Ruby walked about his house like it was her house, but it was far from being hers. She was just a visitor there, just a friend that came to care for him, a friend who brought him meals, a friend who held his head when he cried, took his hands when they trembled, laughed when he laughed, and kissed his lips to mend the sorrow.
"I brought you your favorite." Ruby mentioned as she shut the curtains in his study. He'd been busily looking out of the telescope when she'd arrived, but she went straight to the kitchen to make up a tray for them.
Jefferson hummed his approval, leaning back in his chair, feet propped up on the futon. "Grilled cheese?" He asked, realizing his silence could be misunderstood as rudeness.
"With an extra pickle." Ruby replied, with a grin on her lips. She sat down on the edge of the chair, offering him the tray.
"Sit." He scooted to the side, making room for her on the chair with him. She settled down beside him, the tray sitting on top of both of their laps.
Ruby turned, noticing the cravat still tied around his neck. "Were you out today?"
"I went for a walk."
"By the playground?" She asked, taking a bite of her hamburger. Licking her lips as she looked at him.
He picked at his grilled cheese, nibbling on it like a mouse. "You know me well."
"No I don't." She responded, strangely cheerily. They were both aware of how little they knew each other.
"I know." He took a bite of the samwhich, smiling up at her with adoration. "Thank you for bringing me food."
Ruby gave him a wolfish grin, leaning towards him a kissing him. She chuckled, "Sorry, I forget you're a vegetarian."
Jefferson shrugged his shoulders, eyes darting to her lips. He didn't mind the hint of meat on her lips, the warmth of her thigh against his, the scent of the forest in her hair. He sat up, taking the tray with him, moving to sit it on the futon. "You smell good." He murmured as he wrapped his arms around her in a hug.
Ruby chuckled, pulling back from the hug and untying the cravat. Their eyes met and he slowly unbuttoned her blouse, revealing the scar that curved across the heave of her chest. He knew why Red Riding Hood had that scar. Ruby didn't know.
Their nightly ritual involved worshiping those ghosts on their skin. Ghosts of memories remembered and forgotten. He could never erase the pain in her eyes, the remembrance of Peter that she could never grab a hold of in her mind. She could never replace the agony in his soul about losing his daughter, no matter how hard she tried.
The Big Bad Wolf and the Mad Hatter.
He laughed, breaking apart from the kiss. He stroked a finger across his lip, "Sorry." He smirked up at her, enjoying the look of a pout on her lips. "Ah, ah. We don't pout."
Ruby pushed him back against the chair, like a wolf going in for the kill. "I'm trading my dinner for you."
"I am in your debt." Jefferson chuckled, pushing back dark locks from her eyes. She wasn't his wife, she didn't replace the pain, she merrily numbed it. This wasn't love, this was filling a void. Trying to fill a void. But never quite succeeding.
