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“If you turn around and bite me,” said Kelly. “I’m gonna hit you with this holy water shit.”
Ruby hunched deeper into the water, resting her chin against her knees. The long, angry red scratches were livid, shining on Ruby’s pale back like a teacher’s correction marks on a school assignment. “I don’t know if it would do anything,” she said. “Normally I heal right up. Just one more thing Ba’al’s taken away from me.”
“Poor baby,” Kelly said. But she did feel sorry for Ruby. She’d never seen her look so helpless.
Her hand lingered upon Ruby’s back. Ruby inhaled sharply, her breath faltering slightly. Beside her, the shampoo bottle seemed to melt and ooze. By the time Kelly had blinked, the bottle was suddenly solid again. She turned her attention back to Ruby, who kept her arm tight around her knees. Kelly washed her back and under Ruby’s arms, then lingered upon her chest. A purr came from the depths of Ruby’s throat, but she made no remark.
The next time Kelly looked at it, it was as solid as a rock.
“Yeah, well, be happy – you’re not missing a limb.” Kelly reached down into the bath and pulled out a well-soaped sponge. Ruby didn’t fight her as Kelly finished bathing her. Then she washed her hair, a process that made her groan several times out loud, causing Kelly to smirk.
Then she patted the cuts dry. “Looks fine,” she said.
Ruby checked herself over in the floor-to-ceiling mirror next to the sink. “You’re a good partner,” Ruby observed.
Behind her, the wall rezzed out. Kelly tried not to notice as Ruby stood up in the tub, her eyes glimmering wickedly.
The scene reset itself. Wherever Ash was right now, Kelly thought to herself, as she bent toward Ruby and pressed their lips together, he’d better be putting reality back to right.
But not yet.