On Thin Ice
Chapter 7: Rivers to Lakes
Here she was, Ruby was beginning to feel herself grow restless. Laying in her bed, alone inside the very house she used to call home. Now it no longer felt like home. Her family was gone. Everything was gone, but her. Her fingers slowly reached up to the gashes on her face. They grew itchy, everything felt itchy. Was this the itch Hancock had talked about? Not so much a physical problem, but more of a mental one. The feelings of restlessness, lack of sleep, everything tingling. It was beginning to drive her nuts. Throwing her covers off of her small frame, Ruby stood up from the bed and slipped a pair of shoes onto her feet. Not bothering with the laces, Ruby dragged herself out of her room and sauntered out of her old house. The gentle breeze causing the raw metal to creak and groan. The woman certainly needed a better set up eventually. Perhaps Ruby just needed to take a walk. She felt like to much was floating around in her brain, to much that wasn't allowing her to rest. Ever waking moment she spent up when she should have been sleeping was another chance Nick could use to yell at her about it. Yet instead of deciding to avoid the old bot in hopes he wouldn't scold her on her poor choices. She decided to seek him out, talk with him and hopefully ease her mind.
Ruby made sure to keep her footfalls quiet in respect for everyone sleeping. Her hues gazed around the neighborhood, it wasn't until she caught a soft glow coming from one of the sides of an empty house. That glow from the cigarette lit just bright enough to show the outline of Nick's trilby hat.
"Gotcha.." Ruby whispered to herself.
Nick wasn't one to really want to sit around in one place for to long. The old detective often found himself sitting on one chair then migrating to the wall to lean up against, back to another chair. Ruby wondered why Nick always seemed so anxious. The Synth immediately caught the movement of Ruby's small frame and pulled himself off the wall of the house. Taking a long drag of his cigarette, he lowered it, blowing the smoke out slowly. Those golden eyes piercing the darkness, right at Ruby. Holding in a sigh, Ruby slowly stepped out of the shadows and up to Nick.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping? It's rather late." Nick lightly frowned.
"I.. cant sleep actually." Ruby sighed.
"Something on your mind?" Nick's tone softened immediately.
"A lot, I feel on edge, perhaps a bit confused." Ruby leaned up against the side of the house, crossing her arms in front of her.
"Well don't keep me in suspense."
Ruby sighed once again. Closing her eyes she reached up with both of her hands and rubbed her temples, some of her dark hair draping down into her face. Dropping her left arm to her side, Ruby raked her fingers into her hair and pulled it back out of her face biting at the back of her lip. She felt uncomfortable.
"Your gashes are healing nicely Ruby." Nick broke the silence. This was an old detectives tactic he commonly used whenever someone was nervous. You broke the silence with an off hand comment, get their mind off of whatever was that was bothering them. Hopefully then they would relax enough to speak.
Ruby subconsciously reached up and touched one of the gashes on her cheek. She hated the way it made her face look, but this was who she was now. There was nothing she could do to change it. And with that the tactic worked. Ruby nerves had sizzled. Looking up at Nick, her dark hues searched his golden eyes.
"It feels like I'm doing something wrong, you know. It feels like I've been disrespecting my late husband by.. By feeling this way." Ruby finally broke her silence.
"How so." Nick gently pressed.
"Since my travels with Hancock, I've noticed that I've been growing a fondness for him. I mean I didn't really plan to be attracted to the guy, or let alone anyone when I came out of that damn Vault.. I mean.. I.." Ruby's brows rose up, searching Nick's glowing hues for any type of answer.
Nick's hand lifted back up to his mouth, taking another short drag of the cigarette before it lowered back down, The old detective looked down at the ground briefly before back at Ruby, yet he didn't answer quite yet. He knew she had more on her mind.
"I.. I mean do I spend my time and energy dedicated to finding Shaun or do I allow myself to live life a little.. I.. I don't know what to do.." She sighed, her arms crossing once more over her chest.
"I think you have to answer that on your own Ruby, You won't be disrespecting your dead husband by allowing yourself to live your life. It is up to you, how you want to spend that energy. That is a choice you make on yourself. Just know that none of those are the wrong choice." Nick reached up and placed a supporting hand on the woman's shoulder, a small smile spreading acrossed the Synth's worn face. He could see the worry melting away on Ruby's face. Her eyes looked more quiet.
"Thanks' Nick.. You certainly know what to say." Ruby chuckled.
"Anytime." Nick gently patted Ruby's shoulder, then pulled his hand away.
Ruby gave Nick a gentle wave goodnight and turned herself away from him. Burying her hands into her jacket. She stopped in her tracks on the broken pavement, her dark hues closing for a moment. Taking in a deep breath, the woman once again opened her eyes and dragged herself back to her house. Slipping into the doorway, she closed it behind her. Her hands reached up and zipped off her leather jacket and tossed it over her worn down couch. With a clear mind, Ruby could feel sleep tugging at her, beckoning her to go back to bed. Using her hands to keep her stable, the woman stumbled over to her room and slid into bed. Her eyes growing heavy just moments before she dozed off into a deep sleep.
#
The sun just barely peeked over the horizon, but at the right angle a beam of light hit Ruby right in the eye. Immediately flipping over in bed, the woman reached up, absently rubbing her eyes. Half expecting for Codsworth to come floating into her room, Ruby leaned up, slowly pulling the tangled blanket off of her legs. Frowning softly, her feet hit the cold floor, a shiver ran up her back. It was still awfully brisk outside. Ruby had hoped she would of gotten a bit more sleep this morning. That not being the case, Ruby slipped her feet inside her boots. Still feeling barely conscious, the woman shuffled herself out of her room, rubbing one hue with the palm of her hand. With that same hand, Ruby brushed some stray tresses of hair out of her pale face. Yet she was immediately met with the gaze of someone in her living room.
This someone wasn't Codsworth like she had been expecting, but actually Hancock. The Mayor had made himself at home, on her couch. It was to early for her to really want to interact with anyone other then her robot. The last person she honestly wanted to see was Hancock. She looked like a mess and hadn't even prepared herself for what she would say to him, if she even decided to tell him of her growing feelings. Yet despite all of this, the way Hancock brightly smiled at her, his dark eyes welcoming and warm had slowly changed her mind on that last thought.
"Good morning, sunshine." Hancock pushed back the front of his tricorn hat a bit. That Ghoul's smile growing even wider.
Ruby couldn't help herself from chuckling softly. Damn the fact he was so fucking charming. Brushing off his compliment, Ruby waved her hand.
"Hardly sunshine. More like a roasted Brahmin." Ruby cackled.
"Hey now. I call it how I see 'em." Hancock's voice tightened, almost sounding offended.
Yet that smile never left the Mayor's face. Ruby walked over to the counter in her kitchen, leaning up against it. Her dark hues darted over to the sink. She still remembered the day the bombs fell. It was quiet, Nate had teased her about wanting to go to the park again. Shaun wouldn't stop crying and Codsworth had done all he could to help. Yet the news came, and her world shattered. Pulling herself away from the thought, Ruby drummed her fingers against the counter just briefly before pushing herself off of it.
"I need to get out of here." Ruby muttered, only loud enough Hancock could hear.
"What do you mean?" Hancock stood up, his brows raising. Walking over to Ruby's side, he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Ruby didn't immediately respond. Breathing slowly in, her dark hues gazed up at the Mayor, searching his face for any answer, any clue. What did she want in her life? Ruby didn't know for sure. She just needed to get out of Sanctuary and settle in a new home. Somewhere far away, perhaps closer to the castle. It just needed to be far away from her old home and her old life and her old memories.
"I'm tired of living here Hancock. Seeing everything in this state has been.. Hard on me. I think settling somewhere else will help me move forward." Ruby broke her silence.
Hancock pulled his hand away from his shoulder and crossed his arms in front of him, leaning against the kitchen counter. A dopey grin grew acrossed his face, his eyes inviting.
"Well.. You could always live in Goodneighbor." He suggested.
"I'd.. love to take you up on that offer, but I'm looking for more of a place all of the companions I've been dragging around with me can also call home." Ruby raised her brow.
"I hear you." Hancock almost looked a bit disappointed. Pulling away from the counter, he moved closer to the couch, obviously debating if he wanted to sit down or remain standing.
"Your not.. leaving are you?" Ruby blurted.
Ruby then heard a deep laugh escape the Mayor's lips. "No.. no I aint skipping out on you."
"Oh.. Good." She muttered to herself in relief.
"So… where are you thinking about setting up camp?" Hancock turned himself, a bright smile had spread acrossed his face once more.
"Kingsport Lighthouse." Ruby beamed.
"Want me to come?"
"Of course!"
