On Thin Ice
Chapter 14: Letting go for new beginnings
Ruby had never felt so alive since she woke up from her frozen tomb. Finally was the woman able to focus on the future. No longer did she have anything tying her to her past. Despite the hurt of losing her son, Ruby had drove that anger into what finally needed to be done. That was taking down the Institute. Once more she was back on the road with Hancock trailing not far behind. She felt like she had more of a purpose now. Pulling off her dark tricorn hat, Ruby raked her fingers through her hair, pulling it out of her face briefly before setting her hat back down on top of her head. The breeze from the cool September air had almost chilled her to the bone. The summer had been long and hot but it was good to feel fall welcoming them back once more. Turning her gaze back over her shoulder Ruby's hues looked over at Hancock's form. He never lost that swagger when he walked. Even when he wasn't paying attention the Mayor would swing his hips with each step he took. That red frock blowing up behind him as the wind caught it. Getting the sense the woman was gawking at him, he turned his dark charcoal eyes over to her, giving her a warm smile.
"Can't get enough of my handsome face can you." Hancock laughed.
"Nope, never enough." Ruby returned with a warm smile.
The woman turned herself forward, continuing on the path in front of her. She was hoping to unite all of her settlements together to help bring in more forces against the Institute. While the numbers in the Castle weren't bad, any extra help anyone was willing to offer would help their cause even more. It was all about strategy, they were to slip in fight their way over to the Nuclear plant that had supplied the Institute with power and plant charges to blow it up from the inside. It was going to be the only way to take care of them. Ruby didn't like it, but to end this once and for all, it was what needed to be done. She was willing to make that sacrifice for her people and the people of the Commonwealth. Slowing her pace, she noticed that the sun was beginning to set on the horizon. Looking back over her shoulder she gazed back at Hancock, who had immediately stopped walking when she did.
"It's beginning to get dark out, let's set up camp." Ruby recommended.
"Good call." Hancock nodded.
The pair began to look around for a building to call home for the night when Ruby found a seemingly abandoned cave. Calling Hancock over, she stood at the mouth of the cave cradling her rifle in her arms.
"What do you think about here? I never spent the night in a cave before." She chuckled.
"Any ghouls in there?" Hancock's brow lifted.
"None but you." Ruby giggled.
Reaching over, Ruby slung her rifle over her shoulder and pressed the light button on her Pipboy. The screen lighting up the small cave. Not a single creature had laid claim to it. Much to the woman's relief. For all she knew the cave could have been home to a very hungry Yao Guai but the bear would of immediately attacked the moment she had approached the mouth.
"I'll get a fire started." Hancock suggested.
"Sounds good, I'll gather any supplies we need for the evening. Meet you up here in ten?" Ruby inquired.
"Yup."
"Alright."
Ruby wandered away from the mouth of the small cave. Pulling her rifle off of her shoulder, she once again cradled it in her arms, keeping her finger off the trigger until she needed to use it. Walking down the roadway a bit, her eye caught sight of a small run down shack on the far edge of the road. Trotting her way over to it, she brought her rifle up close against her shoulder. The woman sunk down to her knees and snuck over to the doorway, her hues looking around her surroundings. Slowly the woman peered around the corner, seeing the small shack had no inhabitants. Standing up to her feet, she took immediate notice of a sink full of fresh cut Mutfruit. Slinging the rifle over her shoulder once again, She took a few of the fruits, leaving some of them left over in the sink. Ruby trotted out of the worn down shack and back down the roadway, following the small pathway back to the mouth of the cave. Hancock had already had the fire going when they met back up.
"Damn you work quick." She gave him a small smile. "I found some Mutfruit." Ruby held out the large pieces of fruit, offering to give Hancock what he wanted.
"Thanks love. These look good." He rumbled, taking one of the fruits out of her hands. Moving over to the mouth of the cave, the woman set down the rest of the fruits down by their small pile of supplies. Turning herself, she took a step over to Hancock's side and sank down, sitting next to him.
Hancock set the fruit down in his lap, reaching over her gently took Ruby's left hand into his own, stroking her soft fingers with his thumbs. That's when it hit him. She wasn't wearing her wedding band, she always wore it.
"Hey. I noticed your not wearing your wedding band." His eyes gazed over her form.
Taking her free hand, Ruby had pulled off her tricorn hat and set it down beside her, raking her fingers through her hair. Not answering the woman gently cleared her throat and pulled her left hand away from him.
"I… well.. Hmm.. About that.." The woman began stammering.
"Shoot." Hancock pressed.
Taking a soft breath in. Ruby pulled herself back up to her feet. Walking over to the pile of supplies near the mouth of the cave. The woman zipped open her pack and pulled out a small bag that she had inside of it. Walking back over to Hancock's side she slowly sank down next to him, pulling her feet under her. Gently reaching over, Ruby had placed the small velveteen bag into Hancock's hands. A weak smile nervously spreading her cheeks.
"What's this?" Hancock inquired.
"Open it up.. I was hoping to wait until after we had attacked the Institute to give you this but I guess this is as good as anytime." Her voice wavered.
Hancock held the bag in his hand, almost cradling it. Obviously it had meant a lot to Ruby. Moving his fingers, he opened the bag up and flipped it over, gently spilling the contents out into his palm. Two silver rings jumped out. One big enough to fit his finger, and the smaller one for her. He knew exactly what it meant.
"I.. I know it might be a bit early in the relationship to be thinking about this.. Kind of…". Hancock immediately leaned close to Ruby, cutting her off mid-sentence with a deep kiss. Cupping her cheek, he gently pulled back, searching her dark hues. She seemed nervous still.
"It.. Its not marriage by any means but take it as my symbol of commitment Hancock. I made these rings when I felt like I was able to finally let go of my past.. I want you apart of my future." Ruby's hues gazed up at him, her brows raised.
"Yes love. Of course." Hancock smiled brightly.
Ruby looked immediately relieved. Taking the smaller ring, Hancock gently held up her hand and slid the small silver band around her ring finger. It was a perfect fit. In turn, Ruby took his band and slipped it over his own finger. How Ruby managed to figure out his ring size blew his mind but the craftsmanship was something he never seen before. Jewelry was a rare commodity out in the Commonwealth.
"Making jewelry was a side hobby of mine before I got married." Ruby laughed.
"Nothin' can compare love." Hancock returned the smile, reaching up and running his finger over her scarred cheek gently. Ruby tipped her head into his hand, gently nuzzling her cheek against it. Without hesitating, the woman then moved herself closer to him, pulling off her navy jacket and laying it down beside them. She straddled his lap and began kissing his neck. Hancock groaned a bit, moving his hands around to her sides and hugging onto her tightly.
"Good timing." He laughed.
The Mayor moved his fingers slowly up under her white shirt feeling her smooth skin shiver under his touch. He could feel her breathing hitch every time he touched her. Leaning close to her face, he pressed a gentle kiss on her lips. Ruby returned it, her arm reaching up and slowly pulling off the Tricorn hat that ever adorned his head. Hancock moved his hands away from under her shirt and reached up, cupping the woman's cheeks. Breaking off the gentle kiss, he cradled her close.
"Ruby."
"Yes?"
"You are beautiful." Hancock smiled warmly.
"Thank you." The woman's cheeks began to grow red.
Leaning close once more, the Mayor pressed another gentle kiss on her lips, shrugging off his red frock with Ruby's help. This night was looking to be more like a fun night romp in the woods then an evening to rest. The thought made the Mayor smile.
#
The woman's muscles ached, screamed and groaned every time she took a step. She felt tired, yet when she looked over her shoulder, Hancock stood behind her, smiling as wide as ever. Not an ounce of pain showing on his face. The damn Mayor got lucky. Sighing outwardly, she turned herself to face him.
"I don't get it."
"Get what." Hancock frowned.
"Our romping around last night, and I am the one who feels like crap." Ruby laughed.
The frown immediately melted off the Mayor's face, being replaced with a smile.
"Well, you signed up for that when you got together with me." Hancock chuckled.
"Not complaining….much." Ruby gave him a warm smile and turned herself back around.
"Sure." Hancock laughed from behind her.
"One of these days.." Ruby dropped her voice.
Walking down the road, the woman held her rifle close to her, keeping the gun cradled close to her form, her finger always hovering over the trigger. Her tricorn hat doing a good job keeping the sun out of her eyes. When she initially aquired the Minutemen General's outfit, she insisted on not wearing the hat thinking it looked dorky. Yet the more the woman had felt like she was honestly making a difference in the Commonwealth as General, the more she grew to like the hat. Walking up the slight hill, she had finally made it back to Sanctuary Hills, Hancock not trailing far behind. Turning herself back around to face him, her hues softened.
"I wouldn't of thought we would of made it back so quickly." Ruby tipped her head.
"I could of swore you would of taken double the time with how slow you were walking love." Hancock cackled.
"Shhhhhh." Ruby snapped, a playful smirk tugging at the side of her lips.
"Jeeze I figured I would of never seen you two again." A voice called out a bit of a distance away.
Ruby turned herself, her dark hues immediately caught sight of an old tan tattered coat and fedora.
It was Nick
Slinging her rifle over her shoulder, Ruby had immediately relaxed and trotted over to the old Synth, nearly knocking him over with a hug. Chuckling, Nick immediately returned the embrace, patting the woman's back briefly before she pulled away.
"Nicky.. It's been some time." Ruby smiled brightly.
"Yes it has.. I was wondering if you were ever going to come back." Nick gave the woman a soft grin.
"Got…caught up with duty.. You know how Preston can be." The woman chuckled.
"Ah yes, I hope he is well?" He inquired.
"Yeah, he's doing good."
"I heard that you made it into the Institute.. You ever find your son?" Nick pressed.
The air immediately felt heavy. Ruby lowered her head and swallowed hard before looking back up at her old friend.
"He.. uhm.. He didn't make it Nick." Ruby sighed.
"Ahhh.. Ruby I'm sorry.." Nick's voice immediately dropped at the news
Feeling arms wrap around her tightly Nick had gave her a supporting hug, Ruby appreciated it. It was going to take time for the burn of Shaun betraying her to slowly fade away. But now was the time to look forward and no longer mourn.
"He's with his father now Nick. That's all I can really ask for." The woman sighed.
The old Synth slowly let go and took a step back, only nodding at what the woman had said. She was right and had seemed at peace with the loss of her son.
"We're taking down the Institute.. I could use your help back at the Castle." Ruby changed the subject, her hues brightening.
"Count me in." Nick beamed.
"Good."
Authors Note:
Hey all! I am so sorry for the long wait. I ended up going up to Canada for 3 weeks for vacation so I had been away from my computer. I am back though! Hope you all didn't miss me too much. I am currently working on chapter 15, update might be a bit slow (Not 3 weeks slow I promise you that) as I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Thank you all for the love!