A/N: I didn't want to write a whole other story for Ruby Redfort, so instead I'm working on some one-shots based around something I really love exploring - Ruby and Clancy as young adults! This is set about ten years on from the books, I think; Ruby and Clance are in their early twenties. Enjoy!
...
"Are you mad?"
"Just a few more minutes."
"A few more-" Ruby Redfort broke off mid-sentence as she whirled around the corner, firing off a few shots before returning to her hiding spot behind a shipping crate. "A few more minutes?" She repeated incredulously. A bullet whizzed past her ear and she fired again, ignoring the pinging of bullets hitting her temporary shield. The boy beside her spoke quickly and quietly.
"Do you want to go back to HQ and face LB empty handed?" He murmured tersely, concentrating more on the computer in front of him than his surroundings.
"If it's between - going back empty - empty handed and - not - going back at all-" Ruby grunted, pushing and pulling another crate into place as a sort-of blockade. "Then I think I'll choose facing the wrath of LB."
"Of Froghorn."
"Of Hitch." They both winced. Letting Hitch down was easily the worst kind of failure.
"One more minute." The boy said firmly, looking up for a moment. Ruby looked into the eyes of her best friend, Clancy Crew, and almost laughed. When had he turned from her nervous, albeit clever friend, to her fellow secret agent? Although he specialised more on technology than field work. And in the past few years, they had practically swapped roles - he'd grown to be more confident and determined, whereas she'd learned to be more cautious and wary. They definitely weren't kids anymore.
"Done!" Clancy grabbed a disk out of the computer and waved it precariously in the air for a second. "Done. Done, let's go!" He made shooing motions at her with his hands and she rolled her eyes, grabbing his arm and pulling him against the wall.
"You know the way?" She muttered under her breath, scanning their surroundings carefully.
"Uh..."
"Don't answer that, I don't like where it was going." She held up a hand to stop him. Eyeing the nearest way out - a brilliantly convenient fire exit - she stepped forward.
"You seriously think I'd forget to memorise vital blueprints for a Spectrum mission?" Clancy grinned teasingly.
"Well did you?" Ruby stared at him, raising an eyebrow. His smile vanished.
"On three." Clancy stepped over in the direction of the fire exit too.
"Bozo!" Ruby breathed disbelievingly.
"One." She closed her eyes and focused, effectively tuning out the racket of the shipping containers being shot to pieces behind them.
"Two." Clancy bounced slightly on the balls of his feet, ready to run as Ruby provided cover fire, and then provide cover for her in turn. Once outside, escape should be easy - they just had to make it that far. Clancy's right hand twitched a little and he tapped his fingers against his leg nervously to keep them busy.
"Three."
...
A/N: I wasn't sure about the computer part, since this is pretty much set mid-eighties, but it should be ok, right? Also, don't worry about Rube and Clance - in my mind, they both survive; I just didn't feel the need to carry this on for any longer. We can all imagine how awesome they'd be in escaping and getting back to Spectrum! ;)