Hey guys! First OUAT FanFic, very exciting. :) This takes place pretty much anytime after "Child of the Moon" and "In the Name of a Brother". Ruby/Whale, 'cause I just love them together. ;)
Sitting at one of the tables in the chilly air outside of Granny's, Ruby stroked her red cloak, feeling the silky fabric with her hands.
"I thought you got rid of that."
"Oh!" she jumped, spinning around instantly. Finding a familiar face, she laughed. "Dr. Whale, it's only you. You scared me!"
"Sorry," he said, laughing himself. "What about...?" He gestured to the cloak.
"Yeah, this," Ruby muttered, tossing it back and forth from one hand to the other. "David dropped it off this morning, I guess for me to get rid of. I haven't had to use it since I gained control again." Dr. Whale sat down across from her, placing his elbows on the table and resting his head on his hands. Ruby laid the cloak on the table and sighed, thinking of when the wolf in her was a burden. "I was practically a monster before he helped me."
"You weren't a monster," Dr. Whale interjected quickly. "Just because you lost control, just because there was nothing you could do, it doesn't make you a monster. You've never been a monster." Instantly Ruby realized the parallels in her situation to Dr. Whale's.
"Oh, Dr. Whale, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean-"
"It's fine, it's fine. I wasn't talking about myself." He leaned back in his chair, his arms dropping to his sides. He was now more relaxed, and enjoyed the girl's company. "And please, call me Victor." Ruby exhaled in relief; the last thing she wanted to do was offend Dr. Whale-er, Victor.
"Alright Victor." Her lips curved into half of a smile. "So what do I do with this?" She pinched the cloak between her pointer finger and thumb and lifted it up, letting it dangle above their heads. "Burn it? Cut it up?"
"It might look nice as a tablecloth," Dr. Whale joked, grabbing it from her and demonstrating his idea. She laughed, and Dr. Whale privately congratulated himself.
"Am I crazy?" Ruby solemnly asked, out of the blue. Dr. Whale paused, hoping he did not have to answer the inevitable question every male wished a female would never ask him. "Am I crazy for wanting to keep it, just a little bit?"
"Not at all," he replied straightforwardly, glad she had completed the question before he had given an answer. "Of all people, I should know. Sometimes we want something, even though it's bad for us. We want to believe that something good can come out of it." He rubbed his eyes, thinking of his brother, and the monster he had created out of him. "But, Ruby, sometimes we have to let go." The last two words he said barely above a whisper, leaning towards her so she could see the sincerity in his eyes. A refreshing burst of cold air brushed over the two, and Ruby pulled her red and black checkered jacket closer towards her.
"You're right," she said decisively. "You are right!" She stood up, taking her cloak with her. A smile spread across her face, and she looked down at the doctor. "I'm going to destroy this thing!" Ruby took three steps forward, her black boots clicking on the pavement, until she realized Dr. Whale was not following her. She looked back at him, to find him sitting in his original position, his eyes staring down at the table. "Aren't you coming with me?" His eyes flicked up to her immediately, and then a smile spread across his face. Wordlessly he rose and joined her, handing over the scarf he was wearing tightly around his neck.
"You looked cold," was the explanation he offered when she looked at him with a confused expression. She grinned and put it on, regardless of the fact that it completely clashed with her outfit.
I'd really like to continue with this story, but I only will if my readers want to hear more! Please review, and tell me if you'd like to hear more of the story. Thanks!