A/N: So, my first posted story... I've been reading fanfics for a while now, and I wanted to contribute something to the site and people who write for it. I love writing, so any constructive criticism or new story suggestions are welcome!
I know that Ruby Redfort is a children's book series, but I don't think I'm quite out of its age range just yet! ;)
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"Clancy!" Ruby screamed, writhing around on her bed, tangling herself in the sheets. "Clancy! Clance, no!" Her shouts became sobs, and stopped altogether when she felt a cool hand on her shoulder, gently holding her down whilst the twisted sheets were pulled away. "Sh,ssh, Rube..." Clancy Crew murmured as he worked at the knots in the blankets - she'd gotten really worked up this time. "C-Clancy?" The girl sat up slowly, her eyes never leaving her best friend. She grabbed his hand, gripping it hard, and pushed off the covers with her other hand. "Yeah, it's me Ruby." Clancy smiled. "You ok?" He asked. Ruby nodded.
"Sorry." She looked away sheepishly; a very un-Ruby like thing to do.
"No problem." Clancy wasn't sure if he should stay, or return to the guest room, where he'd been staying for the previous week.
"Why are you in my bedroom, bozo?" Ruby sniffled.
"You called me."
"Oh."
Clancy got up to grab a pillow, so he could stay in Ruby's room for the night, but Ruby's vice-like grip tightened on his arm. "Stay?" She whispered.
"Always." Clancy answered, wrapping his free arm around her. "You're stuck with me, buster." Ruby giggled a little through the tears, before leaning into her friend more and attempting to slow her breathing. "Sorry." She muttered again, embarrassed. After a couple of moments of silence, Clancy spoke up. "You wanna talk about it?"
Ruby seemed to consider the thought. "We were on the roof. The one at the Eye Ball, 'member?" She sniffed again. Clancy nodded; he wasn't going to forget what happened on that rooftop in a hurry. "'Cept this time," She continued shakily, "Buzz didn't just knock you out... She... She said..."
"Sh, hey Rube, don't worry, you don't need to tell me if you don't want to." Clancy murmured, quickly regretting his offer when he saw how distressed she was getting. He could barely watch.
"Said I'd... Made her life hard... And I'd made her suffer... So she'd make me suffer... By-" She stopped abruptly, and Clancy foolishly noticed that now he actually wanted her to carry on. "By hurting you." Ruby finally carried on her story. "She was hitting you, and st-stabbing you, and then she shot you and-" She dissolved into tears again, but Clancy new it was meant to be a good sign that she had gotten it out in the end. "Hey, hey..." Clancy stroked her hair awkwardly, trying to reach a tissue on the bedside table as he did so. Eventually, he got one, and passed it to her nervously. She accepted it without complaint, wiping her eyes hurriedly, and blushing as she became more aware of the situation. "We're safe." Clancy murmured, unsure of how he could offer comfort to her. "Buzz is dead, Loreli's dead, the Australian's dead..." He froze, focusing all of his energy into resisting the urge to flap his arms.
"You're right Clance." Ruby sat up, reaching for the blankets. "Sorry."
"Don't apologise, it's not your fault." Clancy tried to keep his voice steady. "It's ok. Everything's ok." He lied. Because everything was not ok. Because the Australian, and Buzz, and Loreli may be dead and gone; but there was still someone who was missing. Someone who would want him dead, were he in the position to be planning revenge.
Because the Count's body was never found.
...
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it! It's meant to be a one-shot, but if anybody has an idea of where the story could go, I'd be happy to try and write more.