to take a shower. 

When Oscar had returned, Ruby was gone. She was being really strange, always gone. They hardly had any time to talk, to spar… anything. He headed back to the living room, and flipped on the couch. Where was everyone else?

Saphron came out of her bedroom without Adrian. 

“His little adventure at the park tuckered him out,” she explained to Oscar. “Thanks for taking him, by the way.”

“Oh, no problem, I know you two are busy. How is your book coming along?” Oscar asked. 

Saphron shrugged, sitting on the seat next to Oscar’s. “Currently struggling, but you know, that’s part of the writing process. What about you? Why do you look so glum?”

“Glum? I’m fine,” Oscar insisted, squeezing his cheeks. Did he look that upset? 

Saphron sat criss-crossed, turning her body to face him. “You forget I have many siblings, I kind of had to learn to read facial expressions. 

“It’s… nothing.”

“Oscar, I hardly know you, but I can tell that you aren’t happy.”

Oscar shrugged. “I think I’m just worried about going up to Atlas.”

“That’s for sure. But I wouldn’t worry too much,” Saphron answered. “Your friends won’t abandon you. If that’s what you’re worried about. I wouldn’t worry about Jaune, either, sometimes he does stupid things.”

“Haha… yeah…”

A ringing came from Saphron’s pocket. 

“I have to go take this,” the woman said, standing up. 

“Also, Oscar? She isn’t ignoring you.”

Oscar stared back, confused, as Saphron left the room. What did she mean by that? Who was she ? Saphron couldn't possibly be talking about Ruby, right?

Maybe it was an author thing, to say vague things. 

He realized how quite the house was, and wondered if Ruby was the only to return home. In search of his friends, he headed up the stairs.

The next evening, it was Oscar and Jaune’s might to make dinner. They settled with a simple soup, which everyone enjoyed, before they all went in for the night. 

In the middle of the night, Oscar heard a bump coming from downstairs. Then a clatter . 

He popped up, feeling groggy. Jaune and Ren were fast asleep, Jaune sprawled over his bed, snoring, and Ren in his sleeping bad, still and curled. 

Was there an intruder inside? 

Something sounded like someone was slamming the cabinets shut. Oscar grabbed his cane and crept outside the room, not wanting to disturb anyone. The hallway was dimly lit, allowing him to head towards the stairs. 

Holding his cane like a baseball bat, Oscar tiptoed downstairs. How no one else had woken up yet was a mystery to him, but that didn’t matter right now. He had to stop whoever had snuck into the kitchen. Passing by the front door, there were no signs of breaking in, but maybe they had gone through the back? Or a window? 

His heartbeat was too loud, and he swore that it sounded like thunder. 

Not giving a moment’s hesitation, Oscar jumped into the entrance of the kitchen, yelling, “Stop!”

The person screamed back, jumping away from the cabinet their head was stuck into. Wait, they weren’t a robber… it was—

“Ruby?” Oscar asked, his voice soft. Ruby stepped back, in her red hoodie and black pajama pants, looking sheepish. Pots and pans lay scattered across the kitchen, floor, spoons and knives out of the silverware drawer. 

“What’s going on here?” 

The living room lights flickered on, revealing Terra in a blue bathrobe, looking frazzled. “It’s 3 am! Do you want to wake up the baby?”

“Sorry,” Oscar and Ruby apologized. 

Terra came around to them, entering the kitchen. “Oscar? Ruby? What’s going on?” she whispered. 

“Uh… I was looking for a snack,” Ruby muttered. “Sorry.”

Now Oscar felt foolish. “I heard a lot of noises… I thought it was an intruder. I didn’t mean to wake you up, Terra.”

The woman sighed, rubbing her temples. “Ruby, I don’t think you need to use every container in the house for snacks, right? If you want something, please get it from the pantry.”

“And Oscar? I appreciate you wanting to defend the house, but what would an intruder want from our kitchen?”

“Right… right… sorry.”

“Okay, if that’s all, please clean up quietly, and let’s get some sleep,” Terra muttered, retraining back to her room. 

“I’m sorry for waking you up, Oscar,” Ruby piped up. 

“And I’m sorry I almost whacked you with the cane.”

Ruby giggled. “At least I know who will protect us if there was a real break-in.”

Oscar let the cane collapse, shoving it in his back pocket. A yawn escaped his mouth, reminding him of how tired he really was. He came over to Ruby, and started helping her pick things up. 

“What kind of snack were you trying to make with a pot?” he asked. 

“Oh, uh… I was actually looking for a bowl. I was… going to get cereal, but I couldn’t find any. Hence, the entire mess I created,” Ruby explained. 

“Really? I thought we put all the bowls back in the cabinet on the left,” Oscar wondered. 

“Oh, I must’ve forgotten to check there. Thanks.”

Oscar couldn't help but wonder what Ruby was really up to in the kitchen. Was she really hungry? Or was she in the middle of doing something else? Of course, he couldn’t bring himself to ask her. When they finished, Oscar stood up, not knowing what to say or do next. 

“Um, I guess, enjoy your cereal. I’ll see you in the morning,” he smiled. 

Ruby nodded, waving him off. 

He had a harder time falling asleep, even though Ruby was no longer making noise. When he finally did fall asleep, however, it was nearly morning. 

Terra handed him a cup of coffee as she and Adrian sped out through the door. He was up early, mostly because was restless, and also because Jaune and Weiss were going to go buy Dust, and asked him to tag along. 

Ruby and Nora were also up, as they had started packing for the journey up. Sure, the idea could end them all up in prison, but they had to get up there somehow, right? So if they had to steal an airship, so be it. 

Today was their last day with the Cotta-Arcs, and Oscar had to admit, he was going to miss their big family dinners and Adrian’s ear-piercing crying. Somehow. 

As he accompanied Jaune and Weiss to the nearest Dust store, instead of lagging behind him, he decided to walk next to them. They were all friends, and besides, Saphron said they wouldn’t abandon him, right? Oz already had, and if he wanted to reach further back, so had his parents. He was beginning to sense some kind of pattern here. Was he afraid of falling behind? Of being left alone? Of no one truly understanding him? 

“—Oscar?” Weiss asked, breaking him out of his thoughts. 

“Hm?” Oscar asked, focusing his attention on her. 

“We’re here. Are you okay?” she asked, motioning him to come though the store door. 

“Uh, yeah, my head’s just been all over the place,” he answered. 

“If I were you, I’d feel the same way,” she admitted. “I mean, just some weeks ago, you were still at your farm, and now… all this. I think it would be crazy if you felt normal,” Weiss shrugged, eyeing the ice Dust crystals. 

“I get that. I wish it wasn’t this complicated though.”

Weiss turned around and stopped Oscar from moving forward. “You’re worried about Atlas. I get that, in fact, I feel the same way. You’re also worried about Ozpin. But most of all, you’re worried about us, aren’t you?”

Oscar’s eyes widened. How did… how did she guess so much?

“Look, I’m sorry for how we treated you. Really, we were angry with Ozpin and instead took it out on you. Seemed we all refused to let you guys be separate people,” Weiss sighed, glancing at Jaune. 

“All except Ruby, of course. Even when she doubted Ozpin, it was only Ozpin who she doubted. She always believed in you.”

“She… did? She does?” Oscar asked. 

Weiss nodded. “It’s obvious, isn’t it?”

Oscar looked at his gloved fingers. “I… I guess so…”

Weiss said nothing more, leaving Oscar to stew in his thoughts, the five words echoing in his mind. 

She always believed in you. 

 That night, Oscar tucked his bags at the door of the mattress he slept on, and sat on top of it. Jaune, Yang, Ren and Nora were out in the city with Terra and Saphron, while everyone else stayed inside. Weiss was reading Adrian a bedtime story, while Maria, Ruby, Blake and Qrow had gone to bed. 

He soon heard footsteps coming up the stairs, and a little “Goodnight” he could only assume was from Weiss. 

“Oz? Are you there?” he whispered. There wasn’t a response, leaving Oscar to be by himself. 

He was quite tired of going out all day, and he hadn’t gotten a good night’s rest, either. He yawned, finding himself falling to his pillow, and snoring softly.

When he woke up next, it was because of knocking at his door. He looked around the room, still dimly lit. Ren and Jaune were still out? Then who could it be?

“Hello?” he asked, too afraid to open the door. 

“Uh, it’s me, Ruby!”

Ruby? It’s midnight!

“Uh, come in?”

Oscar sat up and tore his blankets off of him, and quickly ran his hands through his hair, as Ruby opened the door. 

On a platter, there was a small cake with a single candle on top. The flame made Ruby’s eyes glow even more, as she made her way to him. 

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Oscar…”

He could hardly believe it. Even as she sat herself next to him on the mattress, he couldn’t believe this was happening. 

“ A cake?” he asked, baffled. 

“Yes, a cake. I know… you said you didn’t want to celebrate, but I thought maybe… something small wouldn’t hurt, right?”

Oscar felt tears prick at his eyes. “You baked this?”

Ruby smiled proudly. “Why’d you think I bought the tarts? It was my way to bribe Ren to teach me how to bake this.”

The cake was beautiful. It was a nutty brown with a white cream on top, and what Oscar assumed were edible flowers decorated on top. “It’s so pretty, how am I supposed to eat it?”

Ruby brought out forks for her hoodie pocket. “That’s why I’m here to help you. Now blow out your candle, make a wish!”

Oscar grinned ear to ear, before blowing out the candle. 

I wish…

“Woo-hoo!” Ruby whisper-shouted. 

Oscar still wasn’t over the idea that she had did this for him in the first place. 

“So… Ren taught you to do this? Is this why I haven’t been seeing you around? Wait… is that what you were doing in the kitchen?” Oscar gasped. That explained Jaune sending him out with Adrian. Ruby had probably gone out to buy more ingredients to bake with. 

Ruby reddened. “Uh… yeah. I’ve been practicing almost every day, that’s why I had to go out and buy more ingredients, cause I kept burning stuff.”

So that wasn’t Saphron who burned breakfast. They were all covering for Ruby. Did everyone know?

“Ren swore he would never teach me to cook, remember? Back at Haven, I burned his stew, the one that he had been wanting to eat for weeks. So… I had to butter him up. And so we practiced early in the morning, late at night, whenever you were around… I just wanted this to be a big surprise for you.”

Oscar felt touched. “You guys went all out for me.” He sniffed. “Thank you, Ruby,” he murmured. 

“Aw, don’t mention it. I’m just glad you’re staying with us. Atlas is going to be difficult, but I know that you’re more than ready to face whatever’s up there,” Ruby nodded. 

Oscar responded with a half-smile, as Ruby picked up the platter, revealing two smaller plates underneath. 

“I forgot a knife,” she sighed. 

“Don't worry, we can just use a fork,” Oscar shrugged. He didn’t want her to leave just yet, he was enjoying himself. 

“Also, I’m sorry I didn’t get you a birthday present, so here!” Ruby rushed, and before Oscar could tell her not to worry, he felt a pair of soft lips on his cheek. 

As he slowly registered the fact that Ruby had kissed him, Ruby herself had thrown herself into Oscar’s pillow, burying her red face in it. 

“I’m sorry!” came her muffled shout. Oscar placed his fingers to where she had kissed him, almost as if it hadn’t happened. 

Why had she done that? Did it mean something, or was it just some kind of friendly gesture he wasn’t familiar with? 

“Ruby…” he whispered. “Did you just kiss me?”

The girl, humiliated, sat up, her hood off her head. “I’m stupid.. I don’t know why I did that. I’m sorry,” she murmured, picking at her fingers. Great, now it was weird. 

Oscar thought for a second, before leaning over and placing a quick kiss on Ruby’s cheek. “There,” he said, “now we’re even.” Now it was his turn to blush. 

Ruby seemed surprised initially, but she then relaxed and smiled. “Yeah, even. Thanks, Oscar.”

For making it less awkward? Or… for the kiss? 

“Yeah…” he muttered. 

Ruby used her fork to cut uneven slices of cake for them. It smelled warm, like honey. Handing Oscar her plate, she cut herself a slice. 

“To you,” Ruby murmured. 

“To us,” Oscar offered. Ruby giggled, shaking her head. “Now eat! I hope I didn’t poison you…”

Oscar blinked, but took a bite of cake anyway. It tasted like spice, nutmeg , more specifically. But the honey was definitely there. Vanilla, lemon, and the cream cheese frosting, amazing. 

“It’s… pretty good,” he admitted. Ruby fist-pumped the air. “Yes! Finally ! The last time I tried, Ren said it was missing something. I think it was the amount of nutmeg I kept putting in. If I’m being honest, the cream cheese part was the easiest to do. Also, I never want to cook again,” Ruby exclaimed. 

Oscar kept eating the cake to avoid laughing at Ruby’s antics. As she widely explained how she had burned the cake the first two times, Oscar slowly felt himself becoming… lighter. 

The she Saphron was referring to was Ruby, wasn’t it? And Weiss… this is what she meant. Ruby believed in him. 

So even if tomorrow brought a new enemy, a new battle, a new quest, he believed nothing would change between them. He believed that he and Ozpin would be separated, that they’d win the war, that he would find the courage to kiss Ruby again—and maybe this time, not on the cheek. 

Chapter Text

“You’re beating yourself up too much. You need to give yourself some credit. And come take a break ,” Ruby laughed at Oscar, pulling him up from the dirt floor. The air was thick, and the sky around them was gray, clouds forming all around them. 

Oscar felt Ruby’s strong grip and allowed the older girl to haul him off the ground. He felt battered and he was pretty sure he had a bruise or two on his ribs. Dusting himself off, he followed Ruby back to the empty house, for everyone else was on their mission. 

“I’m sorry you had to stay home with me,” Oscar apologized, heading to the living room. Ruby followed him in, a small smile gracing her face. “Don’t worry about it. You weren’t feeling well, and someone had to stay here. I’m glad you’re feeling better now, though,” she offered. 

He knew Ruby was secretly wishing she was on the mission, and Oscar felt the same way. The mission was far underground, with worm-like Grimm terrorizing a small community by burrowing through their homes at night. 

“We’re going to be here alone awhile,” Ruby murmured. “And I know you and Oz want to practice magic, but I’d prefer if you took a break. You want to go take a shower? I can warm up whatever the others made last night.”

Oscar nodded, and went past Ruby and headed up the stairs. Oz had receded, most likely to reenergize himself. Although it was Oscar practicing magic, part of it came from the recesses of Ozpin’s soul, and it took a lot out of the former headmaster. 

In the shower, Oscar’s guilt began to creep in, and he truly began to feel bad for Ruby. She didn’t volunteer to watch over him, their friends had suggested it. And she couldn’t say no, because she didn’t want to seem rude. Oscar was fine, he could’ve taken care of himself. Yes, he did feel ill and was running an extremely high fever, but he could still drag himself to the kitchen if he needed to. 

A dull ache resided in his chest, and not just from the training he did, but he was grateful that at least, he was feeling better. Maybe Ruby could catch up to the rest. They had only left this morning, after all. 

Oz said nothing of the matter, telling Oscar just how exhausted the Wizard was. He didn’t mind too much, it was nice to be able to pretend that he lived inside his mind by himself. 

After he finished, he washed his gloves in the sink, realizing that he had no more pairs to wear. His mind blanked. Ruby was probably waiting for him to start eating but he couldn’t show her his hands. He needed to cover them, somehow. In a panic, he looked around the room he shared with Jaune and Ren, going through piles of clothes. He could just wear a dirty pair of gloves… or… 

“Yes!” he whispered to himself, pulling out a hoodie. It had pockets, at least! He could conceal his hands, and just tell Ruby he wasn’t feeling too hungry. Then when his gloves were dry, he could sneak them back on, easy-peasy. 

Hurriedly, the farm boy piled all his clothes in a basket, and quietly jogged down the stairs and into the hall before the living room. He found the laundry room, and quickly shoved all his belongings inside. There. At least he’d have his gloves within the hour. Now… was the hard part. Oscar pushed his hands inside the hoodie’s pockets, and hoped for the best. 

Ruby was on the couch, busily flipping through channels. Two bowls of hot stew lay on the coffee table, their scent calling to Oscar. 

“Hey,” Ruby smiled, turning to face him. Oscar smiled shyly back, fiddling with his hands in the pocket. 

“Are… are you okay?” Ruby asked, peering at him.

Well, she was good at noticing things, then. Oscar shook his head, hoping she’d let it be. 

“Oh… okay. Well, let’s eat! 

Ruby noticed a discomfort in his eyes, and after briefly glanced at the boy’s tucked hands, stood up. “I have to go get something.” 

Oscar watched her curiously, as she sprinted upstairs. He wanted to tell Ruby about his hands, he did, but… not yet. He’d prefer to keep them covered, and have a sense of normalcy with them, too. 

He didn’t dare touch his bowl of stew, but instead kept his hands firmly tucked underneath his armpits. Sweat crept through the fabric and Oscar had the suspicion that he should’ve stayed upstairs and pretended his sickness had come back. 

Oscar wished he didn’t have anything to hide and wished that he wasn’t ashamed of the truth. But it haunted him to his core and it was hard to get over it. 

Ruby returned later, clutching something dark in her hands. She opened her hands to reveal a pair of fingerless gloves.

“Uh, I figured… you like to keep your hands concealed. And whatever the reason, that’s okay, you don’t have to tell me. I hope these are okay while you’re waiting for yours, though,” she explained.

Oscar was speechless. He could only stare at Ruby in awe. “You… you don’t have to give me your gloves.”

His friend shrugged. “I don’t need them right now. I’ll go in the kitchen, you can call me when you’re done.”

And just like that, Ruby trotted off to the kitchen. No questions, no teasing, nothing. She was okay that he wasn’t ready to tell her anything. 

Oscar beamed to himself, before cautiously taking his hands out. The skin of his hands were a mess of colors and textures, and he didn’t like what he saw. His fingers were a lot more smooth. As he pulled Ruby’s gloves on, he was grateful that his fingers could be exposed without worry. The gloves felt warm, as if Ruby had recently worn them. He thought he looked silly in them, but he was extremely grateful. 

“I’m finished,” he called to the kitchen. 

Ruby came back out, almost cautiously, and came around to Oscar’s side, sitting down. She glanced at him, almost piercing his soul. “You okay?” she murmured softly. 

Oscar nodded back, not knowing what to say. “Thank you,” he whispered back. 

Ruby nodded, a smile growing on her face. “Let’s eat, then.”

Oscar felt odd, taking the bowl in Ruby’s gloves. The warmth could be felt through the material, about this time it wasn’t unpleasant. It felt oddly comforting. 

“I’m not upset that I had to stay here with you, Oscar,” Ruby was saying, her eyes glued to the TV. Oscar nearly spilled the bowl of stew over himself. How did she know that’s what he was thinking about?

“Uh… I know you wanted to go. We were all going to go until I fell sick. I’m really sorry, Ruby.”

Ruby smiled gently, and shook her head. “I mean, yeah, I did want to go. But I realized that everyone has to do their part. Right now, mine was to take care of you. And besides, I kind of… we’ve never really had a chance to just hang out together! By ourselves, I mean,” Ruby clarified, turning away. 

“Oh.” 

Oh. 

She wanted to be with him? Oscar still felt sorry, but part of him perked up as well. She wanted to hang out with him . 

He steadied his nerves, and turned back to his friend with a smile. “Thank you. Uh, I’d love to hang out,” he said, as a clap of thunder sounded in the sky. 

Ruby peered out the window next to her. “I’m guessing that a storm's coming,” she sighed. “I hope the others are okay.” 

Oscar nodded, worry creeping into his system. “They’ll be fine. They’re very capable, and Qrow went with them too.” 

“Yeah, you’re right.”

That was the end of the conversation, as they watched some black and white film. Oscar ate his stew, his mind on the laundry room, the storm outside, and his conversation with Ruby. 

The sky darkened further and further into the afternoon, and the wind began to howl as well. Ruby, in her nervousness, decided to call Yang. 

It rang once, twice, and one the third ring, Yang had finally picked up. 

“Yang?” Ruby asked, worry evident in her voice. “Are you too okay, there’s a storm outside.”

Yang’s voice crackled. “Uh, no we’re g–good here. According to the weatherman here, the storm’s more headed in your direction. A–and from the looks of it, it’ll be bad. So I’d find a good place to hunker down.”

Ruby turned to Oscar, looking uneasy. “You sure?” 

“W–we’re okay, but we won’t be home tonight. Take c-care, okay?” 

“Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Ruby promised. When she hung up, a clap of thunder boomed in the sky. She was beginning to doubt she'd see them tomorrow.

“Don't worry, they’re going to be okay,” Oscar said, despite him being worried as well. A big storm was brewing and he and Ruby were home alone. This spelled for disaster.

“Do you think we should—“ Ruby stated, before the TV fizzled off, and the lights started to flicker. 

“Oh no,” she whispered. Oscar, who was familiar with these kinds of scenarios, tried to swallow the sick feeling rising up his throat, before directing his attention towards Ruby. 

“Okay, Ruby, I need you to go get some blankets, can you do that? I’ll find a candle,” he told her. “Meet back here, so we can assess what’s going on.”

Ruby nodded, and headed towards the hallway, while Oscar went to the kitchen, where candlesticks were put together in a drawer, alongside their holders. He quickly brought out a thick one, and rummaged the drawers for a lighter. 

When he found one, lightning struck outside, its sound rattling his mind. The lights stopped flickering and completely went dead. 

“Oscar?” Ruby called, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, are you?” Oscar replied. 

“Yeah, I’m coming!”

The washer had stopped working. Everything in the house was silent, but the storm outside was practically shaking the building. Oscar turned on the lighter, his breath catching in his throat. His hands were shaky, but he had to remember his gloves were on and he had lit candles dozens of times after the incident. He was fine, fine, fine. 

He had no idea how long he was staring at the small flame when Ruby found him. 

“Oscar? Oscar, let me see the lighter,” Ruby whispered to him. That broke him out of his spell, slowly handing the lighter to Ruby, and stepping back. He thought he was fine, he was used to it by now.

Another clap of thunder. Outside was chaotic. The trees looked as if they were about to be uprooted, and heavy rains came down, making everything in the distance unrecognizable. They had to hunker down away from the windows, and quickly. 

“Let’s get to the hallway closet,” he told her. Ruby handed him the blankets, and told him to go on ahead. “Let me pack some water and food. Who knows how long we’ll be in this storm.”

Oscar nodded, feeling around in the dark, until he found his way to the hallway entrance, then when he felt the door, he slid it open. The coat closet was big enough for the both of them, but was still quite small and cramped. Just as Oscar had slid into his corner, Ruby appeared, candle and bag in hand. 

She squeezed herself in, settling down on the floor, opposite of Oscar. Covering herself with her own blanket, she and Oscar’s feet met in the middle. The bag of water and snacks lay on her side closest to the walls, and the candle fit in a small space on the other side. Ruby pulled the door close and let out a deep breath. 

“I hope they’ll be alright,” she whispered to Oscar. She checked her scroll, but there was no signal, and hers was almost dead anyway. 

“They’ll be okay, I know it. I hope we’ll be alright,” Oscar sighed. He was getting more and more worried with the howling sounds that came from the outdoors, rattling the doorknobs. It was as if the house was haunted. 

“It’s really loud out there,” Ruby noted. Oscar noticed her shiver, and though they were huddled underneath blankets, he could tell that she wasn’t comfortable at all. 

“If it gets too loud, you can cover your ears,” Oscar offered. “We had to do that in storms sometimes, back home.”

Ruby nodded, but Oscar wasn’t sure she was listening. Fear for her family, for themselves, it was stressing her out. 

Ruby noticed Oscar squeezing his hands and asked, “Do you always do that?”

“Huh?” the boy asked, surprised. 

“Oh, sorry, I just noticed… your hands…” Ruby trailed off, not wanting to sound nosy. Oscar was hiding something, something that had to do with his hands. It was none of her business, she knew, but she was curious, what had happened to make him cover them up all the time?

“You’re curious about my hands,” he stated, no hint of hurt or anger in his voice. 

Ruby swallowed. “No. You don’t have to tell me anything. I just want to know that you’re feeling okay.”

“Well, I’m fine,” he lied. 

“Okay,” was all she said. 

“I guess we’re going to be here for a while, huh?” Ruby sighed. 

“Yeah, probably,” Oscar shrugged, putting his head against the wall. 

“Oh! You want to hear a story? It’s when Yang got into combat school,” Ruby exclaimed. 

“Sure, why not?”

“So, you have to apply to get into combat school, as well as have a letter of recommendation for—“

Before she could finish her sentence, the two heard glass shatter from somewhere inside the house, letting a powerful gust of wind inside. They heard things shift and the wind bring rains inside, toppling things over. 

“This isn’t good,” Ruby murmured. “What if the rain gets worse?”

What if there’s a flood? was what she wanted to ask. 

“Do you think we have any tarp? Maybe we can put it over the window,” Ruby wondered, pulling the blanket off of herself.

“Wait. Don’t go,” Oscar said softly. His hand was on hers, and with her thin gloves he wore, Ruby felt something there. 

She froze, her eyes on Oscar as he realized what he had done. He shrunk back, taking his hand with him. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? You didn’t do anything wrong,” Ruby answered, offering him a smile. 

“I don’t want you to be grossed out by… what’s beneath these gloves. That’s why I’ve never shown anyone.”

Ruby cocked her head. “How could I be grossed out by your hands?  No matter what they look like, they’re a part of you.”

“I know,” Oscar sighed. “That’s what scares me.”

“Look,” Ruby said, her tone growing serious, “Oscar, I don’t know what happened, but I can only say that you shouldn’t feel pressured to share all of you with us. We are ready to accept you as you are, whenever you’re ready. Only you know yourself, and if you choose to keep whatever happened to yourself, that is okay. It won’t make it weird, or awkward.” Ruby put her head on her knees, looking sideways. “I mean, we all have things we want to hide, right?”

Oscar considered Ruby’s words. She was right, but he didn’t think he was ready to bring up that part of his past again. Not fully, at least. 

“I guess you figured that my hands… don’t look normal, at least,” Oscar admitted. 

“Oscar, my sister has a prosthetic. What exactly is ‘normal’?”

“I mean…”

“You aren't necessarily scared of what your hands look like , aren’t you? You’re scared that every time you look at them, it’ll remind you… of what happened”, Ruby noticed. 

Another strike of lightning, a clap of thunder, howling wind so loud that Oscar couldn’t even answer Ruby back. The two covered their ears, trying to block out the wind. As if it were a spirit through the house, the wind made its way through the house, into the hall, and underneath the crack of the closet door, sending chills down their spines and blowing the candle light out. 

“I should’ve brought the lighter,” Ruby groaned.

“Please, don’t go,” Oscar murmured. It was dark, and they couldn’t barely make out the outlines of each other. 

“I’m not going anywhere,” Ruby promised, patting Oscar’s knee. The wind shook the door, as if it was going to tear it off. 

“This is the worst storm I’ve ever been in,” Ruby sighed. 

Her voice was shaky, she was terrified, Oscar could tell. He reached his hands over to hers, and pulled her closer to him. “We’re going to be okay. Hopefully this blows over by morning.”

Ruby nodded, though he could barely see. They had touched hands before, when Oscar was wearing his own gloves, but hers were so thin that she could feel slightly raised skin when his hands gripped hers.

She grabbed them back, rubbing her thumbs over the gloves. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. You’re… you’re okay with this?”

“Oscar, I promised you, I won’t turn away from you because of your hands, or your past. All of these things make you… who you are. But you need to do what’s best for yourself.”

Oscar sat back, his back hitting the wall. He thought for a moment, before opening his mouth.

“Do you have any scars?” he asked, his voice small. 

Ruby was quiet for a moment. “Not any big ones. I got one at knife practice at combat school, that was wild.”

“At... knife practice?”

“Well, not exactly. We were practicing our aim in our target class, and that week, we used knives. The teacher usually put me in charge of setting up the targets. This one bully, this overeager kid, decided while I was setting up , to throw his knife, and it grazed my neck! It’s faded quite a bit now, so I’m not sure if you’ve ever noticed. Besides, I cover up my neck a lot,” Ruby admitted. 

“Knife. Practice,” Oscar muttered. 

“Yep! It hurt really bad, but I was like, what the heck! It’s a cool scar! Not saying all scars are cool, obviously some are more… traumatizing than others… I’ll just stop talking now.

They sat in silence for a moment, until Oscar piped up. 

“You want to hear about my scars?”

“Oscar, like I said—“

“It’s okay.” He took off his gloves, as no one could see his hands in the dark. 

“I got them from saving my neighbor’s dog in a house fire.”

“A house fire?”

 “Yes, it all started a few summers ago at the Bakers’ house...”

Ruby giggled, causing Oscar to stop his narration. “Are you finished?”

“Sorry.”

“The local firefighters managed to get the family out, but poor Susie was crying for her dog. And of course, being the brave twelve-year old I was, I launched myself into the house, not caring for my own well-being. I got pretty messed up, but I saved little Fido, and got away with just a bit of scarring,” he finished. 

“Wow,” Ruby exclaimed, “that is nothing short of incredible.”

Oscar laughed, secretly delighted in his make-believe story. 

“That’s way better than what really happened,” Oscar sighed.

“That’s okay, I think I like this version better,” Ruby smiled. She pulled her blanket up higher, knocking her knees together. It was too cold. 

She shifted herself until she faced the door of the closet, Oscar noticing, and doing the same. 

Instinctively, they huddled together, covering each other with their blankets, Oscar leaning his head on Ruby’s. 

“We just have to brave this storm until morning. We’ll be okay, okay?” Oscar whispered to her. 

“Mhm,” Ruby replied. As she moved to take her hands off the ground to her knees, they accidentally touched Oscar’s. 

“Oh no, I’m sorry!”

“N–no, don’t worry about it.”

“No, maybe we should just sit back where we were—“

“Ruby.”

“—I really didn’t mean to!”

“ Ruby. I’m not upset.”

“Wait. You’re not?”

“No, it’s okay. We’re kind of in a dangerous situation, and… I thought about what you said. I don’t mind the scars, the way my hands look… it’s just what they remind me of. And… if the way they look doesn’t bother you, it doesn’t bother me, either.”

“Oh, okay… so you’re okay? You don’t need me to move?”

“No, I’d… actually prefer you to stay by my side. It’s warmer,” he admitted. 

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

It would be several more hours of the storm, neither of them knowing what would happen next, yet they laid in each other’s embrace. When Oscar gripped Ruby, she didn’t flinch—not once. And when Ruby held her pinky in his, a secret promise between them, Oscar felt comforted. 

Chapter Text

“You know the principal’s grandson?” Jaune asked, impressed. Nora, who was seated on top of the desk, nodded proudly. 

“Yep. His name is Oscar Pine. He’s in my art class, but he’s nothing like the principal. He’s super chilly and glares a lot. I tried to make conversation with him, but…” Nora faltered. 

“Well, then he’s just like Blake, right?” Yang asked, jokingly elbowing her friend in the side. Blake rolled her eyes. 

“That’s a huge generalization, Yang,” Ren spoke up. Blake nodded in agreement. 

Ruby listened to Nora’s words carefully. Why did he move to this city? School had been in session for a month! 

“Well, he’s nothing like Blake! She’s sociable at least, and likes my jokes!” Nora argued. 

“ Eh— “ Blake started. 

“Hush. But this kid wouldn’t even spare me a friendly glance! He was so mean!” Nora pouted, her arms crossed over her chest. 

“Well, I for one, think befriending the grandson of the principal is a good idea,” Weiss smiled coyly. 

“Of course you would, Weiss,” Jaune sighed, shaking his head. Despite him having past feelings for her, Weiss and Jaune actually got along pretty well. 

“You should make friends with him, Rubes,” Yang suggested. Ruby gave her sister a quizzical glance. “Me,” she said, more as a statement than a question. 

“Yeah, he’s your age, isn’t he? That means he’s in your grade and probably in most of your classes.”

Nora squealed. “That’s a great idea! Then you can invite him over for lunch!”

Ren looked at Nora, his stare wary. “Why are you so obsessed with him?”

Nora swatted Ren’s shoulder. “Don’t use that word—I’m not obsessed. I just think it would be cool to be friends with him.”

Ren conceded and Ruby’s friends all looked at her. 

“You’re the sweetest person I know, Ruby,” Blake admitted. “If anyone can get to be friends with him, it’s you.”

Even Blake? 

“Why? I mean… what’s the point? If he wasn’t receptive to Nora, why would he want to be my friend?”

Yang stood up from her seat and placed a hand on Ruby’s shoulder. “If you befriend him, he can convince his grandad to raise our grades for history. I can’t show Dad my grades, they’re awful!”

Ruby sighed. “Yang, that’s not my problem. Dad knows Ozpin, he’d never do that. If you do well in other classes, you can pass history. Besides, that’s a horrible reason to become someone’s friend.”

Yang humphed, and turned back to their other friends. “All in favor of Ruby talking to Oscar, say aye.”

“Aye.” All of them. 

“All opposed?” Yang grinned, already knowing the outcome. 

“Nay,” Ruby sighed. She wasn’t going to do it anyway. 

Just at the moment, the bell rang. It was time for class. 

“Go make us proud, Rubes,” her sister winked. She pulled her book bag over her shoulder and walked out, Weiss and Blake behind her. Nora, Ren and Jaune went upstairs, and Ruby headed to her math class down the hall. 

“Make friends, Ruby. You’re the nice one, Ruby,” she muttered to herself. How was she even supposed to find this guy? 

As she reached the end of the hall, she saw a boy rush into class, past the others, as if he was about to be late. Probably a teacher’s pet , she snorted. 

She made her way into the dreaded classroom. She hated math; as she was never any good at it. If it weren’t for Weiss, she’d probably fail. 

The white lights were kind of blinding, and Ruby felt a bit lightheaded. This always happened. 

The girl turned into the row where she sat, somewhere in the middle of the classroom, and stopped at her desk where she had sat from the beginning of the year. But there was someone in it. A messy-haired boy, whose head was slumped on the desk, between his arms. Was he sleeping?

“Class, settle down,” the teacher warned. Everyone else was sitting down. Ruby hated  confrontation, but where else was she supposed to sit? At the back? 

She tapped the desk cautiously. “Excuse me,” she whispered. She waited patiently as other students squeezed past her to get to their one seats. 

The boy didn’t stir. Ruby, frustrated, tapped a finger on his arm instead. The boy moved a bit, before pulling his head up quickly. 

He bobbed his head up and down before meeting Ruby’s confused stare. The boy’s eyes were a piercing swirl of colors, but there were dark circles underneath them, which only told her that he didn’t sleep often. His face was freckled, too. 

“Uh… hello,” she murmured, suddenly shy. 

“What,” he muttered. Ruby wanted to turn away and run, but she needed to sit down, class was about to start. 

“This is my seat, I was wondering… if you could please get up?” she asked politely. 

He blinked slowly. “No.”

“No?” she echoed in disbelief. 

“No. I don’t really want to move, which is why I got here first.”

So he was the kid rushing into the room. Didn’t look much like a teacher’s pet. 

“Ruby, could you please find a seat? Class is starting,” her teacher called from the front. The bell rang and with a quick scan, Ruby saw that the only available seat was near the back. On the other side of the room. 

“This is where I usually sit, and—“

The boy snorted. “And what? So I should get up? You heard the teacher, go find a seat, Ruby .”

The way he said her name rubbed her the wrong way, but she wasn’t going to fight back because her teacher was tapping her hand impatiently on the desk.

So Ruby made her way out of the row, and slowly walked to the other side of the room, avoiding stares and ignoring the snickers of her classmates. She already hated this class. And as she sat down, she glared into the back of the boy’s head. 

Now she had another reason to. 

“Okay class, today we’re doing our math worksheets, but before that, we have a new student,” the teacher started. She waved a hand towards the boy with the dark under eyes. “Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

Ruby expected the boy to refuse, but he stood up and faced her side of the class. She swore that he met her eyes before staring at something else in the distance. 

“My name’s Oscar Pine.”

Wait! Oscar Pine? 

The teacher smiled a bit before saying, “Anything else?”

“No.”

The familiar “No”. Ruby was shocked and watched as Oscar took his seat and faced the board. 

“Well, um, class? Oscar is Mr. Ozpin’s grandson, so make sure to make him feel welcome at Beacon!”

Just as she thought. This was the kid she was to make friends with. He didn’t look too kind. 

But the others started whispering, snickering, and pointing at him. Oscar set his head down on his— her —desk. Ruby kind of felt bad for him. He probably didn’t want people to know that his grandfather was the principal. She wondered why. He was a nice guy.

They were to take out their workbooks and start working. She was taking geometry, which she hated. 

Surface area. God, she hated this. She didn’t seem to understand anything. Her mind just went blank when it came to math. She’d rather be playing a violent video game where she could rip apart zombies. If she didn’t make it into the CIA or become a police officer, a video game developer was the next best thing. Or she could make weapons … and who needed surface area for that? 

Her dad would never approve, regardless. 

She stared at her worksheet again, as the other students quickly got to work and some even turned their work in. 

Her eyes flitted up in the moment, and she caught Oscar tossing his paper onto the teachers desk. 

“My, aren’t you smart? Your grandfather would be proud!” the teacher cheered.

Ruby didn’t mean to, but she saw his fist clench… then slowly unclench. 

Ah. So he was sensitive about the principal. Something about the old man made him uncomfortable. But who could hate Mr. Ozpin? He was really nice to all the students, even the bad ones, and he once gave Ruby cookies! She loved cookies. 

Time was going by quickly and Ruby had only finished two out of her fifteen problems. It turns out there was a back side, and it was about angles! Why were they mixing two different concepts?

“Class, if you have finished with your worksheet, get out your homework and complete that, and then you can have free time. We’re starting the new unit on Wednesday.”

Homework? New unit? 

Words were scrambling through Ruby’s head. Even the class gossips and the people who slept in class were turning in their work! Stupid math! 

She was frustrated, and she panicked. Asking the teacher for help was surely going to end in the whole class getting a reteaching of what they already knew, and Ruby would be blamed for it. 

“Oscar? Could you please come here?”

The boy’s head rose. Did he also finish his homework too? How was that even possible? Ruby decided to ignore him and get back to work. Well, sketching a picture of a dog. 

She glanced back at the third problem. They didn’t get to use calculators for these worksheets and the formulas never led her to anything that made sense! 

“Ruby, Blanche, do you mind trading seats for today?” the teacher piped up. 

Ruby froze, and looked up at her teacher. The woman wore a pink-tinted smile. She wasn’t joking. Blanche didn’t talk to Ruby… Blanche sat on the…

Other side of the room. Ruby slowly gathered her things and slipped out of the row. Ignoring people’s gazes, she watched Blanche scoot out of her seat. The girl’s white bangs covered her eyes, so Ruby really couldn’t tell how she felt about switching seats. 

“Why are we switching seats?” the girl asked, her voice lilted. 

“Nothing bad,” the teacher smiled. Something was definitely going on. “I think Ruby needs to be closer to me in case she needs help.”

“Ookayyyy,” Blanche shrugged. Books clutched tightly to her chest, the girl made her way to where Ruby previously sat.

And Ruby would have no problem sitting in Blanche’s seat, except she forgot that she used to sit next to Blanche. Which meant…

Oscar Pine. 

Ruby shuffled to the seat and quickly sat down. She felt strangely warm and focused her gaze on her worksheet. But it was hard. It was like she couldn’t concentrate, no matter how much she wanted to. 

Someone cleared their throat. Ruby didn’t pay any mind to it. 

“Ahem,” the voice came again. 

Ruby’s head perked up and she turned her head to the direction of the voice. Coincidently, she locked eyes with the very person she was trying to ignore. 

“Uh, yes?”

“Nothing,” he said, turning away, suddenly. Ruby swore his face was red, but she didn’t press it any further. He was just bugging her to waste her time. 

The girl returned to her book, scribbling at the cylinder in front of her. Why couldn’t she get this problem right? 

“You forgot to square the radius.”

Ruby clearly didn’t hear that right. Was he talking to her ?

She slowly looked up at him, questioning the boy with her eyes. He stared right back at her, his face steely. “You forgot to square the radius. That’s why you can’t get the answer.”

She felt as if she was in shock. Was he helping her? Was it right? She tried again, and surely enough, her answer was one of the four choices. Circling it, quickly, she looked at him and smiled. “Thanks!”

The girl returned to her assignment, unaware that Oscar was watching her, his eyes wide. His heart was beating, just a bit quicker than usual. 

Ruby reached another problem she wasn’t too sure about. She tapped her pencil on the desk. She wasn’t expecting Oscar to help her again, but she had to figure this out soon. She wanted free time as much as anyone else. 

Suddenly, a piercing, grating noise filled the classroom. Oscar was actually moving his desk—her desk—closer to her. The class was disturbed for just a minute, but soon they all returned to their own conversations. 

“Here,” he murmured shyly, not meeting her eyes. He took his own pencil and scribbled out a formula. “It’s easier if you seperate the formulas like this.” 

He was so close. Ruby could see the top of his hair, a messy chocolate brown. He kinda smelled like.. a boy. But a clean boy. Thank goodness. 

She felt her heart catch in her throat. 

He finished explaining the problem and Ruby scrambled to finish her remaining problems. Her heart swelled when she finally completed her work. She didn’t think he would offer some help. Ripping the paper out in anticipation, she practically bolted out of her seat to turn the paper in. 

“I’m sure he was good help?” the teacher asked, a knowing smile playing at her lips.

Ruby narrowed her eyes. So that’s what you wanted to tell him.

Ruby nodded and rushed back to her seat. Oscar had moved back, his head on his desk again. 

Ruby had to thank him. She couldn’t help it, he was being really patient with her. The tone he used when explaining the math… it seemed so unlike him. It was… soft.

She inched over and tapped his desk lightly. “Thank you for helping me with my work. I really appreciate it,” she whispered to him. Whether he heard or not, she had no clue. 

But his now-sweaty face was pressed onto the desk, and his skin turned red. He didn’t dare say a word. 

Ruby wanted to know more about him. Why did he transfer late? Why was he so quiet? Did he not like his grandfather?

Soon, the bell rang, and it was advisory time. Usually, Ruby would try to sneak out and see her friends, but now she was dedicated to what she had originally decided against. 

Picking up her books, she left the classroom in a hurry to get to her locker and to advisory.

When she reached her locker, Nora and Yang were there, with hopeful smiles on their faces. 

“So? Did you meet him?” Nora asked eagerly. 

Ruby focused on opening her locker. She gave a dismissive “hm” and shoved her books into it. 

“He’s in your math class, right? Did you talk to him?” Yang asked, closing her locker shut for her. 

Ruby turned on her heel towards her classroom, and her friends followed her though their advisory was in another wing of the school.

“Rubes, stop avoiding the question,” her sister pressed. Nora grabbed her arm. “Ruby! This is for our own good!”

Frankly, she had enough. She turned on her friends, her eyes sharp. 

“Leave me alone . If I want to make friends with the new kid, I’ll do it on my own terms, not anyone else’s. I don’t need your help.”

Her face immediately flushed at the sight of her friend’s horrified faces. Ruby had never seen Yang look so shocked. Nora lowered her eyes, backing away from her. 

She tried to apologize, the words bubbling in her throat. But she couldn’t. The hallways were beginning to empty, and she turned around and bolted down the hall. Her friends called after her, but she didn’t even hear them, she just kept running. 

Her eyes were blurry from the tears, but she found her way to the nearest bathroom and shut herself in a stall. The bell rang, and she would be marked absent for advisory. But why should she care? Why should she care about school when she was too stupid to do anything? She couldn’t do math, she couldn’t stand up for herself, she couldn’t make a new friend. Worst of all, she was in her older friends’ shadows! Ruby knew how people talked about her, thinking that she thought she was too good to hang out with kids in her own grade. 

Ruby let out quiet sobs, a red hot anger coursing through her chest. She generally tried to keep her emotions inside, but sometimes, it was hard. 

She pulled wads of toilet paper from the dispenser and wiped her face. The front office would put out an announcement reporting her absence if she didn’t get to advisory. She hurried out of the stall, and splashed cold water on her face. Grateful no one else was in the bathroom, she stared at herself in the mirror. 

“What a joke,” she said softly to herself. “Getting all worked up over a boy.”

Ruby adjusted her shirt and left the bathroom. The classroom was right across the hall, and just as she put her hand on the handle the door swung open. In front of her, stood Oscar Pine.

The rest of the class didn’t seem to care about them, and Ruby wanted to push past him so he didn’t see that she had been crying. 

“... Are you crying?” he finally asked. She couldn't detect any emotion in his voice, but she didn’t want him to question her any longer. 

She couldn’t answer him, she just muttered, “Excuse me,” and inched past him to the bookshelf at the back of the classroom. Whether the teacher noticed her or not she didn’t care. She plunked herself in one of the desks students used when they wanted to read in peace. 

She sat there, staring at the desk, wishing she could take back the words she had spat at Nora and Yang. They were just messing around, like they always did, and Ruby was the one to take it to heart. 

Refusing to put her head up the entirety of class, Ruby barely noticed when the bell rang for lunch. She wasn’t going to join her friends out on the courtyard for lunch today. Her advisory teacher allowed certain people to stay in for lunch, and she would be one of them. Her lunch was in her locker, but she had no intent to get out and go get it. No doubt they would be waiting for her there. 

Her head was on the desk, when she heard the scraping of a chair next to her. She looked up, and sure enough, it was Oscar. 

She was sure that her glare was enough to scare him off, but he looked at her with… concern. His eyes were soft, as if he was hurt with the cold behavior she was showing him. 

She sat up, and propped her head up in her hands. He had already seen her crying, so there was nothing to hide. He tossed a packet on her desk. She flipped it over and saw that it was a cookie from the cafeteria. Warm. Chocolate chip. Her favorite. 

“T-thank you,” she whispered.

His face flushed, and he covered his mouth, turning his head away.

Ruby stared at him. Was he okay? She peered at him, getting a little closer to see him, but he kept scooting away. 

“Get away from me,” he mumbled. She obeyed, thanking him again for the cookie. Oscar didn’t turn his head back until he was sure she was eating it. He peeked at her… to see that she was enjoying the cookie. So she liked sweets. And she… was enjoying herself. She hated math and liked cookies. He didn’t understand why he felt the need to remember that, though.

Ruby sighed, crumbling up the paper bag, and taking a deep breath. She still wanted to get to know Oscar, because he was being so nice to her. She had to keep her voice down because there were other people in the class.

“Um… why are you being so nice to me? I haven’t been exactly… nice to you,” she started off, twiddling her thumbs. 

Oscar snorted. 

“I’m sorry.”

He stopped and looked at her, a curious look in his hazel eyes. “You’re… sorry?”

She nodded. “I… you helped me with math, and even gave me a cookie, and I was so bothered about a simple seat.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“No… what can I do to repay you? Did you even eat lunch? If not, I have some food in my locker, and I can give it to you. Was the cookie your only lunch? Ohmigosh, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have taken it—“

“Shh!” the teacher exclaimed. Multiple eyes were directed towards them. Ruby looked away sheepishly. 

“There’s… no need. But… could you tell me something?” He lowered his voice. 

“Something like what? A secret?” 

“Sure, if that’s what you want to call it.” Now Ruby was interested. What did he want to know?

“Why… why were you crying today?”

That question. He still wanted to know. Ruby wanted to refuse, but he gave his lunch to her. She owed him part of the truth.

“I… I was getting frustrated with my friends… and myself. I felt like a really bad friend to them, and now,” she sighed, “now I bet they’re upset with me.”

Oscar blinked. Was that it? Nothing too serious, like a sick family member or a dead pet. Did she prioritize friendship that much? He wouldn’t know… he didn’t have any friends. 

“You care about your friends so much?” he asked quietly, his gaze focused on the desk. 

“Yes, I do. Don’t you care about your friends from your old school? Don’t you miss them?”

Oscar scowled, his face turning dark. “No,” was all he said. With that, he got up and walked out of the classroom. 

“Wait!” she shouted. Ignoring the teacher’s hisses, she dashed after Oscar, catching up to him in the hall. She grabbed his arm abruptly, and he whipped his head around.

His eyes were no longer gentle. They looked harsh. “Don’t. Touch. Me.” He yanked his hand out of her grasp and stalked off. 

Her heart stopped for a moment. She really struck a nerve there. So much for making friends her age. She had screwed things up today, hadn’t she?

She spent the rest of the lunch hour in the bathroom. The rest of the school day was spent avoiding her friends and ignoring Oscar in classes. 

At the end of the day, Ruby waited for Yang in the parking lot, next to her motorcycle. She had no doubt that Yang would be ignoring her, which is what she deserved. 

While waiting, something caught her eye. Mr. Ozpin’s station wagon. A shiny green, an odd color, Ruby thought. She saw a dark head pop into the passenger seat. It must’ve been Oscar. The car quickly pulled out and drove away. She wished she could say sorry. She wished she would have apologized to everyone. The problem was, Ruby wasn’t quite sure why she was upset. Her friends hadn’t done anything too wrong, it was her fault for being a pushover. What was really going on?

She couldn’t answer her own question, as her sister appeared behind her. Her blonde locks were in a ponytail, and her aviator shades were on. Yang was the definition of cool, which was why many people had attached themselves to Ruby last year, hoping to get closer to her sister. However, they soon learned that Yang already had a group of established friends and that Ruby was nowhere near as cool as she was. Ruby then spent every available moment with her upperclassmen friends. She loved them, but part of her still felt like they babied her too much.

Her sister was silent, even as Ruby got on the back of the bike and wrapped her arms around her. Yang would probably be angry tomorrow too, so that meant Ruby would be sitting somewhere else again. 

The ride home was a bit longer, maybe because they weren’t talking. When they had finally arrived home, Yang took off her helmet, got off her bike, and faced her sister. “You know, I’m your sister. Which means you can tell me anything.” Even though she couldn’t see her eyes, Ruby knew her sister wasn’t happy. Her tone was clipped and strained. Ruby bit her lip, watching her sister march into the house and slam the front door. 

“How was school today, Oscar?” Ozpin asked. 

Oscar was staring out his window, his mind somewhere else. 

“Oscar?” he asked again.

“Leave me alone.”

It was quiet for a moment until he started up again. 

“Ms. Bay saw you eating lunch with Ruby Rose today. I’m glad you’re making friends, she’s a nice girl.”

Oscar turned his head back to face his grandfather. “I’m not friends with her. I don’t have friends.”

The look on the principal’s face was difficult, as if he was fighting not to say something. 

“Oscar… I know you’re still upset about your parents, but—“

“Shut the hell up,” the boy sniped, his voice laced with venom. “Don’t talk to me about my parents ever again.”

The rest of the car ride was silent. The principal would be sure to call one of Oscar’s teachers tomorrow. He wanted his grandson to adjust the best he could. 

Oscar just wished he could squeeze himself into a tiny corner where he could forget his stupid grandfather, stupid school, and the stupid girl who was still on his mind/

The early morning was a bit cloudy, matching Ruby’s mood. Her father had asked them what had gone wrong, but neither felt like speaking on the matter. It didn’t help that her dad was leaving on a teacher’s conference later that evening, which meant Yang would be left in charge. Ruby’s anxiety got the best of her, and she blurted out an apology when they were brushing their teeth. Her sister spit a glob of toothpaste into the sink and muttered, “I’m not mad.”

Another silent ride to school. She didn’t follow Yang in the morning to where they usually hung out with the rest of their friends. 

“Yang!” Blake’s voice called. Ruby watched as Yang pushed through a crowd to reach her friend.

Turning the other way, Ruby dragged her feet to her classroom, her creative writing class. As much as she liked to read stories, she was horrible at writing. Another class she wasn’t looking forward to but it was a lot better than math class.

She entered the classroom, only to see that there was someone with their head on their desk. Oscar Pine, again! He must’ve been early because of his grandfather. 

“Good morning, Ruby,” her teacher, Mr. Lunes chirped. He was a pretty peppy guy, and he was patient with everyone. “You’re early.”

“Good morning, Mr. Lunes.”

Mr. Lunes smiled at Ruby as if he had a secret so big that he couldn’t possibly contain it. Ruby ignored it and sat in her seat. Two seats away from Oscar. His head still wasn’t up. 

“Uh… so what are we doing in today’s class, Mr. Lunes?” she asked.

“A project! It’s going to be very fun, with minimal writing, I promise you, Ruby.”

Ruby didn’t quite believe him, but stayed quiet. She took out a book to read, but soon got distracted by the only other person in the room. She kept sneaking glances at him, hoping he’d lift his head up and she could clear up any misunderstandings between them. 

Apparently not. The bell rang and her classmates filed in, groaning and complaining as usual. 

“Class, today we’ll be working on our stories again! Remember, they’re due in two months! But today, you have a project to do. You will be put into pairs—“

Cheers erupted in the room. 

“Assigned by me .” Groans. 

“The goal is for you and your partner to create a 3D model or representation of the worlds you have created in your story. Basically, you must combine elements of both your worlds and make it into one coherent world. You can include your characters as well. Then you will come up and present your work in front of the class. This will be due on Friday.”

Friday? That was two days away!

“Yes, so you and your partner will have to meet up after school and finish it. I expect quality work. Now for the partners!” He took a deep breath and read from a piece of paper. 

“Katya and Carmine, Edward and Olympia, Blanche and Thrush, Ruby and Oscar—“

Ruby’s brain froze after hearing Oscar’s name. They were partners? They had to work together? Especially after yesterday? Ruby raised her hand. She needed to get out of this. 

“No, Ruby, I’m not switching partners. I’m sorry,” Mr. Lunes shrugged.

“B-but Oscar just got here!”

Mr. Lunes smiled. “Yes, well I asked Oscar to at least map out his world and make a summary of his story, and that’s the minimum requirement for this assignment.”

Ruby sighed in disappointment and turned to face her partner. She was surprised to see him staring back at her, his eyes narrowed. 

Her throat felt dry. He definitely saw her trying to switch partners. But how could they work together? Her dad wasn’t home, and her sister wouldn’t be happy needing to drive an extra person home. But there was no way he'd be willing to let her into his house.

Never mind that. She needed to get working on her own story. 

After class, Ruby walked past the library, where she spotted her friends laughing in their usual place. Blake leaning on Yang on the table, Nora in Ren’s lap, Jaune taking up a whole table for himself. And Weiss was sitting prim and proper on a stool. Ruby would be there, on the beanbag chair, or in the middle of them all. But they were laughing, without her. They didn’t need her. 

They didn’t need her like she needed them.

Moving on to her next class, Ruby suddenly felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder. She jumped, turning around to see the principal smiling warmly at her. 

“Ruby Rose. May I talk to you in my office?”

Ruby nodded slowly, hoping she wasn’t in trouble. Maybe Oscar had told him about what happened yesterday! Maybe she was getting detention, or suspension—or she was getting expelled ! Or maybe—

“Would you like a cookie, Miss Rose?” the man offered, placing a plate of chocolate chip cookies in front of her. 

Ruby shook her head, remembering the events of yesterday. “No, thank you.”

She couldn't believe she rejected her favorite dessert. But she was too nervous to eat. She was busy squirming in the wooden chair in front of the principal’s desk. 

“Your father is an excellent teacher at Signal Junior High, as you are aware,” he started, sipping a drink from his black mug. Everyone thought he drank coffee, but the rich aroma coming from the cup reminded Ruby of hot coffee.

“Uh… thanks?”

Ozpin chuckled. “I had nothing more to say about it, I just want to explain why your family will always be close to my heart. Your father, your uncle, your mother and your sister’s mother. Despite all that had developed.”

Ruby clutched her arm. No one really mentioned her mother anymore; her dad still got glassy-eyed when anyone mentioned it. Yang’s mom, Raven, had abandoned Yang when she was just a baby. Her father and uncle saw Raven sparingly over the years, and Yang had seen her even fewer times.

“Why… why are you telling me all this?” Ruby asked.

Another sip. “I just want to emphasize the importance of family. You have your family, and I have mine. Case in point, my grandson, Oscar. I’m sure you’ve met him?”

Ruby stuttered. A quick glance into the old man’s crafty eyes told her that he knew something she didn’t.

“I… I... he’s in some of my classes,” she admitted. 

“I heard from Mr. Lunes that you’re his partner for creative writing.”

How did he know? How did he figure this out so quickly when class just ended? 

“Uh… yeah.”

“And there’s the big teacher’s convention happening this week, so I assume Oscar cannot come to your home?” he asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

Ruby wanted to say no, but she said yes, she knew it would be so awkward, since both Yang and Oscar weren’t talking to her.

“I… I was thinking maybe we could just do it at the library.”

Ruby knew that her friends frequented the library. She also knew that it only stayed open an hour after school ended. Which meant that they would need to work fast if they wanted to finish before it closed.

“Oh? And what about Oscar? Did he not invite you to our home?”

Ruby squirmed in her seat. She figured out what he was insinuating. 

“With all due respect, sir, Oscar… doesn’t really like me. I don’t know if he’d be comfortable with me coming over.”

“Nonsense! I’ll talk to him about it. Why don’t you swing by our house around 5?”

The warning bell rang, which meant Ruby would be leaving for class. As much as she liked her principal, she wasn’t comfortable intruding on Oscar’s personal space. 

“Uh, I have to go, I’ll talk to you later, sir!” She bolted out of her seat, and out of his office. She was known for being a pretty fast runner, but she was too shy to try out for the track team. 

She ran to her classroom, and seemingly not seeing where she was going, causing her to slam into a body. She fell to the floor with a thud . 

Her head spun momentarily, as the final bell rang. Great. 

“Well?”

She focused on the person she had run into, and it was just her luck. It was him again. He held out a hand, but his face held no sympathy. Not even pity. He just looked tired. 

Cautiously, Ruby took his hand, which was cold, and he pulled her up. He was surprisingly strong. As soon as she was up on her feet, he yanked his hand back, shoving it into his pocket. It seemed he was fishing for something. Ruby was about to mutter yet another “Thank you” when he held out a slip of paper to her. 

“Take it.” Ruby hesitated, then took the paper. Oscar didn’t waste another second and walked off. She guessed they didn’t have the same class this block. 

Written on the paper was a series of letters and numbers. It looked like… a street address. 152 Yellow Brick Road ? 

Oh no. He had given her his address. That meant… he wanted her to come over. Did his grandad talk to him about this? Then again, when would he have the time to? She just visited the principal a few minutes ago. None of this was adding up, unless… he really wanted her there. 

Stay home with Yang or go over to a strange kid’s house?

Ruby preferred Yang’s silent anger to her outbursts, but she couldn’t deal with another night of standing at her door apologizing. The principal was a family friend, though Ruby had personally never visited his house, her dad and Yang had plenty of times. It would be fine, right? Maybe she’d learn more about Oscar, why he was so quiet and aloof. 

The rest of the day was filled with anxiety and worry. She ate lunch in her advisory room again. Oscar hadn’t showed up. Didn’t show up for lunch, either. She got a text from Weiss, asking her to apologize to Yang and Nora. Ruby ignored it. She already had. To Yang. And now that she was really thinking about it, it was no big deal at all. 

“Maybe I should apologize,” she muttered. 

The end of the day was the same. She and Yang rode on the motorcycle back home in silence. Ruby quickly changed into jeans and a striped T-shirt, grabbed her book bag, and jogged downstairs. According to her cellphone, Oscar’s house was only 15 minutes away if she walked. 

Her sister was downstairs, her legs propped up on the coffee table. She had a physics textbook propped open, and she was drinking a can of ginger ale. 

“Yang…” Ruby mumbled. Would she try to apologize again? 

Her sister looked up briefly, before returning to her book. “What.”

“I have a project… with a classmate, so I’m going to his house.”

Yang stopped reading. She stopped sipping. 

“He. Who is this he ?”

Ruby sighed. She was always so dramatic. 

“A classmate. It’s for creative writing and it’s due soon, so I have to get going.” She pulled her bag over her shoulder and started to walk towards the front door when her sister shouted, “Wait!”

Ruby turned around. 

“Send me the address. I’m not letting you go to some random person's house.”

“Yang… it’s no big deal.”

“Dad left me in charge so you’re gonna listen to me, Ruby.” Great. She put on her “In Charge” voice. 

“Yang…” Ruby whined softly.

“Whose house are you going to? You either tell me, or I figure it out on my own.”

Ruby’s eyes flashed, the same anger from the other day returning. “Then figure it out on your own.”

Regret, regret, regret. But she was already out the door, and she was tired of being sorry and not being sorry at the same time. 

She marched down the sidewalk, the storm clouds gathering above her. This would be a great time to tell her friends how she was feeling. Except they weren’t talking to her. Some days it even felt like they were just letting her hang around because she was Yang’s little sister. 

The streets were quiet, with the occasional passing car. She soon reached the Pine household. It was a simple two-story building with a beautiful peach tree growing in the backyard. 

Ruby cautiously stepped onto the porch, wiping her combat boots on the welcome mat. Taking a deep breath, she pressed the doorbell and stepped back, adjusting her shirt. Hopefully she looked normal enough. Was her hair too messy? She just cut it, and she thought it looked nice. 

No one answered the door after a minute, so she knocked on the door instead. Two, three minutes passed, and Ruby was beginning to think that she had been pranked. 

Frustrated, she turned on her heel to go home when the door creaked open. A messy head of hair popped out. A tanned freckled boy stuck his head out. “Sorry. Come in.”

Ruby swore his face was red, but didn’t comment on it. She entered the home, her heart racing. Oscar himself was dressed in one of island-print button-downs her dad wore and sweatpants. Did she put in too much effort into her own outfit? She even wore colored lip gloss!

Wait. Why did she wear colored lip gloss? This was her principal’s house, she had to remember. 

The interior of the house seemed cramped and filled to the brim with pictures. She spotted some of her dad and her uncle. There were some others, people who looked like Oscar. Ozpin’s right hand, Ms. Goodwitch. 

Surprisingly, she had never been to Ozpin’s house before. He had always come alone, or with other teachers to dine at her house. Admittedly, she didn’t know much about the guy, even though her dad seemed to be very close to him. 

The walls were painted a light shade of blue, making it seem a lot brighter than she expected. 

“You can go to my room. It’s the first door on the left upstairs,” he muttered. 

“Oh, okay,” she replied. 

“Is that Miss Rose, Oscar? I’ll be out in a moment!” the principal’s voice chirped. Ruby noticed Oscar’s grimace. 

She headed upstairs, taking in the photos the lined the walls of the stairs. There were people… people that looked like Oscar. A woman in a flannel in front of a barn. 

She quickly opened the door of the room Oscar directed her to, and closed it shut.

His room was a beige-color, nothing too interesting. A few posters here and there, a lot of unpacked boxes. His bed was neat and a desk was in a corner, with a laptop neatly in the center. 

Ruby’s room was the complete opposite, with posters and pictures filling every space on her walls. Paintings and sticky notes and to-do lists and twinkle lights—she almost felt like a slob looking around Oscar’s room. 

The doorknob shifted, and Oscar came in, supplies in hand. Ruby had brought some construction paper and fuzzy sticks, as well as colored pencils and glue. She almost felt silly packing all her art supplies from middle school, but now found relief that Oscar had done the same. 

“You can sit on the rug,” was all he said, quietly. He didn’t meet her eyes, not once. Ruby nodded, setting her things down beside her. The boy did the same, picking imaginary dust off his shirt. 

“You didn’t send your story to me,” he said, almost stiffly. He played with the carpet instead of actually talking to her. 

“Oh, sorry! I totally didn’t think about that! Uh, let me do it right now—“ she apologized, rushing to pull her laptop out of her backpack. 

“No need. Just tell me what I need to know.”

Ruby froze. It was already embarrassing enough that she hadn’t shared the story with him, but now he wanted her to tell him? With… with her own words? 

“What? Can’t you recall your own writing?” he asked, his eyes finally meeting hers. They seemed muted, much less vibrant than before. Dark circles lined his under eyes, as if he hasn’t slept in years. 

Ruby trembled. He looked so scary. She knew she’d offended him somehow… but… it bothered her that he was upset with her. Everyone else wasn’t speaking to her, how awful was it for a stranger to be mad at her too? It was an all-time low. 

“Just… just do whatever,” he muttered, his face turned from hers. 

“Oohkay.”

The girl sighed, wringing her hands. The story she had decided to write was fiction, but it felt really personal to her sometimes. Yang, of course, had made fun of her for making the main character so “ordinary and good”, and knew that Ruby had tried to recreate herself. But who was she kidding? She wasn’t neither perfect nor good. She had potentially ruined all her friendships all because of her big fat mouth. 

“Um… it’s a story about this girl. She’s been employed by the gods because her parents owed them a huge debt they couldn’t pay and they died. She is a messenger, a gatherer, a hunter. She’s kind of fast… so she can get the job done.”

Ruby watched Oscar’s eyes for any reaction. He just looked bored, however, and he waved for her to continue. 

“She meets this old woman one day who trains warriors in the forest. She’s meant to like… deliver a letter to her, but ends up interested in their training. So instead of returning back to the gods, she stayed there and trained herself with the other students.”

She stopped briefly, as Oscar’s eyes blinked slowly at her. She was getting boring, she just knew it. 

“Uh, and the gods find out she's been neglecting her duties, so they destroy the sanctuary the old woman’s in and she dies. The girl then realizes the gods are bad and she and her new friends try to stop them. She learns they’re the one who killed her parents at the end.”

Ruby finished, twiddling her thumbs. 

“Dead parents. What a nice story,” he muttered. 

“Uh, I’m sorry…”

“And how does she expect to beat gods ? With what powers?”

“I… haven’t exactly figured that out, yet,” she muttered, her voice trailing off. 

Oscar sighed, and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I assume you read my piece I sent to you.”

Ruby nodded. She had a chance to briefly glance over it. His story was about a community of people who lived underground and returned to the surface once they learned of a war waged on their lands and against their people. It was… nice. It wasn’t exactly her cup of tea, but she wasn’t here to be a critic. They just had to do a project together. 

“Okay, um, so if your world is underground… and mine is on earth… it can be like a layered thing,” she started. She glanced at him, but he didn’t say a word. 

“So… there’s your underground world, and then the forest could be where my character and her friends are in the woods. And that could also represent the people waging war above the ground in your story. And then there’s the last layer, where the gods.. are trying to attack the humans… what do you think?”

The boy sat criss-crossed, seemingly lost in thought.

“That’s… that’s fine.”

That’s fine? No, “Thanks for the idea, Ruby”? Or “Hey, that’s actually a smart idea!” 

She was beginning to get fed up with Oscar, who clearly thought he was better than her. But before anything rude could spew out of her mouth, the bedroom door swung open, and Ozpin walked in.

It was odd to see the principal out of school-attire. He wore a sweater and slacks, just like any old, semi-fashionable grandfather. 

He held a tray of snacks, and set them down between them. 

“Knock on my door,” Oscar muttered, turning his head away from his grandfather. 

“I apologize, I’ll remember to do so next time. The old man turned to Ruby. “And Miss Rose, thank you for coming over. Hope it wasn’t too far?”

Ruby shook her head. “No, no it was fine. Thank you for inviting me into your home. It’s very lovely.

Ozpin nodded, a twinkle in his eye. “I’ve moved quite frequently in my lifetime, but this has got to be one of my favorite homes I’ve ever owned.”

Ruby glanced at Oscar. It was a nice home. She wondered why he seemed so sour about it. Did he not want to move here? Did his parents make him move here?

“Well, I’ll leave you two be. Call me if you need anything.”

As the old man waved, closing the door behind him, Ruby scanned Oscar’s face for any changes. He seemed to have… relaxed somewhat. As if he was putting on some kind of front whenever his grandfather was around. 

She stared at the tray Ozpin brought in, and took a cracker, placing the slices of cheese and salami over it. The tray was filled with olives, grapes, cream cheese, and plenty of other things that would be too much for her to eat alone. 

“Why did he bring this much stuff?” he muttered.

“Because he knows I have a big appetite!” she joked, hoping he would crack a smile. Nothing. 

“... Don’t you want to eat?”

“I don’t eat much. I find it weird that people find so much pleasure in eating,” he rolled his eyes. 

Ruby spread a piece of cream cheese on her cracker, and topped it off with a salami slice, before setting off to make a second one. 

Stretching her hand out, cracker sandwich in hand, she then said, “Well you don’t necessarily have to enjoy it. But it’s important that you eat. Your body needs food.”

Oscar stared at her hand as if it were some infested specimen. 

“No, thanks. The old man tries to stuff me whenever he gets a chance, so…”

Ruby for one, was hungry. Shrugging her shoulders, she popped a cracker into her mouth. “I know it’s just crackers, but I could live off of this stuff.”

Oscar turned back to look at her, his eyebrow raised. 

“Is it that good?”

“Maybe I’m just hungry,” Ruby answered, her face reddening. Did she look like a pig? Munching on snacks while Oscar hadn’t touched a thing? 

Oscar leaned towards the board, his eyes scanning over it. “I’ve never had a cracker sandwich before.”

Ruby giggled. “Well, it’s not top cuisine… I even made it as a kid.”

“I never made it back at the farm.”

He grew up on a farm? That was surprising. He didn’t strike her as a country boy at all. Maybe the city was too overwhelming for him? 

Deciding not to press more on that matter, she made another cracker sandwich, and offered it to him again. “I feel really bad for taking your cookie the other day. I know this doesn’t make up for it… seeing that this is food from your own kitchen… but I don’t want to eat alone.”

Oscar stared at the cracker in the girl’s hand again. Would it be rude to reject it again? 

She did seem really happy with the cookie the other day… and… he… he thought her smile… her smile was… it wasn’t, bad, okay? It wasn’t bad if she smiled. So, if eating with her would take the frown he saw on her face earlier off… then so be it. 

He took the sandwich, cautiously, and took a bite. It tasted… like a cracker. Nothing spectacular.

“See! There you go!” Ruby beamed. 

Oscar felt the corners of his mouth lift until he caught sight of the construction paper next to Ruby. 

“We should get to work.” 

Ruby straightened her back. “Huh? Oh, oh yes! We should. I brought some boxes. We can open this one like this…” she started, pulling out a big box behind her. “And using the other boxes, we can make platforms to separate the sky, earth and the underground. Does… how does that sound?”

“Okay,” he said. 

“Oh! Do you have cotton balls? And a box cutter? I forgot to bring some and we’ll need it to cut the cardboard out.”

At least she was enthusiastic about it. Resigning himself to his task, he got up and left the room. 

Ruby smiled, just a little. Oscar wasn’t that bad. Maybe. He shared his food with her and even smiled at her! She thought. And he didn’t disagree with her idea for their project, so maybe she was finally getting somewhere with him. 

She sat on her knees, anxiously patting them every few seconds until his return. The boy came back with more than she anticipated. He even had a little bag of rocks. 

“Rocks?” she asked. 

“The underground. Remember?” he replied. He handed her the box cutter, and got to work hot-gluing the cotton balls together for the clouds. 

Ruby got started on cutting the platforms for the boxes, taking an end to cut off. 

As she slowly made her way through it, she glanced up at a poster Oscar had hung up on in front of her. 

It had different flowers and their scientific names across it. Lilies, orchids, snapdragons…

A rose...

“Oh, wow,” Ruby breathed, leaning forward to peer at the poster. Her distraction, however, caused her to drag the box cutter too far, cutting her finger. 

“Oh, man!” she murmured to herself, dropping the cutter. Blood dripped onto the box as Ruby scrambled to press her hand on her finger. She was such a klutz!

“What happened?” Oscar asked, coming over to her. That was the most emotion she had heard in her voice since she had met him. 

“Ah, it’s nothing, where’s your restroom?”

“You’re… bleeding. What the hell did you do?” Now he was loud, loud and angry, just like before in the hallway at school. Ruby shook. What did she do this time?

“O-oh, I’m sorry about the boxes… I didn’t mean to g-get blood on them,” she sniffled, her eyes burning. 

“No… never mind,” he huffed. “Stay right here.”

Oscar left the room again, and Ruby was left with her bloody finger. The pain wasn’t as great, but she wasn’t appreciating the stain it was going to leave on her clothes.

Her partner returned shortly with a first aid kit in hand, as well as a bowl in the other. 

He kneeled down in front of her, and held out his palm. “Can… am I allowed to help you?”

Ruby nodded slowly, unsure of what to say. She stretched out her hand towards him, expecting him to yank it, but he didn’t. Gently, he took the rag in the small bowl of water and pressed it to her thumb. 

Hissing quietly, Ruby bit her lip. She got injured all the time as a kid, but something about cutting herself hurt more. Maybe because it came with a huge side of embarrassment. 

Oscar loosened his grip on her finger, and seemed almost… careful, dabbing the blood off her finger. 

Ruby watched quietly, as he used a cotton ball and rubbed alcohol to disinfect the wound.

He…he was taking good care of this. Ruby would’ve just washed her finger under the sink, and grabbed a bandaid. 

She stiffened when he brought ointment out of the kit and rubbed on her finger. Not once during the process did he look up at her. 

Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, Oscar wrapped her finger in a bandaid, but he didn’t let her finger go. Almost delicately, he held it as if he was making sure she still wasn’t hurt. 

A quick knock sounded at the door. “Is everything alright, you two?” Ozpin asked, opening the door. 

Oscar dropped Ruby’s hand as soon as Ozpin’s voice reached his ears. 

The boy whipped his head around, his eyes flashing. “Usually, you wait for the person’s ok before opening their door!”

“Miss Rose, what happened?” Ozpin asked, nearing the two. He decided he wouldn’t tease his grandson about his red face. Or the fact that he saw him holding Miss Rose’s finger for a second too long. 

“Ah, it’s nothing, Mr. Ozpin. I just… was a bit clumsy with the box cutter. Oscar’s got it all figured out, though,” she smiled, waggling her fingers at him. “I’m okay.”

Ozpin breathed a sigh of relief; the girl’s father would be on his neck all week if the injury was any worse. 

“Alright, I trust you. Please be more careful in the future. Also, Miss Rose, will you be staying for dinner?”

Ruby thought of Yang. Her sister would be eating alone if Ruby didn’t return back home. And… she did kind of storm out. 

“Uh, no thank you. I… my sister’s expecting me back home.”

Ozpin nodded slowly, but said nothing. His eyes were drawn to the window where the clouds were scattered across the sky. Any minute now, it would start to rain. And he didn’t see an umbrella with Miss Rose. 

He didn’t need to interfere any more than he already had. With a wave, he shut the door behind him.

“Why is he so nosy?” Oscar sighed, moving back to his spot. 

“Uh, thank… Thank you for helping me, Oscar. I appreciate it.”

Oscar’s face was turned away from hers when she looked up to meet his eyes, however. “You don’t need to thank me… just be less clumsy. How did it even happen?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I thought your poster was really pretty.”

A stupid reason to have accidentally cut herself, but it was true. Her father loved to garden, so it was always interesting to see new plants. 

“I like it, too,” he replied.

That was the end of that conversation, then. Ruby looked guiltily at the cardboard piece with dried up blood on it.

As if he read her mind, Oscar piped up, “Hand me the box cutter. I have more boxes, so I can make the platforms. Could you glue the clouds together? Then we can use string to tape them up on the inside.”

Ruby nodded, and the two switched materials.  And they worked for a while more, even as the rain started to pour from the sky. 

Around 6, Ruby figured it was time to get going. They were nearly done, they just needed to paint the exterior and put some finishing touches on it. 

“I’m gonna get going. We can finish it tomorrow, in advisory, if you want,” Ruby said, packing up her supplies. 

Oscar nodded, helping clean up the area. 

When Ruby made her way downstairs, Ozpin was waiting for her. 

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to stay for dinner?”

“Oh, no, sir. That’s okay. Yang’s expecting me.” At the sound of that, a clap of thunder sounded, and Ruby jumped. 

“Let me drive you back,” her principal insisted. 

“No, no, I walk in the rain all the time! In fact, I love it!” she joked dryly. 

“Ruby, you are a family friend. I can’t allow you to return home soaking wet.”

Mr. Ozpin’s voice was stern, and he even used her first name, which meant he was serious. While her parents were close to the principal, Ruby still felt awkward around him, though apparently he had known her since she was young. Or she was just awkward in general. 

“I could use the exercise, Mr. Ozpin. My dad never has to know. I won’t tell him,” she promised. 

“Absolutely not.” 

Her principal picked up the keys and grabbed his coat off the rack. “Oscar!” he shouted, “I’m taking Miss Rose back home. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

There was no reply, as was expected. 

Ruby resigned, and followed Mr. Ozpin to the green convertible parked in front of their home. 

She sat in the back, and shut the door quickly behind her. The rain droplets were cold on her neck, and her hair was already damp. 

“Okay, let’s go.” The old man put the key into the ignition and turned it. Ruby expected to hear a rumble of the engine, but there was nothing. 

“No, come on, Sherry. This isn’t a good time!” her principal groaned, and Ruby snickered to herself. 

“Is there something funny about what I said?” he asked in his teacher-voice.

“No… it’s just I didn’t expect you to be a car-naming guy, sir. That sounds like something my dad would do. Or my sister,” she said, rolling her eyes. 

“Yes, well, naming cars gives them sentimental value,” he sniffed, trying the key again. 

“I… I haven’t the slightest idea how this happened.”

Ruby looked up at the sky that was darkening ahead of them. She needed to get home. Yang hadn’t sent her message yet, but as if on cue, she received a call from her. 

“Do you need me to pick you up or are you on your way?” she asked curtly. 

“Uh, I’m going to walk. Actually.”

“Walk?” Mr. Ozpin questioned. 

“Walk? Ruby, you’ve made a lot of stupid—“

“Yang! Just, just trust me for once, okay? There’s something I want to do first. Please. I’ll call you if something happens.”

Her sister hung up, which meant she was even angrier than before. Ruby’s heart felt heavy, as she looked up into her professor’s eyes. 

“I’d like to walk home, please. I appreciate you trying, but I have somewhere to pass by on the way home.”

“Miss Rose, but I—“

“I promise I’m not telling my dad. You’re not endangering a child. I’m 15,” she reminded him, opening the car door. “It was very nice of you to invite me to your home. Tell Oscar I said thanks.”

Shutting the door behind her, Ruby started off down the road, her hair getting wetter by the second. It wasn’t too bad, she said, as she looked up towards the sky. A fat droplet landed square in her eye, causing her to jump back. 

“What is this?” she huffed, stomping down the sidewalk. 

She was some distance from Ozpin’s house when she heard someone clearing her throat behind her. 

“Wha—“

She turned around, fear clearly written all over her face. But she relaxed once she realized who it was. 

“Oh. It’s you. Did I forget to do something?”

Oscar stood there, his brown hair sticking to the sides of his head. An umbrella was gripped in his right hand, that must’ve been shaking from the cold. Why didn’t he just use the umbrella instead of running to her in the rain?

A look of confusion passed over her face, as he handed her the umbrella. 

“Why…?”

“I don’t want to have a sniffling and sneezing partner when we present on Friday.”

Ruby stared at him. He could’ve just offered that a long time ago, when she was still at his house . Or… if he really wanted to, he could’ve walked her home. Then at least, he would be able to have the umbrella on the walk home. 

“Ozpin… Ozpin told me that you had to go somewhere on the way home. And you didn’t walk far, so I don’t need it. Just… be careful. And give it back to me, tomorrow.”

Without waiting for thanks, Oscar turned around and ran from the direction he came. 

“Alrighty, then.”

Grateful, Ruby opened her umbrella and started her walk. 

On the way back to her house, she stopped at the local cemetery, the one the neighborhood kids claimed was haunted. Opening the creaky gate, she stepped inside, enjoying the sound of the falling rain and the crunch of leaves beneath her boots. 

Stopping down here in the middle of the graveyard, she crouched down to the plaque with her mother’s name on it. 

Summer Rose, a Mother, a Daughter, a Friend

Thus Kindly, I Scatter 

“Hey, mom,” Ruby sighed. The girl used her free hand to wipe off the dirty leaves off the plaque. 

“How are you? I hope everything's a-okay in the afterlife, or wherever you are. Or you’re sleeping peacefully, haha.”

Ruby paused for a moment before starting again. 

“I met a boy. He’s really, really rude, but not always. It’s funny, cause I never wanted to be his friend in the first place. Yang and everyone else wanted me to. And… I just don’t know. I don’t know why I’m mad at Yang. They were just harmlessly joking, and I… I just made it a big deal. I’m just tired, so tired of feeling lonely even though I have all these friends and you, and dad, and Yang, and Uncle Qrow…!

Her voice started shaking, as she struggled to keep her face dry. It was only a matter of time, however. 

“I wish I could’ve gotten to know you, Mom,” she whispered, her voice breaking. The tears that fell on her face were warm, unlike the cold downpour around her. 

“I wonder what you would’ve done. If you would’ve made Yang and I make up. Or if you’d bake cookies for me to give to Oscar an apology for being such a dummy.”

“I don’t know why I keep pushing away people who care about me.” She looked at the plaque, her mother’s name, and laughed. “I’m so ungrateful, aren’t I? I have so many people in my life, people I could talk to and figure things out with. Yet I choose to talk to a dead woman.”

Immediately, Ruby shook her head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. I… I don’t know what I mean, anymore.”

She stood up, and swung her umbrella upwards. 

“I’ll bring you a flower next time I come, Mom. And one day I’ll bring Yang with me, like I promised. We all like to come to visit you separately, but Dad thinks that you’d be happy to see both your daughters together. If Yang ever forgives me, of course”. 

She whispered a sort of prayer, something she always said to her mom whenever she visited. 

“Okay, bye.”

Then, she finally started towards home.

It was getting dark outside when she finally returned home. She left her dirty boots outside and entered the house, leaving Oscar’s umbrella to dry with the others. 

Yang was in the kitchen, scraping something from a pot into the trash can.

“Ozpin called,” she said when Ruby entered the kitchen. 

Ruby’s stomach dropped. 

“So the mystery guy was his grandson, huh? I wonder why you couldn't just tell me that. Wouldn’t have snapped on you,” Yang sighed. 

“I didn’t want to make things complicated,” Ruby muttered, holding her arm. 

“Right. It was a joke , you know.”

“I… I know. That’s why I’m sorry.”

Her sister stopped her scraping. “You’re sorry? Sorry for the snapping at Nora and me, or worrying me about where you were?”

Ruby clenched her fist, but willed herself not to get upset. “Both. I… I shouldn't have done that. You guys were just joking around, and I took it too seriously. And… I shouldn’t have been so defensive about everything. Yang, I am so sorry for hurting your feelings. I know you just want the best for me… I know. I… I don’t know why I did that,” she said honestly, her voice getting quiet. 

But part of herself did. Yang and her other friends obviously wanted Ruby to find friends on her own. They were juniors, and next year they’d graduate. Who would Ruby be friends with, then? 

Yang dropped the pot in the sink. 

“We’re ordering takeout.” As she walked past Ruby, the blonde kissed her forehead. “I forgive you, baby sister.”

Ruby’s heart swelled. 

“I am not a baby. And you burned the food Dad left for us, didn’t you?”

“Uh, no? I just feel like eating Mediterranean tonight. Nothing wrong with that. Besides, no one wants Dad’s chicken noodle soup.”

Ruby followed her sister into the living room. “I actually wanted chicken noodle soup, it’s really cold outside.”

“Well, you should’ve waited for me to pick you up, then.”

“Your motorbike isn’t a car, Yang. We still would’ve gotten wet. Wait, chicken noodle soup? How did you burn chicken noodle soup? ” Ruby asked, incredulously.

Yang flopped on the couch, picking up the remote. Their dog, Zwei, hopped onto the couch, into her lap. “It’s simple, dear sister. You put soup on the stove. You go about your business until your best friend Blake shows up to work on homework. Said friend Blake invites you to the ice cream parlor down the street. You start the walk with said friend until you remember you left the soup bubbling and boiling. Said soup has lost all the broth, as it’s evaporated, and the chicken and noodles are getting burned.”

Ruby blinked. “Seems that you’re the one who needs worrying about, Yang, not me. Burning soup? That’s hilarious.”

Yang glared at her. “Go take a shower so we can watch Great Detectives. If you don’t hurry, I’ll eat all your food.”

Ruby sighed, but inside, she was smiling. One thing was going right in her world, at least. She thought of her mom, and grinned. Talking to her always seemed to do the trick. 

The next day, Ruby waited for Oscar in advisory to finish their project. She wondered if Nora had said anything to Oscar in their art class this morning. 

She hadn’t quite apologized to Nora, yet, but Yang told her she didn’t have to rush herself. And Nora was understanding, so Ruby knew that when the time came, they would all be back together again. 

But for now, she was quite content riding solo. 

Oscar entered the room moments later, the cardboard box in hand. Ruby straightened up at the sight of him. It seemed his grandfather had got his car problem figured out.

“Hello,” she murmured, as he sat down. 

He gave a nod, setting the world on his desk. 

Ruby held out his umbrella to him. “Thank you, for the other day. I… I really appreciate what you did for me.”

“How’s your finger?” he asked, not acknowledging her thanks. Ruby thought he sounded a bit stuffy, but maybe that was in her head. 

“Oh, yes. It’s better now! I just put ointment on it and wrap it up, but it doesn’t hurt that much anymore.”

“That’s good.”

“And it’s all thanks to you!” she smiled brightly. Oscar was still very prickly to her, but she hoped they could at least be acquaintances while they worked on their project together. 

“N–no need for all that,” he mumbled. He sneezed immediately after his comment, earning him “bless yous” from surrounding students. 

“You don’t sound too good,” Ruby started. 

“I’m fine.”

“Well… you must’ve gotten wet in the rain yesterday. And you were worried about me ruining the presentation.”

Oscar glared at her. “I’ll be fine by tomorrow. Let’s just finish this thing already.”

So they worked in silence.

“What are you doing?” Yang asked, swooping over Ruby’s shoulder.

“Remaking the soup you burned,” Ruby answered, stirring the pot. 

“Hey! You can’t cook either! I’d say I’m the better of both of us!”

Ruby turned around, glaring at her older sister. Yang made a fair point. But this soup wasn’t just for them. Oscar had been sneezing and sniffling the entire day… so she figured she could make him some soup. 

But she’d never tell Yang that.

“Let me try this!” Ruby exclaimed, pointing her spoon menacingly at the taller girl. 

“Okay, okay, sheesh! Better taste good, or we have to order takeout again.”

Ruby had the number for pizza right next to her just in case. 

It was Friday, after the presentation. It had gone smoothly. Somewhat. Ruby forgot the name of Oscar’s main character several times and Oscar himself had sneezed so many times that he had to be excused out into the hallway.

Mr. Lunes seemed pleased regardless.

Ruby herself decided she would apologize to Nora today. She’d been spending so much time with Oscar that it felt almost strange walking to the library during advisory.

The library was mostly quiet, save for whispers here and there. Ruby spotted her friends in their usual spot, all jovial and bright. It warmed her heart to see them like this.

“Uh, hey guys,” she murmured, walking up to them. Blake stopped laughing. “Ruby?”

Ruby glanced from her face, to Yang’s, to Nora’s.

“I know...well, we all know I’ve been absent for a few days, because I yelled at Yang and Nora when I didn’t mean to. They were just joking around and I just got really defensive. So, this is my formal apology to you, Nora. And everyone else. I didn’t mean to seem cold.”

Nora brightened immediately. “I could never stay mad at you, Ruby! Besides, I think I’ve made some progress on Oscar myself. He laughed at a joke I made in art class! Laughed! There’s hope for him after all.”

“Are you going to have lunch with us, then?” Weiss asked.

Ruby shook her head. “I actually have to do something during lunch, but Monday, for sure.”

Her friends didn’t seem upset, they didn’t look mad. A swell of happiness bloomed in her chest. All was well, then. But she had something else she had to do. 

As the bell for lunch rang, Ruby entered the classroom, thermos in hand. She spotted the mop of brown hair in their usual spot, next to the bookcases.

“Hi,” she said shyly, as if she hadn’t seen him this morning. She was acting weird again, wasn’t she?

The boy looked up, a face of disinterest clear on his face. “Oh. It’s you. Achoo !” 

“Bless you. I made you some soup. For your cold,” Ruby replied, ignoring his rude statement. She placed the thermos on the desk in front of him and plunked herself down in her chair.

“You made soup? For me? Why?” he asked again. He sounded so stuffy, she wondered if he had taken any cough syrup. 

“Uh… well. You brought me an umbrella in the rain. You got sick because of me, so I thought… maybe you could use some soup!”

Ruby swore Oscar’s face looked red, but maybe he was catching a fever. The soup would do him good. She actually tried this time! No cutting her fingers when she chopped up the vegetables! Yang complemented her too, so they didn’t resort to calling Pizza Palace.

“T...thank you,” he muttered. “Do you not have any lunch?”

“Oh, I had a big breakfast,” she lied. Here he was, sneezing and coughing, and still showing some concern for her. Now she was confused. Did Oscar hate her guts? Or was he beginning to tolerate her? Because every time she thought they were getting somewhere, he seemed closed off, defensive.

Did she even want to be his friend? After all, she had made up with her own friends. Would he be expecting her on Monday? What if she didn’t show up and then he hated her guts again?

“Hey!” Oscar exclaimed, snapping his fingers in front of her face.

“Oh! Sorry, I spaced out,” she apologized.

“Okay. I just wanted to say that it’s good. The soup.”

Ruby beamed. “Really? That’s good; I’ve never made it before!”

Oscar stared at his classmate incredulously. In all honesty, Ruby could’ve poisoned the soup and he would’ve never known until he finished the entire thing. He wanted to say something, but she was smiling, meaning she was pretty proud of herself, right? And why ruin that? 

So the young boy chalked it up to that, and tried to eat his soup in peace, praying for his life. It was warm, at least. And not many people could mess up chicken noodle soup. It wasn’t exactly the same, but soup was soup. The smell of the broth alone reminded him of home, on the farm, a place that seemed so far away…

Homesickness flooded his being, and he began to have a distaste for the soup. He put the cap back on and pushed it back towards Ruby.

“I appreciate this.” He hoped he sounded sincere enough.

“I just hope it helped you feel better,” she smiled.

And there she went again.

There was a ding from his phone, saving him from embarrassing himself again.

It was from him . Of course it was.

Old Man: Oscar, please ask Miss Rose if she and her sister would like to come over to dinner tomorrow night.

Oscar stared at his phone, eyes full of contempt. Again?

Oscar: Why?

Old Man: Their father is away on a trip. I think it would be nice.

Oscar: Ask them yourself.

Old Man: Oscar, please. Miss Rose was your partner, I think she’d appreciate it if you were the one to ask her.

This guy was so frustrating. Oscar didn’t care for Ruby and her sister coming over for dinner, and if the old man did, why didn’t he just ask them? It was quite ridiculous to him. How did he ask her without being too forward?

“Hey…”

“Uh, yes?” Ruby asked, putting down her phone.

“My old… my grandpa wants to know if you and your sister want to come over for dinner tomorrow,” he murmured, hoping he was audible enough for her.

“Dinner?” she echoed.

“Yeah… you can say no if you want. I’ll tell him.”

“No, no!” she waved. “That’s very nice of you two, tell him we’d love to come over.”

Oscar hoped she wouldn’t say that. 

“Uh… alright, then. I’ll tell him. And thanks for the soup.”

Ruby smiled at him, but couldn’t help but feel that there was something wrong. Something off about the way Oscar had invited her. She brushed it aside, however, and drew her attention to the throngs of people outside in the hall, headed to lunch. Big groups, small groups, groups of three…

Oscar had resorted to scrolling on his phone, and Ruby decided to do the same. Ultimately, they had nothing else to say to each other, right? Their group project was over and after her dad returned, she doubted that she’d be going over to Oscar’s house often. She had only known him for a week, but next week… they’d practically be strangers again. Ruby would find herself with all her older friends again and Oscar.... He’d go wherever he wanted to go.

Ruby felt some guilt. Her biggest fear was being left alone, and this was exactly what she was doing to him. 

But then again… maybe Oscar preferred being alone. He seemed very introverted and he wasn’t too warm with anyone. Maybe it was for the best.

It was a cool Saturday night, and around 6 pm, Yang and Ruby arrived at Mr. Ozpin’s doorstep.

“I find it extremely funny that you didn’t want to befriend this kid, and here you are, at his house,” Yang whispered.

“You realize our principal was the one to invite us, not him, right? Don’t be weird,” Ruby whispered back.

Yang wore a jean jacket over a yellow dress, and Ruby wondered if she was dressed too casually. Her sister made anything look good, but wasn’t she overdressed for the occasion? Or was she underdressed, with her sweater and jeans.

“You’re overthinking things, I can tell,” Yang murmured to her as she knocked on the door.

“Yang! Shut up, please!”

“It’s dinner, Ruby. Not a job interview. Relax .”

Ultimately, her sister was right. There was no need for her to be so nervous. 

The door creaked open, and a familiar head of hair popped out.

“Hi, Oscar,” Yang beamed.

“Hi,” he said drily. He opened the door widely to invite them in, not acknowledging Ruby’s presence.

Yang eyed Ruby as they entered the house. “I’m Yang, by the way.”

Oscar led them to their dining room, where clangs and bangs could be heard from the kitchen. 

“Okay, Yang. Thanks for coming.”

Oscar didn’t sound like he meant a word of what he said, but Ruby brushed it off. The boy disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the sisters to converse quietly together.

“Is he ignoring you on purpose?” Yang asked.

“We’re not exactly friends, Yang,” Ruby replied coolly. 

“Well, yeah, but I ‘d expect him to say hi at least. Nora was right, he’s totally grumpy.”

Ruby sighed. She didn’t want to get on Oscar’s bad side tonight. She wanted dinner to go as smoothly as possible so she could go home and her heart could stop racing.

“Something smells good!” Yang announced.

“Miss Xiao Long, lovely to hear from you!” Mr. Ozpin yelled from the kitchen. “And I assume Miss Rose is there as well! Hello! Dinner will be out quite soon!”

Yang was right; a savory aroma filled their nostrils as they waited for the meal.

Oscar soon returned to the dining room with a tray of steaming bread rolls.

“Uh, do you need some help?” Ruby offered, stepping up to him.

“No.”

“Nonsense, Oscar! Miss Rose, we would appreciate the help! Setting the table would be nice, please!”

Oscar rolled his eyes, before returning his cold gaze back to Ruby. “Fine.”

“Do you want me to do anything?” Yang asked.

Oscar sighed. “We keep our tablecloths in that closet near the front. Could you grab one, please?”

Yang nodded. 

Ruby followed Oscar wordlessly into the kitchen, where Ozpin was frantically chopping something. 

It was odd to see her usually calm, cool, and collected principal in such a frenzied state.

“Hey,” Oscar said, breaking her out of her line of thought. Ruby looked back to see him holding cups out to her. “Put these on the table.”

“O-okay.” She grasped the cups, her hands clammy, but not before accidentally touching Oscar’s fingers.

“Oh, sorry!” she yelped, pulling the cups to her chest. Oscar’s eyes widened, as if he had been shocked. He didn’t say a word, however, and turned away from her, burying his face in the cabinet in front of him.

Ruby scurried back into the dining room, where Yang had finished adjusting the tablecloth. 

“I found the placemats… I’m just gonna put them anywhere,” her sister muttered to her. Ruby followed her sister, and set cups next to the mats.

“Ruby? Are you okay? You look… stressed,” her sister said.

“Really? Is it that obvious? Gah!” Ruby sighed. But she had to push down her feelings and get back into the kitchen. Oscar passed by her, utensils in hand. 

“Uh, should I start putting the food down, Mr. Ozpin?” Ruby asked, nearing the steaming plates of lasagna on the counter.

Her principal whipped around, revealing a striped apron reading “Ask Me How I like My Cocoa in the Morning”. This was getting a bit too much for her. Her dad had a similar apron, and it was not flattering at all. 

Unable to control herself, she let out a chuckle.

“Is something funny, Miss Rose?” Ozpin asked sternly. 

“That apron is so embarrassing… I’m sorry, sir. It just is.”

The old man sniffed. “I happen to be very fond of this apron. I think it looks good on me!” Then Ozpin looked over her shoulder. “What do you think, Oscar?”

Ruby turned around quickly, not hearing Oscar come in. The boy’s eyes looked vacant, as if he had grown numb. 

“I don’t care,” he grumbled. He strode over to where the paper towel holder was, grabbed it, and exited the kitchen.

Ruby felt a dull stabbing in her chest. Oscar’s glum mood had seeped into the kitchen, and suddenly, she no longer felt like laughing. She looked up at her principal, who looked weary. “Forgive him. He… he just needs time to adjust.”

The girl found herself with nothing to say. 

“I… I’ll grab the plates,” he said quietly. “Could you grab the sweet tea in the refrigerator? It’s in the pitcher.”

Ruby nodded, and did what she was asked. Soon enough, all four of them found themselves seated at the table. She sat next to her sister, to her relief, and Oscar sat at Yang’s end. Ozpin was at Ruby’s end.

“Thank you for inviting us,” Yang smiled warmly. 

“It was no problem, Miss Xiao Long. Your father’s returning tomorrow, correct?” Mr. Ozpin asked. 

Yang nodded. “Around 9 pm, yeah.”

“That’s good. I see you two are more than capable of taking care of yourselves,” he said.

Ruby tensed up. Yang was a bit sensitive when it came to the topic of responsibility. Now, she was… less overprotective, but as a child, Yang was fierce and defensive over Ruby, never letting her out of her sight. She didn’t like her authority to be questioned, which is why she was even more upset over Ruby’s attitude the other night.

“Alrighty, then! Let’s eat! I hope lasagna suffices for tonight. I had something else in mind, but I didn’t get time to go grocery shopping…”

“Oh, no! This is good, I love lasagna!” Ruby smiled.

Ozpin’s face lit up. “That’s great, Miss Rose.”

The lasagna was good, there was no doubt about it. Now, Ruby loved her dad’s cooking a lot, but this had to be a close second. 

“Oscar helped me make the lasagna,” Ozpin laughed. 

“Oscar?” Yang asked, mouth full of bread. “Cool! Could you teach Ruby how to cook?”

“Yang! If anyone needs to learn how to cook, it’s you ! What would you do if Dad or Blake didn’t make you food?” Ruby replied angrily.

“The soup you made yesterday wasn’t bad,” Oscar muttered.

“Soup?” Ozpin asked, curiously.

“Soup? Ruby…” Yang started.

Ruby wanted to hide in that moment, and she could tell Oscar wanted to as well. The boy didn’t meet any of their eyes, but answered anyway. “She made me soup. Cause I was coughing.”

“Well, Miss Rose! How kind of you to do that! No wonder Oscar didn’t seem as sniffly today!” Ozpin noted. 

Ruby felt an elbow in her side. “So that’s why you wanted to make soup. How sweet.”

Ruby wished Yang had an off button. Or at least some kind of filter. If her life goal was to embarrass Ruby, she was doing a great job at it. 

“So… not to bring school life here, but how are your studies going?” Mr. Ozpin asked the sisters.

Yang took a long sip of iced tea, leaving Ruby to be the first one to speak. 

“Uh… I’m doing okay. I’m not failing math yet, so that’s good. Everything else is okay, too.”

“You don’t have a favorite subject?”

Ruby shook her head, shame creeping up her throat. “I’m not good at school, so…”

Ozpin shrugged. “I think you’re better than you think. I’m sure you’re more than capable of exceeding, Miss Rose. If you need any help, let me know, and I can get into contact with one of your teachers,” her principal replied.

That was the last thing she wanted, but she appreciated the sentiment anyway. Then, before he could ask any more questions, the girl popped a cherry tomato from the salad into her mouth.

“And Miss Xiao Long?”

Yang set her glass down, and broke into a goofy grin. “Uh… yeah! School’s great. I have all As and Bs!”

“Except for history,” Ruby muttered.

“Hey! You cannot blame me for not understanding a word of Dr. Oobleck’s lectures!”

Ozpin chuckled. “That’s quite alright. I know Dr. Oobleck’s teaching can be a bit… unconventional, but I promise, he is a good teacher. A pleasure to work with.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Yang sighed.

“Oh, Miss Xiao Long? How are preparations for the standardized test coming along?”

Ruby’s thoughts started to drift away from the conversation. Instead, she found herself watching Oscar, who hadn’t joined into the conversation. He looked sullen, and was keeping to himself, pushing his food around his plate Were his dinners alone with his grandfather that quiet? He didn’t seem to be having fun…

“No, we’re fine!” Yang’s loud voice cut into her thoughts. Her sister mouthed an apology to Mr. Ozpin, stood up from her seat and walked into the living room.

The table was quiet, as no one said a word. 

“Ah! Oscar, how did you and Ruby’s project for creative writing go?” the principal asked.

Oscar looked up at him. “It was fine.”

“Just fine? What was your grade?”

“I dunno, why don’t you ask Miss Rose , there?” he sniped.

Ruby’s heart dropped. There was so much venom in his tone… 

“Oscar! There’s no need to be so rude!” his grandfather scolded him.

“Whatever.”

Yang came back from the living room, giving everyone a distraction from the tension.

“Sorry about that, it was Qrow.”

“Uncle Qrow?” Ruby asked. “What did he want?”

“He wanted to make sure we were okay and if we needed anything. Also I’m 50% sure he was at a bar, because I think he forgot he was on the phone and it just got really weird—”

“Thank you, Yang!” Ruby cut in. 

“How is Qrow? I haven’t seen him in a while!” Ozpin smiled.

“Ah, you know he quit teaching at Signal, right?” Yang answered. “So he’s been switching between the bar and sleeping on our couch. Our dad told him to get a job and he claims he’s been looking for one, but you know Qrow.”

Ozpin laughed heartily. “Qrow is a very bright person, one of the best students I had when I was just a teacher. I’m sure he’ll find a profession to fit his… lifestyle soon enough.”

“I don’t really mind,” Ruby piped up. “We didn’t see him often after we left junior high, so it’s nice to see him around more.”

Ozpin nodded, taking a sip of his iced tea. “Yes, I suppose so. Family’s important, after all.”

“Family’s important?” Oscar scoffed. Yang jumped, as if she forgot there was another person at the table. 

“Yes, Oscar… it is,” Ozpin sighed. Ruby looked between the both of them. What was going on? One minute Oscar looked despondent, and now his face was rigid, as if he was holding in his anger. 

“Family’s not important to you, old man. It never has been.”

Ozpin’s voice grew quiet. “You know that’s not true.”

“You wanna talk about family? You really want to talk about family?” the boy asked, his voice getting louder.

“Oscar, that is enough, we have guests!” Ozpin stated, his voice firm.

Oscar stood up, his chair scraping across the floor. 

“Your guests are more family than I am. Or my aunt. Or did you forget the family back at the farm? Your family? You think I’m okay calling you Grandpa after all these years? That’s rich.”

“I—” Ozpin started.

“I’m not surprised about any of this. But then again, I haven’t expected much from you in years.” And with that, Oscar made his way to the front door, slamming it shut behind him.

“Mr. Ozpin?” Yang asked, her voice trembling.

“I should go after him,” Ruby decided. She made her way to the front door, but not before the old man stopped her.

“No, no, I should, I’m the one who upset him. I’m sorry for ruining dinner for you two. Please feel free to return home if you’d like.” And he left as well.

“I’ve never seen the guy so… sad.” Yang said, after a moment of silence.

Ruby looked up at her. “Oscar really hates him, doesn’t he?”

“You don’t think Mr. Ozpin’s a bad guy, right? Dad’s known him for years, and he’s the nicest staff member at school,” Yang replied. 

“I dunno, Yang. The way he sounded...Oscar made it seem that Ozpin doesn’t like him or something. He sounded like he felt abandoned.”

Yang said nothing, but held her arm. “I… do you want to go home?”

“No...everyone looks done here. We can clean up, but then I want to wait on the steps until they come back, if that’s okay.”

Yang nodded. “Sure,” she said softly.

Oscar didn’t know where he was running to, he just knew he had to do it. The sky was darkening quickly, but he didn’t quite care. 

All of this was stupid. All of it. The town, the school, the people. He hated it here and just wanted to go back home where things were familiar and safe. 

Cold in his lungs, he eventually found himself at the local cemetery he lived by.

He grew up on a farm and often had to walk at night to pick up something from a neighbor, so he felt comfortable in the growing darkness.

Creaking the iron door gates open, Oscar used his phone light to find a stone bench placed in front of a tombstone and plunked himself on it. 

Maybe he could sleep there for the night. There were a few scattered lampposts around the burial grounds including the one he was beenath. Moths buzzed around it, but it wasn’t enough to drown out the passing cars or the thoughts in Oscar’s head.

He tried to convince himself that he didn’t care that Ruby and her sister were probably feeling uncomfortable after his spat with Ozpin, but he couldn’t. But why should he care? He clearly cared for them more. Laughing, talking, smiling —

“Oscar?”

Great. Of course he had followed him. And he hadn’t paid any attention because he was too upset. 

“May I sit here?” he asked. 

Oscar shrugged, so the old man sat down, leaving a foot of space between them.

In reality, Oscar felt his heart thud in his chest. Whatever excuse Ozpin was going to pull, he wouldn’t care for it. He had years to make up for his mistakes, and chose now to do so. And Oscar didn’t forgive easily.

But Ozpin didn’t speak, so Oscar didn’t either. Out of the corner of his eye, the young boy saw the old man’s hands crossed, and his gaze on the tomb in front of them. It was for a man named Templeton. Oscar wasn’t sure if the old man was familiar with a Templeton, but what did he know? He barely knew the man after all.

After a while, he got fed up with the quiet and opened his mouth to speak. “Don’t you think it’s rude to leave your guests alone?”

Ozpin sighed. “They’ll be fine.”

“Go home.”

“I noticed you haven’t been sleeping enough,” the old man said instead.

“I’ve never slept well. It’s no secret,” he mumbled. 

“Emmaline never slept well either. Always restless, that one.”

Hot anger coursed in Oscar’s veins as he snapped his head up. “Get this straight . You don’t get to talk about my aunt. You don’t get to talk about my parents. Or me. Don’t think because I haven’t run away from you that I’m going to forgive you for what you did to me. To my family.”

Ozpin’s crossed hands wobbled between his legs as he considered his next words. 

“Oscar. I know you don’t want to listen to anything I have to say and that's understandable. I… I don’t deserve sympathy for what I did to you. I don't want to give an excuse, but I think you deserve to hear what happened, and I think it’s time for me to finally listen to you.”

Ozpin sounded so soft and gentle in his words, but that didn’t soothe Oscar’s anger. 

“Why should I listen to you? Why should I listen, when you didn’t listen to anyone else?” he hissed.

“I want you to listen , because you get to decide what to do after this!” Ozpin bit out. Oscar stopped, staring at him. “I’m sorry. I… I want you to listen to my story and decide what you want to do about it. Oscar, all I ever wanted was for to be happy here. I wanted you to make friends and make a home here.”

“Home? My home is on the farm. The farm where you grew up. The one you abandoned for this glorious city life.”

“Oscar, please, I just want to understand what’s wrong,” Ozpin begged.

“You want to know the issue? The big reason I hate everything this town has offered? It’s because of you . Did you expect a happy reunion when you called Aunt Em out of the blue and asked her to send me here? For me to be ecstatic that my grandfather who I hadn’t seen in years finally decided to give a damn about me? Aunt Em cared about me. She’s the only family I have left.”

“O—”

“Do you know how much it hurt when you left the city the first time? I was six . My grandfather who would bring me presents and teach me about which plants grew in which season… he was leaving me behind. But back then, I had to teach myself to understand. You got a new job, so you left. You sent letters and gifts and visited once or twice a year. And that was okay with me.

Then… then the accident happened. My mother and father, both dead. And I didn’t see you at the funeral. I was nine . I held onto the faith that you’d come back and we could all be together, but no. I didn’t see you once. Aunt Em told me you had a new family, a new life and couldn’t be bothered to come down here. 

“When I was eleven, I was in a tractor accident. Similar to the one my uncle died in.”

Ozpin tensed up.

“You never called then. Never showed up. But I knew Aunt Em had let you know, because I received a bouquet of flowers from you weeks later. I assume they got lost in transit. Years passed by, and eventually, the letters stopped. The gifts and calls stopped. You just stopped being in our lives. So why would I ever be happy about you wanting to be in mine after 9 years?”

Oscar paused to breathe. He couldn’t believe he actually had the willpower to say all this. After keeping it in for so many years… he had finally let it out.

“The worst part is that when I came here, a small part of me hoped we could talk about this. But instead, when I showed up, you pretended everything was fine. That we could be all friendly again. The way… the way you treated Ruby and Yang… it made me upset. You treated them more like family than you have ever treated me! And it hurt! The way you talked to them always talked about their dad… that should've been my dad you were spending time with! My mom! Aunt Em missed you so much! Her own father didn’t want to see her. You wanted me to call you grandpa and act like the perfect grandson. Well, I’m sorry, I didn’t exactly have a proper upbringing. My aunt did the best she could with a kid who watched his uncle die.”

He was done, out of breath. Tears burned in his eyes, but he swore to himself he would never cry in front of this man. Ever.

The light above them flickered, as if warning them that it was getting late. 

“You have nothing to say? Of course not,” Oscar scoffed, standing up.

“Please sit down.”

The boy paused, staring at the old man.

He sounded so defeated. Well, anything was better than returning to the house only to find Ruby and Yang passing him pity glances. So he sat.

“What you’re about to hear is a horrible excuse. I don’t expect you to forgive me, and I won’t be asking for it, either. I just hope… once you hear this, however you decide to act around me, that you remember that I have never wanted things to be this way. I shouldn’t have let it get to this point.”

Oscar crossed his arms.

“When I was young, I didn’t have much. When the farm had finally developed, I felt like this was it. I could be the family man I always needed to be, raise my kids and start anew. I had two beautiful daughters, you aunt and your mother, and I always thought that would be enough for me. But… it wasn’t. Kids would make fun of your aunt and sister for their handmade clothes and worn down boots, and Emmaline never liked the idea of missing school to help with the harvest. She always wondered why we couldn’t just hire a farmhand. So I began to commute to this city and that’s when I got hired as a teacher. 

I could've brought my family here, but I didn’t feel the need to uproot them just yet. So I would stay for some time here, sending enough money to help support them when the crop wasn’t doing well. I eventually quit when my wife grew sick and I had to go home. At that time, your mother had married your father and had you at quite a young age. Years passed, your grandmother died, and Em and her husband had to move in to help tend to the farm while your mother was occupied with you. It was nice, the family all being together, but it was tense. At any minute, someone could get hurt or fall sick and we’d fall into financial ruin.

That’d when I was offered the teaching job again by Glynda Goodwitch, the woman I met when I first became a teacher. That’s when you were six. So I left again, and… I got caught up in it, I guess. There’s no other way to sugarcoat it. I got promoted time after time until I became a principal and by then… I figured I had set you up in life. My account automatically sent money to your aunt monthly, but I never remembered to send the letters I had promised you.”

Oscar felt bile rise up his throat. He had so much he wanted to say, but he couldn’t phrase it the way he wanted to.

“You… you wanted to provide for your family? So you left and never returned?”

“Simple as that. I then received news of your mother and father’s passing. And… I was there. I did come to the funeral service.”

That was news to Oscar. He hadn’t seen or talked to his grandfather the entirety of the service. 

“I did see you… but I didn’t approach you. Couldn’t find the right words,” he explained, his hands placed in his lap.

“That’s a dumb excuse to not come and see me,” Oscar muttered, fighting back tears.

“It was. It really was. I was a coward for not approaching you or your aunt, especially after I had left you all behind. Your mother’s death was a great blow to my health, but I didn’t feel like I should have bothered your aunt with all that. How could I show up after three years and act like things were the same? I had lost my child and her husband. What could I say to change any of that? So… I felt it would be better if you had grown up without me.”

“You don’t know what’s good for me! I would’ve appreciated it if you at least came to see me once after the funeral! Or when I was in the hospital. You don’t get to decide how I feel about these things! I don’t care that you were sending us money or that you came to the funeral. None of those things explain why you never told me !” Oscar yelled at him.

“You were one of the biggest influences in my life. You’re nothing but a stranger to me now. Why would you need me, when you have Ms. Goodwitch? Or Ruby and Yang’s family? Never have you ever tried to get to know me , get to know my interests, until I showed up on your doorstep. If you had talked to me, before all of this, maybe I would have opened up! Maybe I would tell you that I can’t sleep because I dream of my parents dying! I had to stay home for days after that funeral. I couldn’t eat or sleep, because it hurt. I hurt .”

There were tears now. He couldn’t control it now, and he didn’t care. He was a blubbering mess, because after all this time of putting up walls, it was too much for him to take.

“I have to sit in class everyday and listen to people gush about you. It never matches the person in my head, because the person in my mind is what I know. I don’t know good ol’ Mr. Ozpin who uplifts his students and makes everyone happy to be a Beacon High student! I know the pathetic man who abandoned his family, when they were going through hell. I lost three family members, and you thought I would be okay? That I could make new friends and get along with everyone? How? How?”

Words bubbled out of Oscar’s mouth involuntarily. Salty tears filled his throat, and his head began to hurt from all the crying.

Ozpin sighed. Oscar looked up at him, only to see him without his odd spectacles on. His cheeks were red, stained with tears. 

“I never… I never knew. I never for a second, tried to put myself in your shoes. I tried to assume the best for you without asking you. And for that, I apologize. Your whole life was built on my empty promises… and I did nothing about it. How could I have known about it, from the city?”

Oscar knew the old man was talking to himself, but he still felt upset.

Then Ozpin’s eyes met his. He looked disappointed, and Oscar had never seen him with an expression like that.

“Oscar. Please let me formally apologize to you. You don’t have to forgive me, but I want you to know that I do care for you. I do love you, though I don’t deserve to. I can’t fix what I’ve done in the past, but I know it was wrong. I only want you to be happy, and if you choose to go back to the farm and never speak to me again, that is your choice. But I should’ve been there for you and your aunt, for your mother too. You are the brightest spot in my life now, even if we aren;t getting along. I understand now that I couldn't push something like this under the rug. I underestimated you.”

Oscar wasn’t going to forgive him that easily. The old man was good at talking, but his actions would have to do the talking for him. 

“And… about Miss Rose, that is my fault as well. I was so happy at the idea of you making a friend that I asked your teachers to pair you up together.”

Oscar sighed. That explained a lot.

“I never intended to make you uncomfortable around her, I just thought she would be a perfect friend for you. Once again, I should've come to you first. I’m sorry it seemed like I cared for her more than I cared for you, but that’s simply not true. Miss Rose’s family is close to my heart, but they’re not you. I still keep the letters you sent me, the ones where you talked about dinosaurs and your favorite movies. I think… I think I just didn’t see you as a young man. I didn’t trust you to be old enough to understand my choices or make your own. But now I see.... you’re plenty capable. I know… I know you said you relied on me as a child, but you’ve grown up pretty well with the help of your aunt. You’ve never been a bad kid, Oscar. You’re brilliant and kind hearted, I know that, at least.”

Oscar snorted. “I don’t think ‘kindhearted’ suits me very well.”

Ozpin wiped his face with a sleeve and took a deep breath. “I’d like to think it does. Didn’t you help Miss Rose when she hurt herself… and didn’t you offer an umbrella to her? I’m sure she thinks of you as a wonderful person.”

“I doubt that. I...I don’t think I can be friends with someone like her.”

Ozpin cocked his head. “I see. I actually see many similarities between you two. Miss Rose appears to be a lot lonelier than she lets on.”

“So you think I’m a loner?” Oscar retorted.

“Well, how many friends have you made at school?”

Oscar grumbled.

“That isn’t a bad thing. I was a loner myself when I was your age.”

“And look how you turned out.”

The old man coughed. “Uh… yes, that’s a fair assessment. What I’m saying is that… whether or not you choose to forgive me, please don’t be upset with Miss Rose. I know she cares for you and you deserve someone like her in your life. I can’t continue to allow my mistakes affect your future any more Oscar. I want to do better, for you, and for your aunt.”

“Ruby...why would she care for me?” Oscar asked.

Ozpin said nothing, only smiled back at him.

Well, wasn’t this something.

Something in Oscar’s chest burned but he refused to think about it any longer. Now, what was important was deciding whether or not he even wanted to stay here.

“I...I appreciate you telling me the truth, at least. I’m not sure I can forgive you… not yet. But I’ll try to do my best to be tolerable.”

Ozpin nodded. “That’s more than enough for me.”

He didn’t need to say more, as Oscar figured confrontation didn’t come easy for either of them. Was the problem resolved? No, but he at least he understood now. 

Oscar stood up. “I… I should get back and apologize to them, if they’re still there. Will… are you coming?”

Ozpin shook his head, and the smile he had on his face only seemed sadder than before.

“No...I want to talk to an old friend before I go.”

Oscar nodded slowly, not understanding. But he made his way out of the graveyard, feeling a bit lighter. 

He arrived at the house moments later, only to find Ruby sitting on the steps of the house.

He jumped in surprise. “You’re still here?” he asked.

The girl looked up, a sleepy smile on her face. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“That’s… nice.” It was dark, but he still felt heat rush to his cheeks.

“Where’s Mr. Ozpin? Is he okay?” she said, more alert.

“He’s taking a walk.”

“Oh.” Ruby stood up, before her eyes widened. “Your eyes... were you crying?”

Oscar shook his head, covering his eyes with his palms. “No! Just allergies!”

“Oscar… I want to apologize. I feel like if we had never come over, this wouldn’t have happened. If I’m being honest… this is all kind of my fault.”

“Why would any of this be your fault?”

His classmate sat back down on the cool steps. “I… this all started because I was feeling inadequate. You remember when I was crying earlier this week, because of my friends? I think I’ve figured it out.” Ruby sighed. “All my friends are older than me. And sometimes… I feel kind of left out. Sure, we’re all in high school together, but it hurts when people only want to be friends because of your sister, or avoid you altogether. What I’m trying to say is that… even though I wasn’t alone, I always felt like a sort of outcast. And I feel that hanging around you was my way of making myself feel better… and if you hadn’t invited me to dinner...you wouldn’t have left…” she trailed off. “I’m not making any sense, I know.” 

A nervous laugh escaped her lips. “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t want to make friends at first...but now it feels weird to come to school without seeing you, you know?”

Oscar didn’t know how to reply to what Ruby had said. She hung around him to make herself feel better? What about him would bring her any sort of comfort?

“So hanging around me was a distraction?”

“NO, no! I mean… not really. I think I’ve been distracting myself with a lot of things. I didn’t want to see the problem for what it was. But… honestly, I’ve had a lot of fun this week. Even if you don’t like me much. But you can be really sweet when you want to. I don’t know, maybe I sound stupid. I just… wanted to know if we’re friends?” she finally said. Her heart eased as she got her question out.

Oscar relaxed and tried not to get too flustered as he sat himself next to Ruby, but not too close. He had already spilled his guts to Ozpin, what was one more person?

“You want to be my friend. Though I treated you like crap.”

“You’ve been helping me this whole time. I know...I felt like you didn’t really like me at all, but then I figured maybe you just like to keep to yourself.”

He didn’t hate her. At least, he didn’t think so. But he wouldn’t allow his mind to stray into forbidden territory. Those feelings, whatever they were had to stay tucked inside him for as long as possible. 

 “I don’t hate you,” he finally said. “I just wasn’t planning on making any friends while I was here.”

Ruby nodded in understanding. “You don’t have to tell me what went on between you and your grandpa, but I just want you to know that I… I would really like to get to know you better. I know that much.”

Oscar froze. “Me?”

“Uh… yeah. You are the only one here, right?” she laughed. “If you want to, of course. You can hang out with my other friends at lunch and during breaks. They’re a loud bunch, so you totally don’t have to if that makes you uncomfortable.”

Oscar didn’t know what to say.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” she laughed, trying to downplay the hurt in her voice. “I..I’m just gonna get my sister and go,” she said, standing up.

“No!”

The girl turned back, her eyes of silver on him. “No?”

“No...I mean, please come sit down.”

After she had seated, Oscar fiddled with his fingers, thinking of his next words. “I… I’m not good at articulating, or getting my point out there. I… don’t hate you. And I don’t think I ever have.”

“Really? A part of me thought I was a bit too out there for you…”

“No...you’re fine the way you are,” he managed. “You’ve only been kind to me since you’ve met me, and I tried to ignore that. Especially when I learned you had other friends. I didn’t think you’d want to be around me, because I felt you’d leave, eventually,” he muttered. “Pathetic, right?”

Ruby shook her head. “Not at all. Take it from me. I’ve been clinging to my sister for years, and even when I tell her off… I just feel like if I don’t have her...who do I turn to?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, finally meeting her eyes. They looked even more beautiful than they did when she first met him, even with the puffy redness around them.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m sorry too,” she smiled. It hit Oscar’s chest again as he recalled helping her in class, the band aid, the project, the soup… the cups at dinner. It truly dawned on him that this was something he couldn’t hide.

But she didn’t need to know that, right?

“So? Lunch with my friends on Monday?” she asked.

Oscar nodded, unable to say a word.

“And don’t worry, they’ll love you.”

They’ll love you? Did that mean she… she already did?

Oscar dug his nails into his arm, stopping whatever wild thoughts were running rampant in his head. 

“I… I don’t know how good I’ll be at socializing with them. I’m not that great around you,” he murmured.

“I think you’re doing just fine right now.”

The front door opened, and Yang strode out.

“It’s getting late. We should get going, Ruby.”

Oscar stood up, as did Ruby, as Yang made her way to her bike parked on the curb.

Ruby turned to Oscar. “Thanks for dinner tonight… and talking to me.” As she made her way to the sidewalk, Oscar gave her a small wave.

“Tell Mr. Ozpin we said thanks!” Yang shouted to him. The boy nodded, watching them as they sped off into the night.

As he headed into the house, the events of the night replayed in his mind. And now he had one thing to look forward to. Monday. With Ruby. Who he was friends with.

Oscar found himself watching TV on the couch, waiting for the old man. He showed up some minutes later, his hair even more unkempt than usual.

“They went home?”

Oscar nodded, not knowing how to address him.

“And they cleaned the dishes too. Wow,” the man murmured.

Oscar pretended not to hear the approaching footsteps as Ozpin sat on the sofa next to him.

“ Jeopardy ? I love this show,” Ozpin mused.

“I know,” Oscar sighed. And though his gaze was on the TV, Ozpin couldn’t help but smile at that remark. 

In all honesty, Oscar hardly knew the man sitting next to him. Why he had such an odd affinity for the color green and hot cocoa or why he acted like a mysterious wizard from a children’s story. 

But now he was presented with the opportunity to do so, if he decided to take it. But that discussion was for another day. 

Monday. The bell rang for lunch as students made their way into the cafeteria or off-campus for fast food. 

Oscar was currently following a peppy Ruby.

“Come on, you’re gonna love them.”

Oscar doubted that, but he still tried to keep up with her. 

Outside, students sat on the bleachers of the football field or sat around the parking lot. Oscar followed Ruby to a clearing next to the gym, where a group of people sat underneath a tree.

He felt a hand worm into his, before looking up and seeing Ruby’s bright grin looking down on him. “Is this okay?”

He nodded, unable to speak up. 

“Guys,” Ruby announced. The talking heads perked up at the sight of them. Oscar recognized two of them. Yang, Ruby’s older sister, and…

“Omigosh! Oscar Pine?”

Nora Valkyrie, from art class. She was the girl who kept trying to crack corny jokes with him at any available moment.

“Uh, yeah. Guys… this is Oscar Pine. Please be chill,” Ruby pleaded with them. 

Weiss stared at Ruby as if she had grown a second head. Blake eyed the hand that was clutching Oscar’s, and Ruby tried to ignore them both.

“All that protesting, for what?” Yang muttered under her breath.

Ruby ignored them, and instead turned back to Oscar. “You’ve already met Yang and Nora. The guy sitting next to Nora is Ren, Nora’s boyfriend. The blonde-haired guy is Jaune. The girl next to Yang is Blake, and Weiss is the judgy one.”

“Hey!” Weiss protested. “Well, it's nice to meet you, Oscar.”

The others made similar remarks and Ruby grinned, bringing Oscar to sit next to her.

“You brought lunch today!” she whispered when he pulled a sandwich out of his bag.

“I… I guess I did,” he muttered nervously, taking a bite of the sandwich. He just figured that it would be awkward if he was the only one not eating. And if he was eating, he didn’t have to think about Ruby’s hand in his. 

“So… Oscar. You could’ve chosen anyone in the school to befriend. Why Ruby?” Weiss asked, taking a sip of bottled water.

He wasn’t expecting to be put on the spot, and apparently, neither was Ruby. 

“Weiss, leave him alone!”

Oscar shrugged. “She’s… nice.”

Ruby thought the tree they were seated next to looked really nice right about now.

“Well, any friend of Ruby is a friend of mine’s!” Nora interrupted, slugging her arm around Oscar’s neck.

Secretly, he was glad for Nora’s interruption, as he was about to break into a sweat from Weiss’ intense stare.

Ruby glanced at him with sympathy, and he managed a smile back. 

This… this was nice. But he preferred being alone with Ruby. The less people, the better.

“How was school today, Oscar?” his grandfather asked. 

The boy sunk into the leather seat and stared up at the man. 

“It was fine.”

“Just fine? And Miss Rose?”

Oscar blushed, a deeper shade of red than usual. 

“She’s fine. She’s not my only friend, you know.”

“Well, I’m glad there are others.”

“If you’re trying to say something, spit it out,” Oscar sighed, as his grandpa pulled out of the driveway. 

“I’m not trying to say anything! I’m just happy for you, that’s all.”

“I have other friends, old man,” the boy insisted. 

“Oh, I believe you!”

The two rode in silence, until the old man opened his mouth again. 

“Homecoming is next month,” he reminded Oscar.

“And so?”

“Will you be asking anyone out?”

“No! I don’t even know if I’m going to that stupid dance, anyway,” he growled. 

“That’s a shame. I talked to Mr. Xiao-Long, and he told me just how excited his girls are for it. At least his kids try to have a little enthusiasm.”

“Ruby’s going to the dance?” he barked out. Ozpin met his red face with a knowing smile and Oscar inwardly cursed himself. 

“She is. But that doesn’t matter. You’re not going, right? So there’s no need for me to inform you about the proper ways to ask out anyone, if you chose to accompany someone, of course. 

Oscar did his little thing where he tuned his grandfather out, and turned his burning face towards the window. If he ever decided to do what his grandfather had suggested, he would not come to him first. 

Not like he was interested in dances, or Ruby, or anyone for that matter. But he would make a little mental note to text Nora for advice. 

Oscar hardly believed he did it. Here he was, standing at the Rose-Xiao-Long residence, in a suit, with a bouquet of roses. Millions of thoughts were running through his head, the first one being: Why? Why had he convinced himself to ask Ruby to the dance?

Well, it didn’t go like that really . But Ozpin passed the two by during school and said really loudly, “Oscar, remember to clear your calendar for the 15th. I’m chaperoning the dance.”

Ruby then turned to him, her eyes aglow. “Oh! You’re going to homecoming! That’s exciting, we can hang out with each other!”

Oscar glared at his grandfather who passed them by, and turned back to Ruby. He noticed the colorful displays and surprise band members popping up all over the school grounds, with people asking each other to the dance, but he wasn’t into anything too fancy. He would die on the spot asking Ruby out in public, and he was sure she would too. 

“It’s not that exciting,” he muttered to her, his gaze ripped away from her. 

Ruby faltered. “Oh, that’s okay.”

Damn . “That’s not what I meant,” he groaned, stopping in front of her. Ruby turned to him curiously. 

“Then… what did you mean?”

“I mean… I… I didn’t want to go to the dance… without you.”

There. He had said it, and earned himself a life full of teasing and embarrassment. 

“But Oscar, I am going to the dance,” she laughed. 

“No… I mean… I wanted to go… I wanted to go like Ren and Nora are going. Together ,” he finally said. 

Ruby stared at him for a minute, her expression unreadable. He assumed he had made a grave mistake and was prepared to start laughing loudly to cover up his stupidity. Then he would run to the bathroom and proceed to pass away. 

“Together,” she repeated. “This… is this your way of asking me to the dance?”

Oscar wanted to kick himself right then and there but there was no way out of this one. “I wish I could’ve done a big proposal, but… I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of attention. Uh.. should I have brought you a poster or something?” he asked, his voice small. 

Ruby shook her head. “No, people go all out for homecoming, but the proposals are usually more of a prom thing.”

“So… you’re not offended that I didn’t ask you properly?”

Ruby shook her head. “I actually prefer it this way. Less embarrassing for everyone involved. And it’s just a dance, it’s not like we’re getting married!”

Oscar stared up at her, but couldn’t say a word. As his friendship had progressed with Ruby, he didn’t turn away from her as much. He wasn’t much of a romantic person, but he liked to compare it to ice. His heart was encased in ice, that’s just the way it was. But around Ruby… it melted, just a little bit. He still became shy when she looked at him and he loved it when she smiled. If she ever held his hand or got too close, he would scoot away, otherwise she’d see her burning face, and that would be truly mortifying. 

“I’d be happy to go to the dance with you, Oscar,” Ruby grinned. She pretended to ignore the tidbit about going together like Ren and Nora, who were actually dating. It made her grin, but she wouldn’t call him out on it. 

Oscar rolled his eyes as his grandfather gave him a thumbs up on his way out of the car. They weren’t necessarily on good terms, but they spoke to one another. His aunt had called to check up on him and Oscar had hoped that she would talk to her father, but she hadn’t exactly worked up to that yet. That was understandable. 

He held the roses in his shaky hand, ready to face Ruby’s father. He wasn’t sure if he looked presentable, as he was just wearing a simple white dress shirt, a bow tie and dress pants. 

He rang the doorbell and tried to swallow his nerves.

“Who is it?” Yang’s voice came from behind the door. 

“Uh! Oscar!”

Oscar tried to grip the bouquet properly as Yang opened the door. The girl was clad in a glittery golden dress, her blonde hair in a high ponytail. Sharp orange eyeliner donned her lids, and clear lip gloss was swathed over her lips. 

“Y—you look very… very nice,” he stammered, not knowing where to look. 

“Thanks, Oscar. But you better eye Ruby when she comes downstairs,” the blonde laughed, letting the boy walk in. 

Taiyang was by the stairs, his arms crossed. He had neither a smile nor a frown on, but when he saw Oscar, his eyes lit up for just a brief second. 

“You look good, kid. Ozpin’s waiting outside?” Tai asked. Oscar nodded and Taiyang left, most likely to go catch up with his old friend. 

“Ruby! Oscar’s here and Ozpin’s waiting for us!”

“Coming!” came Ruby’s shrill voice. Oscar’s heart raced and he wasn’t sure why he was feeling so clammy. They were going as friends and nothing more. At least that’s what he was trying to tell himself.

He was practically trembling as Ruby descended the stairs. Her hair was slicked back, and she was in a long sleeved red and black dress complete with matching lace-up heels. She looked… different. Different good. 

“You look gorgeous,” Yang grinned, beckoning her over. Oscar stumbled, trying to find his words. Ruby thanked her sister and looked over to Oscar, who was a mess of nerves. 

What was this sickly feeling in his chest? Why did… why was he feeling this way?

“Oscar! What… what do you think?” Ruby asked, turning towards him. “My feet are aching, so I’m bringing my sneakers just in case,” she laughed. 

“I… I…” Oscar murmured. Come on, speak! Why was he suddenly shy and nervous, as if Ruby wasn’t his closest friend! He knew her, he liked her. 

That was it. 

He liked her? Is that why he was always a mess around her and his heart was always moving a bit too fast? 

“Ruby,” he finally said, ignoring Yang’s questioning face. “I think you look… great. Uh, you look really pretty. Those earrings!” he muttered, gesturing to her ears. “Really nice!” He thrust out the bouquet of flowers. “They’re for you.”

Ruby walked (more like nearly tripped) over herself to reach Oscar. In her heels she was even taller than him. 

Oscar let the flowers fall into her hands, nearly grazing her fingers. “Thank you. That’s incredibly sweet of you. And you look so cute as well!” Ruby grinned, and Oscar’s face for a shade darker. 

“Oscar, you can stop staring now. Let’s get going! Everyone else is waiting!” Yang cheered, heading out the front door. Ruby held out her arm to Oscar, who grabbed it.

“Let’s have fun tonight, okay?” she smiled. 

Oscar nodded, too afraid to say any words. He wasn’t used to this at all, so he felt extremely nervous. 

Outside, the night sky was brisk, and Yang was chatting with her father and Ozpin. 

“Are you… and him doing okay?” Ruby asked carefully. 

Oscar looked up at her. Ozpin… was Ozpin. There wasn’t anything sentimental about it. He wasn’t the same little kids years ago and Ozpin wasn’t the same doting grandfather from years past either. 

“Uh… it’s okay. I’m getting to know him better. He likes Jeopardy . And ever since he’s discovered I like casseroles, he’s been baking me them for lunch. It’s getting kind of extreme.”

Ruby giggled and Oscar looked down to the ground. “Sorry.. was I talking too much?”

“No! No, you’re good! I just… I’m so relieved that you’re doing okay. I’m glad you didn’t want to leave this place after all. I don’t know what happened with your grandfather, but I do know I want you to stay here. With me”, she smiled, hoping he got the message. 

“And I want to stay here. With you,” he decided. Ruby looked genuinely surprised.

He found the courage to say what he had always felt and he hoped Ruby would understand. She didn’t have to reciprocate any feelings. Just… he just wanted her to know. 

“I honestly had no idea what was keeping me here. Ozpin and I… our relationship is uncertain. I don’t even know…” He sighed, and was grateful Ruby was patient. 

“Ozpin hurt me and my aunt years ago. We’re slowly… healing, but I can’t say the same for my aunt. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here on out, and I don’t want to have to choose between my aunt and my grandfather. If I’m being honest, going back to the farm sounded like a plan. But… I realized how much I like it here with you. And Yang, and everyone else. And I’m sorry I acted cold towards you before. I’m… learning how to do better.”

Oscar could hardly believe the garble of worlds flowing out of his mouth, and watched Ruby’s eyes widened throughout the entire thing. 

“Oscar…”

“Kids, get in the car!” Ozpin shouted. 

“Thank you,” Ruby whispered sweetly, leaning down to Oscar’s cheek and brushing a kiss across it. The boy stood stick-still, the hairs of his arms standing up. Ruby pulled him along lightly, joking about how she was glad her father didn’t see the kiss, but Oscar was still surprised that she had even kissed him in the first place. 

He watched the taller girl ahead of him, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. 

No, thank you. 

Chapter Text

“Your freckles are like… the stars,” Ruby managed, her eyes observing Oscar’s features. 

Oscar pinked, turning his gaze downwards. “Like the stars?”

Ruby, carefully, reached for Oscar’s cheek with her thumb and carefully brushed his face. He was so pretty, she was in awe. 

“Ruby…” Oscar whispered, his blush deepening even further. 

“Sorry!” she gasped, retracting her finger. “I just meant that they’re pretty.”

Oscar didn’t know what to say, but he felt his heart swell. 

“I didn’t mean to shy away from you—but I wasn’t expecting you to say that so suddenly…”

They were new at this. 

Ruby sat up and scooted a little further away from Oscar on the sofa. She liked him a lot. But she couldn’t navigate her new relationship like her favorite book characters would. She didn’t know the right words to say or things to do. How to be alone with the person she liked. How to convey how much she cared. How to know what to say and what not to say. Neither Ruby nor Oscar had exactly grown up with good examples of romantic relationships, so they were left to navigate this new territory on their own. 

“Yang told me that if I didn’t know what to say, that I could focus on my favorite things about that person. Seems my compliment fell kind of flat,” she muttered, hugging her arm. 

Oscar frowned; not many people complimented his freckles . He loved Ruby’s choice of words… it was just that he felt awkward replying in kind.

But seeing Ruby look so crestfallen…

“I’ve always thought you had the coolest eyes ever,” he piped up. 

Ruby looked up, surprised. “Me? Well, I guess being part of a dying race of magical warriors would make my eyes stand out.”

“No…” Oscar shook his head. He mustered up the courage to look Ruby in the eye. “It has nothing to do with that. Your eyes are beautiful. Not just the color… the way brighten when you’re excited, or crinkle when you find something funny.” The boy swallowed, considering his next words. “I… I think they tell a lot. When you bottle everything up for the good of the team, you’ll tell me you’re okay, but your eyes tell a different story. They’re the most honest part of you, I think,” he whispered, his eyes wandering to the side. Immediately, Oscar regretted the garble of words that came out of his mouth. 

Ruby’s eyes watered. He had noticed that about her ? He thought her eyes were the window to her soul! 

No, Ruby, you've just been reading too many romance novels. 

But how did she top that? Was Oscar expecting a reply, or a modest refusal of the compliment?

“Thank you, Oscar. Seriously. I didn’t think… anyone would ever say those things to me. Ever.”

Oscar smiled a bit, but let the smile drop when he noticed the tears pooling in her eyes. “Hey… don’t cry.”

“No, no, I’m fine… I’m okay. I really… really loved what you said,” Ruby replied, wiping away her tears. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say.”

Oscar put his hand on Ruby’s. “You don’t need to say anything. I’m just glad… you feel the same way as me.”

Ruby smiled, a big grin on her face. She didn’t expect herself to ever be this excited over anyone. This new feeling was something that felt almost… tingly, something exciting, yet, very, very terrifying. 

Ruby picked up their conjoined hands, clasping their fingers together. “I like you. I like you because you make me feel… ecstatic. But you also know how to ground me when I get my head up in the clouds.”

Oscar’s heart nearly leapt out his chest. “And I like you, too. You taught me to look for adventure in everything. You inspired me. And… I also think you’re really pretty,” the farm boy murmured, the last part even more hushed. 

Ruby wasn’t sure if her face could get any redder, but she coughed and said, “I was going to say the same about you.”

Now their fingers were growing warm in their linked embrace, but neither knew how to let go first. 

“I’ll let go,” Ruby laughed. 

“No, I will!” Oscar insisted. 

“Yang’s right… we’re horrible at this,” the older girl snorted. 

“Yeah, if she saw us right now, she’d be so disappointed,” Oscar agreed. 

They eventually made the mutual decision to let go of each other’s hands at the same time. Oscar leaned up to Ruby and pressed his forehead against hers, his way of showing his affection. Ruby leaned into it, her eyes squeezed shut. She was almost afraid that if she opened her eyes, this would all be a dream, and Oscar would disappear in front of her. And if this was indeed a dream, she wanted to remain in it, for just a while. 

“The others will be back soon,” Oscar whispered. 

“I know,” Ruby replied, her eyes still shut. 

“It’s our night to cook.”

“Oscar, I love you, but please, be quiet,” Ruby sighed. 

Oscar tensed up just as Ruby did, when she realized what she said. Her eyes flew open and her head jerked back. I love you? 

She didn’t even mean to say “I love you”! At least not to his face!

Oscar looked like he hardly believed her words. “You… you love me?”

Ruby shut her eyes. “So I did say that aloud, didn’t I ?”

“Kind of? But if it makes you feel any better, I’ll pretend you never said it,” the boy offered. 

Ruby’s heart settled back into her chest. Good. They would just forget that last thirty seconds ever happened. 

“… But, if we’d rather not forget… I… I feel the same way,” he admitted. 

“You what ?” 

“I love you, too.”

Their faces grew warm. Ruby’s heart accelerated at his words, and felt her face. Someone had admitted they loved her . The funny feeling in her stomach was indescribable. After all this time of wondering when would be the right time to confess or how to let Oscar know how she felt… it turned out that he felt the same way. 

As for Oscar, he was too busy dissecting his thoughts to focus on Ruby’s mini panic attack. He had confessed to Ruby, for the second time in a month. Love. He loved her. Of course, he always loved her, but in a friendly way, as a dear friend close to his heart. Was “love” the right word for him to say? How did he show Ruby he really loved her? Was he too young to truly understand? 

“We’ll figure this out together, Oscar,” Ruby said, patting his hand. 

“Dinner?” Oscar blurted out, looking up to Ruby. 

“No, silly. Us. I don’t want us… to stress over what ‘I love you’ means. I know how I feel about you in my heart, and the rest is stuff we can figure out along the way.”

Oscar nodded in agreement. “I like that idea. A lot.” He wove his fingers into hers and held it again. 

“Now we need to figure out dinner.”

Ruby rolled her eyes. “So I hand you ingredients while you cook?”

Oscar stood up from the sofa. “As per usual.”

Ruby grinned and followed after him. She had to admit, after the confession, she felt lighter. Still a bit awkward, but lighter. At least she wouldn’t have to keep over analyzing every word she said to him. 

“Ruby, the mixing bowl!”

“Yes, chef!” Ruby saluted, running into the kitchen. 

She went through the bottom cupboard and pulled out the mixer and from her position on the floor and presented it to Oscar, as if it were a sword. “My liege.”

Oscar laughed. It was a lot more fun when they were just… them. The same old Ruby and Oscar, but a little different at the same time. 

“Thank you, brave knight. And as for your reward…” Oscar stooped down and brushed a kiss on Ruby’s head. 

The mixing bowl almost slipped out of her fingers. If it weren’t for Oscar hauling her up, Ruby just might’ve melted through the cracks of the floor. 

Chapter Text

“I wish I could be flung off this ride,” Weiss muttered to herself, turning her head away from the loving couple next to her. 

“Say RoseFest!” Ruby was cheering, holding out her phone to take a picture. 

“Come on, Weiss, turn around,” Oscar said, elbowing her in the side.

They hadn’t even started the ride, and Oscar and Ruby were already doing what most third-wheels despised: public displays of affection. 

They were at RoseFest, the three day festival celebrated when the roses in Ruby’s hometown of Patch, bloomed. The festival was Ruby’s favorite time of the year, and because of that, Weiss came to visit after her insistence. Yang and Blake stayed at home for the first day of the festival, so Weiss found that she was stuck with… them. 

“RoseFest!” the couple sang. Weiss finally turned around to see a picture of Ruby pressed to Oscar’s cheek with her own head sticking into the frame just a bit.

“I have… so many regrets,” she sighed, as the ride began to move forward. 

Ruby’s cheeks reddened as the seats began to make their ascent towards the top of the ride. She snaked one hand in Weiss’s, the other in Oscar’s. 

“I’m getting kind of nervous,” Ruby apologized, her voice strained. 

“It’s okay, Ruby. You said you loved rides, remember?” Oscar asked her. 

Weiss hadn’t gone on any roller coasters in her childhood, and she was also feeling a bit queasy. More from the public displays of affection than the ride itself. 

She wondered when Oscar (or Ruby) had gotten the guts to confess to the other. While she always suspected there was… something, she never imagined either of them actually asking the other out! 

Oh, why had she agreed to come to this festival with them? 

They reached the first peak of the ride and Weiss felt her stomach drop as the cart zipped to the bottom. She let out an unearthly yell as her head spun and her eyes watered. 

Ruby, on the other hand, seemed to get over her nausea quite quickly and screamed out of excitement. 

“Oh my—!” Oscar yelled, letting go of Ruby’s hand and gripping the seats. “ Aaahh!”

Weiss couldn’t tell her left from her right as she, Ruby, and Oscar screamed with the other festival-goers. They reached a dip and the ride zoomed right back up, giving Weiss no time to catch her breath.

“I think… I think I’m going to be sick!” Oscar exclaimed, gagging. 

“No! You’ll be okay, just stay close to me!” Ruby yelled back!

They were even doing this now? Weiss shared Oscar’s sentiment, and held her own stomach. Ruby told her that she should never look down on roller coasters, but she found herself eyeing the ground as they reached another peak. 

“Woo-hoo!” Ruby cried as they descended towards the bottom again. At this point, Weiss had nearly enough of the ride and just wanted to touch the earth. 

After what felt like forever, the ride came to a halt, and Weiss quickly unbuckled herself and stumbled out of the carriage. 

“That was awesome, wasn’t it?” Ruby asked, pulling herself out of her seat. Once out, she extended a hand to her frazzled partner, who looked like a mess. The ride had done a number on his hair. 

Weiss giggled as Ruby hauled Oscar out. 

“Hey, you were screaming too,” Oscar bit back. 

“Sorry,” Weiss apologized. Her stomach started to settle, but her head was still spinning. 

“What should we do next?” Ruby asked, her arm clutching Oscar’s. 

“Let’s take a break, please ,” Weiss sighed. Ruby turned to Oscar, who nodded his head in agreement. 

“Okay!”

Ruby skipped ahead, dragging Oscar along. Weiss sighed, adjusting her denim jacket and following behind them. 

Admittedly, she was proud of her friend for finding herself with a good person. Despite them being all over each other, she was glad that at least she wasn’t here with Yang and Blake. When those two started dating… it took all of Weiss’ strength to not lock them in a room and throw the key away. 

On second thought, maybe that wouldn’t be the best idea.

“Weiss! You want some rose lemonade?” Ruby yelled from her bench under a gazebo. 

“Yeah, sure,” Weiss waved, coming to join them. Patch was usually sunny or humid, and today, the island was humid. The pale girl peeled off her jacket, fanning herself.

Oscar left to go get the drinks, so the girls chatted to each other. 

“I’m glad you were able to come here with us, Weiss,” Ruby smiled. 

“Well… I didn’t want to be at home, so… this was my only option,” Weiss muttered, turning away from her friend.

“And… thanks for being so supportive of me and Oscar,” she murmured, turning away from Weiss. She picked at her fingers, as Weiss’ eyes grew wide. 

“Why… why wouldn't I be? You guys… are cute,” Weiss swallowed. Did she look too disapproving? Too judgemental? She loved Ruby and she loved Oscar. Maybe it would take some time to get used to them together , but she wasn’t grossed out by it, or anything. At least, that’s what she told herself. 

Before Ruby could reply, Oscar returned with two large plastic cups and bendy straws. 

“Oscar? You only got two cups,” Ruby asked quizzically. 

Weiss spotted the two straws in the cup before her friend did and nearly groaned aloud. Really? 

“Oh… I… I figured, maybe we could share? I’m not that thirsty… and…” the boy drifted off. 

The socialite rolled her eyes at the scene. Oscar’s face reddened as he sat next to Ruby and placed the cup in front of them. 

Ruby blushed, but tentatively took a sip of the drink. Oscar leaned down and did the same. 

“T-thanks, Oscar,” Ruby stammered. 

Weiss couldn't take any more of this. She took a loud slurp, almost giving herself a brain freeze.

“Geez, Weiss, we know it’s good, but you don’t have to be so loud!” Ruby chuckled 

“Thanks for the reminder,” the white-haired girl retorted. 

The blushing dorks were giving her a migraine, awkwardly sipping their drinks like that. In an attempt to clear her mind, Weiss turned around and scanned the fair, looking for their next activity. She watched with amusement as people screamed from the top of rollercoasters and played games for prizes.

“I’m going to the restroom,” she announced, standing up. 

“Oh, okay! We’ll be around here,” Ruby answered. Her friend pointed her in the direction of them, and the ex-heiress made her way there. 

After she was finished, she washed her hands and fixed her hair in the mirror. Rows of children in orange T-shirts came through the restroom, followed by stressed-out adults. 

“Okay, everyone, five minutes to use the restroom!” one of the counselors called. The kids let out eager whoops and screams, scrambling for the stalls.

“Kids, am I right?” the second counselor sighed, looking towards Weiss. 

“Haha, yeah,” Weiss joked. Waving to the counselors, she left the restroom in search of her friends. 

Now that she had regained a sense of mind, she tried to find her way back to the gazebo they had sat under. When she arrived, she found that neither Ruby nor Oscar were anywhere to be found. 

“Seriously? It’s been five minutes,” she growled. Pulling out her cellphone, she dialed Ruby. 

“Ruby? Where are you?” she asked.

Laughter came from the background. “You’re not too good at this, are you?” Ruby was saying.

“Ruby!”

“Aw, would you like to try again, young man?”

“Ruby!” Weiss repeated. 

“Sorry, sorry! We’re at the ring toss, Weiss! It’s a little ways from the place where we were drinking lemonade.”

Sighing, Weiss hung up and marched towards the booth games. She came across a boy in green and a girl in red at a purple-striped booth, attempting to win a stuffed animal. 

Weiss stood there, observing them.

“You really don’t have to do this, Oscar,” Ruby was saying. 

“No, I want to win you one. Please.”

“Aren’t you just a sweet young man?” the fair employee chuckled. “Hopefully you win something big!”

Weiss knew she could have done this easily and won Ruby a bear, rabbit, or whatever animal she wanted, but she wasn’t going to butt in. She was beginning to wonder if this was truly a friend hangout, or a date. 

Cocking her head curiously, she watched her friends before her. Ruby was standing close to Oscar, almost brushing up against him. The younger boy has sprouted a few inches, to where he and Ruby were nearly the same height. Weiss remembered Ruby agonizing about Oscar surpassing her in height one day and Weiss had to reassure her that Oscar wouldn’t dare to do so. 

Oscar tossed the first ring, and missed. He had four more in hand. 

“If you get three or more rings over the pole, you win a prize!” the carney announced. 

Weiss found herself hyping Oscar up, as he tossed the ring and made it onto the pole. 

“Yes!” Ruby shouted, shaking Oscar’s arm. “You did it!”

Oscar turned to look at Ruby, a big smile on his face. “Two more to go, then.”

He missed the next one, but got the last two successfully. 

“Choose your prize!” the employee cheered. 

“Well, Ruby, which one do you want?”

“Surprise me,” Ruby was saying. 

Weiss almost groaned out loud. She watched as Oscar selected a fluffy white rabbit the size of a grown dog and handed it to Ruby. “For you.”

“Oscar… thank you,” her friend sniffled. “You’re so sweet…”

Ruby sounded soft and shy, and this was when Weiss knew she had to intervene. She couldn’t be watching them be lovey-dovey all day. She put her jacket back on and walked over to them.

“Weiss, you made it back! Look what Oscar got me!” the younger girl exclaimed. 

“It’s super cute, Ruby. Now what are we doing next?” Weiss asked. The festival was in full swing, now that it was the afternoon. Kids on field trips, couples, and families of all sizes traveled the park grounds, in search of entertainment. 

Ruby was bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Follow me!”

Oscar stared after her in confusion, as did Weiss, but they soon followed behind Ruby, trying to match her pace. Their friend eventually stopped at a line for photos. 

“Aw yes, they still have it!”

“We’re taking pictures?” Oscar asked. 

“Yeah, it’s those cute ones where we stick our heads in holes. Last year, the photographer guy said that it wasn’t popular anymore so he wasn't going to bring it here, but I’m glad it worked out for him!” Ruby answered.

The three waited in line until it was their turn, before sticking their heads into one of the holes. Weiss had no idea what character she was posing as, just that she had to crouch down for it, as did Oscar.

“Say cheese!” the photographer instructed. 

“Cheese!” Ruby and Oscar shouted. Weiss was more half-hearted. 

The photographer handed Weiss their pictures at the end, and Oscar was the head of a green-scaled mermaid, Ruby was a pirate, and Weiss was… a crab. 

“A crab?” Weiss asked, puzzled. 

“Aw, we look so cute!” Ruby laughed. Oscar posed, tossing back his imaginary locks. “I think I’d make a pretty good mermaid, am I right?”

“Of course you would, you’re the prettiest person I know,” Ruby cooed. Oscar blushed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “R-really?”

“Y-yeah! You are…” Ruby stammered. 

“Okay! Let’s go on another ride, shall we?” Weiss asked, hoping to break the awkwardness. 

“Uh, sure! Actually, I have to go to the restroom first!” Ruby announced. She looked nervous, as if she was anticipating something.

“Oh! So do I… that lemonade…” Oscar trailed off. Weiss narrowed her eyes. They even used the restroom together?

“Fine,” she groaned, as Ruby handed over her stuffed animal. “What ride do you want to meet at so you know where to go?”

Ruby glanced at Oscar. “Merry-go round?”

“That’s hardly a ride, Ruby…”

“We can go on another rollercoaster if you’d like afterwards,” Ruby was saying, as she and Oscar walked away.

 Weiss was beginning to wonder if Ruby and Oscar were too absorbed in themselves to hang out with her, but that wasn’t possible. That would be unlike either of them. 

Pushing her thoughts aside, she tried to make her way to the merry-go-round, asking a young man for directions. 

“Excuse me, do you know where the merry-go-round is?”

The passerby had shock-silver hair and a cocky grin that made Weiss immediately regret posing the question to him. 

“Of course, gorgeous. It’ll be near the gates of the front entrance,” he smiled. 

Weiss put on a smile, just for show. “Thank you.”

To her surprise, the man pulled out a rose out of nowhere and handed it towards her. “Enjoy RoseFest.”

“Uh… thanks…” she laughed nervously, taking the rose from the man. He waved at her as she passed by, making her way to the gates. 

Now Weiss had a few crushes, flings here and there, and a whole truckload of suitors, but that didn’t mean she was ever prepared for their advances. Sometimes she just wanted to be approached like a normal human being. She was beginning to regret coming to Patch more and more every second. 

“At least he didn’t try to ask for your number, Weiss. Be grateful.” He was nice enough. 

After what seemed like ages, Weiss found her way to the merry-go-round. (She got lost multiple times and had to ask for directions again).

Weiss stood there, expectantly, waiting for her friends. She watched a couple share a rose-colored desert and a man on his knee proposing. 

“We’re back!” Ruby sang, rushing up to Weiss. “Hope you weren’t waiting too long.”

“Nope,” Weiss replied. And just their luck, the last group of people had just left the merry-go-round and now they could all board together. Ruby, like a child, clambered for a chestnut-colored horse with a silver mane, while Weiss chose a white steed. Oscar got stuck sitting on a bench with a little boy because he gave up his horse to a younger kid. 

As the ride slowly started, Weiss took a picture to send to Blake and Yang. She noticed Oscar craning her head behind him, where Ruby was on her horse. 

“You could’ve come and sat with me!” he was yelling over the ride’s jaunty music. 

“I’ve always liked the horses, though!” Ruby giggled. Weiss tried to ignore the pressing eyes of parents who were probably wondering what three teenagers were doing on a merry-go-round. 

Holding on to the pole as the carousel picked up the pace, Weiss looked out at the fairgrounds around her. This festival was really pretty, and it was nice of her friends to invite her with them. She had to admit… it was sort of… fun? 

Eventually, her noble steed came to a standstill and she hopped off the horse, just as Ruby did. Weiss led the charge in front, while her friends were whispering behind her. 

She caught snippets of “Now?” and “Yes!” and wondered what on earth they could be talking about. 

“What ride are we going on next? Weiss asked, turning around. To her surprise, Oscar was hugging Ruby's side.

“Uh… this is new,” she nodded impressively. Oscar was silent, while Ruby was chuckling nervously. 

“Uh, yes, yes it is,” Ruby answered, letting Oscar go immediately. “There’s this one ride, it’s not that scary. Let’s go on it next!”

Weiss felt like she was looking after a bunch one kids, but followed Ruby and Oscar to the next ride. On the way there, she made a mental note to buy bobby pins in case her hair fell out of place again. 

Soon the Patch afternoon turned into evening, the sky turning orange and pink. People were starting to head home, leaving their trash strewn over the fairgrounds. 

Weiss had heard from Yang that on the third day of the festival, there was a musical performance and at the end, the audience was showered with rose petals. She had to admit, she was excited to see that. She was sure it would be beautiful. 

They had stuffed themselves with cotton candy and pretzels, rode on rides until they felt queasy, went bobbing for apples and played games. 

The trio were heading for the entrance of the fair, hot and sticky, when Ruby yelped, “We need a picture before we go!”

“Ruby, we’ve taken pictures all day,” Weiss reminded her, ready to get in a shower. 

“Yeah, that’s true… but, just one more, please ? One of all three of us, and then one of just me and Weiss, then me and Oscar, okay?”

“Fine,” Weiss sighed. She took out her phone and joined her friends. Holding up the camera, she said, “Smile!” They all grinned as Weiss took the shot. 

Oscar took a picture for his friends, after several attempts because Ruby somehow ended out of the frame. 

Lastly, Weiss took her phone to take a picture of Ruby and Oscar. They stood close to one another, Ruby clutching Oscar’s arm. 

“Okay, on the count of three! One, two, three—“

As Weiss clicked the camera, Ruby had somehow reached Oscar’s lips and planted a big smooch on it. Weiss nearly dropped her camera, only coming out of her shock when some passerbys whistled and clapped. 

She narrowed her eyes, watching as Ruby grinned at Oscar. “You’re so cute,” she cooed. 

Oscar had no words, but hugged Ruby anyway. 

Oh, yeah, she was definitely the third-wheel here. And it was making her sick to her stomach. She had put up with their awkward stares, mushy hugs and affection all day. And she wasn’t opposed to love, no, in fact, she embraced it. But when she was faced with the two most embarrassing teenagers on Remnant, that was a different story. 

Suddenly, all the food she ate felt like coming up her throat. They walked outside the fairgrounds, Ruby looking for a cab to hail. 

“… Are you okay, Weiss? You don’t look too good,” Oscar asked, his face full of concern. 

“I’m… I’m fine, Oscar. Just great,” she gulped. 

Was it the two hot dogs she ate with mustard? Or was it her friends? Maybe she would never know. All Weiss knew was that she needed to get to bed and rest before tomorrow. In fact, tomorrow was bound to be worse if she was accompanying Yang and Blake and Oscar and Ruby. Was it too late to call Jaune to tag along? 

Weiss spent the rest of the car ride thinking of excuses to avoid the next day’s festivities.

“Poor Weiss,” Ruby whispered on the ride home. “I told her that eating hot dogs before a ride wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“We can get her some tea when we get back,” Oscar muttered back. 

“I can hear you two,” Weiss groaned. They were right next to her after all.

“Sorry,” they mumbled. 

“We did it! Now pay up!” Ruby moaned, slamming her hand on the sofa. 

“Weiss hates you two?” Yang snorted, looking up from TV. Her eyes widened at the giant stuffed rabbit Ruby was clutching. 

Oscar nodded. “Sure does.”

The person in question then flung open the front door, her eyes dark and glowering. 

“You two… make me sick. I’m going to bed.”

Blake, Yang, Oscar, and Ruby watched in slight amusement as Weiss trudged up the stairs, and winced when she slammed the door shut. 

“Wow. You two are good,” Blake whistled. 

“Here’s your cash,” Yang snickered, pulling out her wallet. 

“We’re never doing anything like this again, agreed?” Ruby asked Oscar. Oscar nodded, his face still slightly red after remembering their kiss. 

“You two would make a cute couple you know,” Blake suggested, leaning her head back on the couch. 

“No way, it’s too high maintenance,” Ruby snorted. “Oscar and I had to keep going to the restroom just to recover from being in character the entire time.”

“Yeah, I kinda understand how Weiss would find this annoying,” Oscar shrugged, before rubbing the back of his head. Ruby handed him his cut of the money, and he pocketed it, adding, “I don’t know how you two do it.”

Yang turned to face them. “You don’t have to be all lovey-dovey in public to show that you’re a couple. You don’t have to do anything at all. Just... do your own thing. However you want to show the other person love is what matters, not how other people view your relationship.”

Ruby squinted, while Oscar looked thoughtful. 

“.... Right. Hey, you wanna go play video games?” Ruby asked, turning to Oscar. 

“Uh, yeah, sure, but don’t we want to go to RoseFest early tomorrow?”

“Come on, like that would ever stop me,” Ruby exclaimed, marching upstairs. Oscar followed her, giving into her wishes. 

“Do… do they realize that they’re going to have to keep this up for the next two days of the festival?” Blake asked. 

“They’ll figure it out eventually. I’m just having fun watching Weiss squirm,” Yang chuckled, her eyes glued to the TV. 

“Well, I’m having fun watching those two dance around their feelings for each other,” Blake replied, turning her attention back towards the screen. 

“We’re horrible,” Yang remarked. 

“Oh yeah, the worst,” Blake agreed. 

Chapter Text

As the portal began to shrink, Ruby flew out, landing in the sand. The day was dipping into afternoon, the hot sun casting its rays onto those who dwelled beneath it.

“Wait, Yang? Blake, Jaune, Weiss? Ruby? You’re alive!” Nora screeched out. There was a cacophony of laughter and screaming. Yang found herself tackled by Nora, Ren and Jaune were in a tight embrace. Weiss was crying, her sister whispering apologies into her hair.

“Yang, Ruby!” Taiyang’s voice rang across the desert.

“Dad!” Yang called, escaping Nora’s clutches to reach her dad. Ruby was helped by Qrow, who said nothing, but hugged his niece tightly. 

“Blake!” Sun burst, tackling his friend. “You’re back!”

“Oscar,” Jaune said, relieved, quietly approaching his younger friend. Oscar felt tears brimming in his eyes. “ Jaune,” he sighed, gripping his taller friend in a hug. He didn’t know what Jaune had encountered… wherever they were, but he knew that having to sacrifice Penny must’ve taken a toll on him. He looked exhausted, as if he had aged years. 

“It’s okay. You’re safe. You’re back,” Oscar nodded, patting his friend’s back. He felt warm tears stain his coat, causing his own eyes to water.

Weiss was tiredly explaining what had happened right before Raven opened the portal, while Yang and Ruby were with their own family.

“Mom. Thanks for the portal. Getting us out and everything,” Yang shrugged. She was too tired to be bitter towards Raven. She was just glad to be out of Ever After and with everyone she cared about again. The blonde glanced up and found Blake smiling at her. Cheeks pink, she winked, causing her girlfriend to giggle back at her. 

“Oh, that’s new,” Taiyang laughed, trying to lighten the mood. 

“Yeah. I confessed first,” Yang smiled. Blake sidled up to her, grabbing her arm. “Ha, ha. We confessed at the same time. Hi, Mr. Xiao, Long, I’m Blake.”

“It’s great to finally meet you,” Yang’s father smiled. The pair were then pulled away by Sun, who seemed to still be in awe that they had all made it out in one piece.

Taiyang looked over to his youngest, who hadn’t said much since their arrival. 

“I’m glad you’re okay, Ruby,” he said softly, patting the girl’s hair. She had dark circles under her eyes and her face lost color. Her lips were cracked, dry. Now, all the girls and Jaune looked the worse for wear, but Ruby was the only one who was withdrawn to herself, which was unlike her.

She wasn’t okay. None of them were. But they were all too overwhelmed with seeing each other to even think about Ever After. But not Ruby. Her mind was still stuck there. It felt as if her soul were still there. 

But what could she say? Where to begin? Taiyang sucked in a breath and pulled Ruby in for a hug.

“Ruby, look at me.”

The girl lifted her head. Her dad said nothing, just stared into her sunken eyes.

Ruby held his gaze, feeling her father’s fingers gripping her arms.

“I know right now you want to be brave, but I think it would be better if you’d just show me how you really feel.”

Tears were already coming down her face. “Dad…” her voice broke. Soon, she was hiccupping, sobbing in her dad’s arms. His embrace was strong, secure, telling her he would never let her go.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, baby girl. It’s okay, alright? I’m so sorry... I’m so sorry that you had to do this. Any of this.”

Over on the other side, Oscar watched Ruby with concern. “Is… is she going to be okay? Are any of you okay? I mean… what happened down there?”

Blake gripped her hands together. “It’s… it’s a lot. And we’ll tell you all, we promise.” Blake looked around. “We all feel a burden, a responsibility for what’s happened over the past few months. And…we’ve internalized it, making it seem as if the bigger failures of the world were solely of our own personal faults.”

Oscar thought of Ironwood. He understood what Blake meant perfectly.

Weiss looked downcast. Yang stayed by her side, holding her close. Jaune, still teary-eyed, stayed silent beside Ren and Nora. 

“Ruby is probably internalizing it more than any of us. With her eyes, and her mom, and the Relic… and we’re all just… really lost right now,” Blake sighed. 

“But, we have to believe that we can do more. We can’t just stop now, when we have more people behind us now, more than ever,” Blake said, nodding to team SSSN and Emerald. “Stopping here, giving up… we can’t do that. Salem may have had the upper hand on us this far, but as long as we have hope for humanity, and hope for ourselves… we can win. We have to.”

There was a silence, before Yang broke out into a cheer. “Yeah, go Blake! Great motivational speech!”

“ Yang, ” Weiss snorted. 

Ruby, still in her father’s arms, didn’t want to speak. Iit was just nice to pretend she was a little girl again, cocooned into her dad’s warm embrace, protecting her from the shadow monsters. 

“Dad, I’m sorry f-for leaving home,” she hiccuped. 

“Oh, Ruby, don’t apologize. You take after your mother like that. Running off to do your duty. It’s what great Huntresses do. I should be apologizing. I’m so sorry I didn’t follow you.”

“You must think I’m dumb for running off, huh?” she sniffled, shifting away from her father.

“I would never think that. Ruby, what you’ve done, what all of you have been through, is much more than any normal Huntress or Huntsman has been equipped to do. You’re saving the world, even if you don’t see it,” he father nodded, reaching to swipe a bit of Ruby’s hair further to the side.

“B-but Beacon, and Atlas—”

“Were not your fault. Ruby, look. No matter what, you and your friends can’t blame yourself for what happened in Atlas. You were all doing your best with what you had, and that’s okay. What’s going on right now, it’s war. And unfortunately, not everything can be smoothed over peacefully. But… right now, what’s important now is that you’re here, and with us.”

Ruby wasn’t sure how much of her dad’s speech she believed, but she didn’t want to think too much of it. Instead, she decided to take a deep breath and wrapped her arms around her dad’s torso. “Thank you for being here.”

“Of course. I think… I need to stay here. Stay here and fight. It’s no good for me to be waiting at home while my daughters fight the greatest evil ever known.”

That made her smile.

“There she is,” Taiyang grinned, watching Ruby stand up. The girl walked up to her uncle, who was talking in hushed tones to his sister. When she approached, Raven started to back away.

“Wait, Raven. I… I… I just wanted to say thank you. For getting us out of there. I know you don’t want to get involved in all of this. So… thanks.”

Raven sighed, shuffling her feet. “Look, kid—”

“Ruby.”

“Yes, Ruby. Look, as much as I wish I could stay out of this, since half the world’s destroyed, I don’t really think I have that much of a choice. Where is my tribe gonna stay if Salem keeps taking over everything?”

For a second, Ruby’s eyes lit up. “So you mean… “

“Shhh, don’t get too excited. Nothing’s confirmed yet. And don’t tell your sister. We’re not exactly the closest mother-daughter pair, are we?”

Ruby offered a half-smile, before turning away from Raven and Qrow. She watched as her father joined them, and again, wondered how different things would have been if her mother were still there.

 Everyone else was still buzzing, excited to see one another. She scanned over the view, until her eyes reached Oscar, sitting alone on a dusty rock. Right when her eyes landed on him, his head perked up. He gave a shy wave.

Ruby shuffled over to him. 

“Ruby… it’s so good to see you —”

Oscar hit the ground with an oof . It took a couple seconds to realize Ruby was hugging him, her head pressed against his chest. He felt the sand in his hair, tickling his ears, but paid it no mind.

“Sorry, Oscar,” she muffled from on top of him. “It’s good to see you too.”

The girl scrambled to get off of him, pulling him to his knees. “Our hug got interrupted last time so… I figured… y’know,” she mumbled, her face reddening. 

“Yeah. I… I was horrified when I heard what happened from Winter. She… we all thought you were gone. And…we didn’t know how we could possibly get you back unless we had a Relic… and… are you okay ?” Oscar asked again. He knew it was a stupid question, but the tears were welling up again and he didn’t know what else to say without sounding like a complete idiot.

Ruby looked at him, weariness evident in her face. 

“Can I get another hug, please?” she asked, her voice breaking. “I thought I was okay, but…”

Oscar didn’t hesitate, wrapping his friend in a hug, as tight as he could without causing her discomfort.

“Ruby… do you want to talk about it?”

“No,” she said into his shoulder. “Can we just stay like this? For a bit?” she asked, her voice cracking.

Oscar wasn’t sure why him , but he was happy to oblige. The voices around him seemed to be drowned out by the sound of Ruby’s heartbeat. His thudded against her clothing, beating out of nervousness. Part of him wished he could hug all her worries away. But this wasn’t just any worry, it was anxiety. He saw it on everyone’s faces. Winter, when she realized she was the Winter Maiden. Emerald, when getting to know everyone, also learned how much she had hurt people, and how much people have hurt her. Nora when her leader first disappeared, and how she was the one holding Ren when he would cry at night. When Taiyang and Qrow would blame themselves for what happened, and though he pretended not to hear, he knew that they wished the whole “Salem business” had ended with their generation.

He saw it whenever someone mentioned Atlas around Weiss. Or Penny, around Jaune. When Yang remembered how she would rather die in an unknown abyss than let her sister come in after her. When Blake wished she could be everywhere at once, and wish she hadn’t lost so many people she cared about. She was scared of losing any more people, now more than ever. 

“I’m really glad you’re back with us. Thank you ,” he responded, squeezing his eyes shut. 

“Oz… do you wish any of this was different?” Oscar wondered. The warm Vacuo breeze tossed his brown hair and hushed his voice so no one could hear. 

Of course,  I do. We all wish things were different, that doesn’t change anything, does it?

Oscar knew that. Obviously, no one wanted to have their lives threatened every day, seemingly wandering around in circles.