Chapter Text
Two more hours.
Rue glanced up from her desk to check the clock on her bedroom wall. It was almost eight, still two more hours until the inner barrier went up. She let out a tired sigh, turning away from the homework she had been miserably working on. Her wooden chair squeaked a little as she shifted, her muscles protesting and stiff. Leaning back on her chair, she found a position that took the pressure off her sore muscles. Not exactly great for finishing her homework, but maybe she could just savor this for a moment.
A surprised shout came from outside her bedroom, followed by the sound of heavy footfalls rushing to the kitchen. Rue considered getting up to check out what was going on but decided she didn’t feel like moving right now. There was always something going on in this house and it was exhausting keeping up.
“Rue!” Her mother’s voice came through the door, causing Rue to sigh. Just when had gotten comfortable, too. “Rue, Dill just said his first word!”
“Mooom, I’m busy with homework here!” Rue called back through the door.
“Just come out for a moment to see-” Her mother suddenly cut herself off. “What do you think you’re doing…” Her voice trailed off as she stomped towards the kitchen, her attention apparently on someone else, probably Rue’s younger sister. Rue breathed a sigh of relief; it seems she was saved. For now, at least. It was only a matter of time before she got bothered by someone else.
Growing up with a large family wasn’t something that quite suited Rue. Not that she resented them or anything, but she needed space, time to breath. There were too many people in her life that needed too much attention. In a way, the four hours of monster fighting each night almost felt like a break. Sure, it was physically exhausting and often left her bruised and aching, but it was her me time. No bothersome people pestering her, no annoying assignments and chores looming over her. Just her, the monsters, and one satisfying explosion after another. She wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sharp teeth… around her head… closing in… sinking into her-
Her breath caught. She blinked, trying to put the image out of her mind, when suddenly she felt her balance shift, as her chair leaned back a little too far. She was tipping, falling-
The force of the explosion rocking her- the light of it briefly blinding her- her heart skipping beats as she tumbled and fell- absolute panic, arms flailing, blindly trying to grasp for anything-
Rue barely managed to grab the edge of her desk, pulling hard, tipping the chair and herself forward at the last moment. There was a sharp sound as the front legs of her chair hit the ground and the impact rattled her. Her breaths came out in frantic puffs, her other hand pressed against her pounding heart. A cold sweat washed over, making her shudder in the seat. For a few seconds she just sat there, shaking and trying to take deeper breaths.
I’m scared.
Rue shivered. She was no stranger to the risk of being a solo, but she couldn’t deny last night had shaken her. Cornered in an alleyway, woozy from her healing potion, with no room to safely blast her way out. Another second, and she would have thrown her explosive, and at best would have been knocked unconscious right next to a monster ready to kill her. It was chilling to think about, and her hands clenched nervously at the thought of going out again tonight.
Only two more hours until I have to-
Rue shut her eyes. She didn’t owe it to anyone to go out and fight. Even her parents would be happier if she stayed home, rather then going out alone. But responsibility was never the reason she went out for patrols. She fought because she needed the time and space away from everyone and everything that could bother her. It was a time where she could really let go of it all, and just relax her mind a little and be comfortable. It really helped her deal with a lot of the things going on in her life.
But…could she really be relaxed out there, after what happened last night? Usually she looked forward to patrol, even with the scrapes and bruises, but now it felt like she would have to force herself to go out again.
As soon as she admitted that to herself, Rue froze. A new, unpleasant feeling in her throat made her swallow, as she stared blankly at her wall. If going out was going to be stressful and scary from now on…where in her day was her chance to breath? Would everyday just be non-stop stress? She…she wasn’t sure she could deal with that, and-
Rue realized her breathing had gotten erratic again. Taking another deep breath, she steeled herself. She was just a little shaken tonight. This would pass. Soon, she told herself, soon she’d be back to normal, maybe a little more careful.
But jeez, she really hoped Zoe would call already.
She got out of her chair, slowly drifting to her bed and flopping down on top of it. She had been so very lucky that Zoe had shown up when she did. But on top of likely saving Rue's life, Zoe had then proceeded to bail her out of two more awkward social situations. She barely knew anything about Zoe, but that girl had her back.
Zoe had so quickly gotten into her good books she’d almost think it was some kind of conspiracy, if it wasn’t for how convoluted and silly that would be. No matter what anyone said, she wasn’t a conspiracy theorist grasping at any idea put in front of her. She just saw what should have been obvious if people didn’t blindly trust the government so much. Although for some reason she felt like blaming her teacher, Miss Cable, for all this. That teacher was always trying to set up people who she thought could be friends to meet, sometimes in really strange ways, like she thought they were in some kind of story or something.
But that aside, the idea of someone else having her back out there on patrol was a comforting, tempting thought. The thought of someone else intruding on her alone time made her hesitate, but Zoe so far had proven to be pleasant. As strange as it was for her to be thinking this, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to work with someone out there. She had once told her parents that a girl’s powers said something about them, and that her own powers were saying I can handle this, so give me some space. But as she considered the events of last night, and remembered the burns from the first rooftop explosion, she considered maybe her powers had another message. If I don’t have a little support, I’m going to hurt myself.
That was a little uncomfortable to think about, so she turned her thoughts back to Zoe. She flipped over on the bed to lie on her back and considered what she knew about the gray-haired girl. She was registered but didn’t seem to be in it for the money or fame. Rather, she seemed to fight because she thought it was her responsibility or something. Clearly the girl had some issues, but her heart was in the right place, and Rue hoped her words last night had helped Zoe realize that. On top of that, though, Zoe hadn’t pressured her into registering, even when the conversation steered very close to it. She wasn’t sure yet, but she felt like Zoe wasn’t one of those girls completely sold on the government’s idea of a magical girl. Maybe, just maybe this could work out. Maybe she could still have her chance to breath.
That is, if Zoe called. Rue didn’t have Zoe’s number, so it was on the shy girl to be the one to reach out. It was getting late, and Rue was starting to worry. Zoe had been nervous about being a bother by calling. A chuckle escaped Rue’s lips. If only she knew how much of a bother she was being by not calling!
One hour and 55 minutes left…come on Zoe, please call…