Rose Garden (Ruby X Oscar): First Kiss
The waterfalls of Mistral hummed white in the distance. He could feel the warmth radiating from her, and saw the moon reflecting ever so perfectly from her silver eyes like glass. In such pale light, Ruby Rose looked absolutely ethereal. As they inched closer to one another, Oscar seemed to have completely forgotten of the disembodied voice in his head. The one known as Ozpin seemed to have fallen completely silent, and Oscar gratefully embraced the solitude.
Her breath smelled of chocolate…
His lips met a sudden softness, hazel eyes opening rapidly to see that he had been paused by Ruby's fingers, thin but rough from ware. Their gazes met, silver orbs squinting up at hazel ones as if the contact put them in physical pain.
"I'm sorry." Ruby muttered dropping her hand. Oscar's heart sank.
"D-Did I do something? If I did just tell me. I never wanted t- "
"No, it's not you I promise." Ruby's gaze fell to the stone walkway beneath their feet. Her hands intertwined with one another, quiet and reserved. The moon no longer reflected in her gaze, but sadness instead.
"It's just… there's so much going on in the world right now. Things and people that are making it less of a safe place." Oscar caught her clenched hands tightening. "We've lost… a lot of people close to us. And some of us have suffered terribly from those losses." She laughed, hollowly. "And here I am worrying about whether or not you- "And before thought is processed, her sentence stops.
The two were left in a sad silence, dark shadows of the city street slowly creeping in. Oscar wondered if Ruby felt as discouraged as he did, not just at the sudden interruption, but at the tragic truth behind it all. Here were two children with the weights of responsibility thrust upon them, and as the world expected them to take action, here they stood precious hours of youth ticking away as they both yearned for nothing more but closeness between the them.
But alas, what were two children to do?
"I'm so sorry." She repeated shaking her head. "But there are things we need to settle first. That I need to settle first." She looked up at him, desperately. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Oscar nodded.
"I do." In that moment, Oscar had no recollection of the world around him. The truth of Ruby's words rang in his ear, but the moon called to him louder and clearer, beckoning him. He knew well should he not follow through, the moon would surely set, perhaps never to be seen again. His strides are swift, and she blinks.
All at once, Oscar is suddenly made incredibly aware of how chapped his lips are when he presses them against Ruby's, both of which share a softness to something like rose petals. His worn glove presses ever so gently against her cheek and for a moment he silently curses not being able to feel her skin.
After no less than a beat, Oscar slowly withdrew, both his breath and Ruby's being lost to the wind.
"Just in case I never get that chance again." He smiled, cheeks reddening under the moons gaze, under her gaze. Ruby smiled as well, as the aura between the two shifted from an air of disappointment to that of a tranquil peace.
They both walk back to their hotel, side by side. Not a word is uttered, nor is one needed.