Chapter 35

Cobblair stood, the cold water tickling the edge of their ribs. Panting from the exercise they had been engaging in for the past half-hour, they trembled with glee. Wet curls hung over their mismatched eyes. Orbs that saw everything. With a flex of their arms, Cobblair turned them into weapons: one was a bazooka, the other a rocket launcher. The metallic scent and weight were enough to confirm the reality of the sight. Cobblair cackled in delight. Eyes sparkled bright. "Wow!" Their voice was a bit more feminine than it had been before. "I could never do this before!" The voice then deepened as their facial expression became one of smugness. "No surprise. Together, we are unstoppable."

With a grunt, Cobblair bent their arms again. Skin, muscle, and sinew replaced metal, rubber, and fuel. Grinning, Cobblair hopped up and down in excitement. As they did, their form dissolved into the water. The clear blue became a thick mud. Then, the mud gathered at the edge. Right where the ladder was. Two arms sprouted from the muck, seizing the bars. The moment they did, they solidified. Hoisting itself up, a humanoid figure exited the pool. The mud trailed magnetically behind it. Sustaining it. The figure watched, fascinated, as its form stabilized. Globs of the sludge trailed over Ruby and Oswald's clothing, dragging them along. Colors returned. A shape took hold. Mud dried into flesh.

Cobblair grinned down at themselves. Whistled. "My, my." The more masculine voice drawled. "Fusion has such peculiar fashion taste." Much like the first time, Ruby and Oswald's attire had fused almost as well as their bodies had. Oswald's silk trousers, now slightly wrinkled, rested snugly on Cobblair's feminine hips. Above, the fine jacket was draped over Ruby's Star Wars seatshirt. The acquamarine necklace rested snugly on their collarbone. Hugging themselves, Cobblair reached up and shook some of the moisture out of their hair. Catching a reflection of themselves, they let out a childish giggle. "You look cute with your hair soaked in chemicals." The voice deepened as it chuckled. "As do you." Their embrace tightened.

A loud clunk echoed across the damp chamber. Cobblair spun towards it. Icy-blue and indigo eyes widened at the shadowy figure behind the door, waving a flashlight through its glass screen. Panic grabbed Cobblair by the throat. Distracting both parties. There came a flash and twin grunts. Oswald and Ruby hit the tiled floor in opposite directions. Wincing and rubbing their heads, they pushed themselves up. They looked down at themselves, then each other. Dozens of questions cropped up in both of their minds, but approaching footsteps forbade them from being spoken. Only one word made it between them: "Hide!" Ruby scrambled to her feet. Grabbing Oswald's outstretched hand, Ruby pulled him to his feet and handed him the cane. "Let's go!" She whispered.

"Agreed." Oswald hissed. He felt in his pocket. Yep, it was still there.

They shambled towards the exit, grateful for the dimness, when a sudden flash illuminated the door's glass windows. "Make sure you cover the entire perimeter!" A man shouted.

"Oh, for the love of-" Oswald gave Ruby a push. "Go! Hide!"

Ruby looked back at him worriedly. "But-"

"Do not worry." Oswald assured her. "I will spring when the oppurtunity arises." He waved his hand at her. "Away with you!"

With a groan, Ruby crumbled into dust. It flew through the air as if aided by wind. Oswald ducked into the shadows. In that moment, the door swung open. A security guard entered his line of vision. A flashlight was in his hand, cutting shards into the darkness. The beam edged just a centimeter from Oswald's shoes. Then, it darted away. The guard hurried towards the pool. Oswald held his breath. His hand burrowed in his pocket. Okay. Good. He just had to make sure that no one else was around.

Until then, he had to make himself as small as possible.

Meanwhile, Ruby materialized in the women's locker room. Craned her neck. Distinct voices seeped in from between the bricks. Getting closer. Ruby glanced about, looking for a hiding spot. Joy! She caught sight of an open, empty locker. Squeezing her eyes shut, Ruby felt her body fold in on itself like origami. The door to the room opened. Now, she was no larger than a doll. Quickly scurrying inside, Ruby nearly closed it all the way. The sliver of splace shone brightly. Heavy footsteps slowly approached. Ruby covered her mouth to keep her gasping quiet. Suddenly, a pang slit through her head.

A flash.

Ruby squeezed her eyes shut. Wincing beneath her fingers.

She saw Oswald's feet. Heard his quiet gasps. Looked down at his body as he shambled into the corridor. A flutter ran through her as she realized what she was seeing: the exact same thing that he was. The security guard, flashing his torch against the doors, seemed oblivious to Oswald's presence. That is, until Oswald came up behind him and buried a switchblade in his throat. The security guard tried to scream, but Oswald smacked his bloody hands over the man's mouth. Quickly finished the job. But then, there came a loud clattering noise. "What?!" Oswald's voice yelped. The image shifted so that Ruby saw the dying man's twitching foot. Just an inch from it was a bucket, promptly knocked over.

"Hey!"

Ruby blinked to find herself back in the locker. Gasping, she heard the security guard beyond the metal door. "What the...? Benny! What was that?!" Ruby caught sight of a gun being extracted from the man's utility belt. He began to run towards the noise. Towards Oswald.

"NO!" A locker's door slammed against its neighbor.

The security guard twisted to find some sort of expanding, leathery sheet enveloping him. It was the last thing he ever saw.

Oswald leaned against the hospital's back entrance. Trying to regain control of his ventilation. His hands and cuffs were wet and sticky, his switchblade safely stowed away in his pocket. Adrenaline was still racing through his veins. Heightening sounds and feelings. Intensifying colors. Like the mesmerizing blue of the pool just a few feet away. He stared at it, hypnotic, as a means to calm down.

Oswald didn't notice the hands resting on his shoulders until they squeezed.

He spun around, ready to slay, and instead opened his arms. Ruby dived into them. "We are so invisible!" She chuckled as they embraced, swinging from side to side. Ruby didn't want this hug to end, not even following their union. But alas it did. Oswald smiled softly at her. The tender look in his eyes pinched her heart. He reached out and pushed a stray lock out of her eyes. It burned where his fingers touched her face. Satisfied, he took her hand. "Come."

"Where?" She asked as they approached the door.

He eyed her. "You were to be released tomorrow at any rate. I shall simply call the hospital tomorrow and explain that I took the liberty of taking you back myself."

Ruby's eyes widened. "But my stuff!"

"I'll have Gabe go back for it in the morning. I promise." Oswald grinned back at her. "For now...let's go home."

Home. The most beautiful word in the world. Casting one last wayward look at the swimming pool, determined to memorize it, Ruby followed Oswald into the night air.

A soft wind streamed in from the open window. Played with the fine red drapes. The incoming sunlight, filtered through the cloth, filled the bedroom with a cherry glow. The faintest of noises entered with it. Birdsong. Distant traffic. Faint police sirens. Voices. Dogs barking. The room still faintly smelled of incense, provided by Ruby while Oswald had crashed the moment they had entered.

The atmosphere was serene. Pictureque. Perfect.

Ruby opened her eyes with a smile on her face. The room was lighted enough to erase all doubts that morning had come. But the curtains were still dense enough to provide a pleasingly dim air. Like they were hidden away from the rest of the world.

Rubbing the crust from her eyes, Ruby sat up. The soft pillows and silken sheets embraced her lovingly. Running a hand across them, remembering all the times she'd ironed them especially for the Master, she smiled. Never in a million years had she thought that, one day, she herself would sleep in their angelic embrace. Ruby ran a hand through her blonde-brown-gray hair. Looking down, she saw that she was wearing the Master's black-and-gold robe. The same one she'd seen Oswald wearing more than once. Blushing, she glanced at the chair pushed against the desk. Her clothes were still lying in a damp heap. Oswald's were in a similar state on the rug.

God. Getting the chlorine out of the fibres would be a nightmare.

Ruby quickly pushed these thoughts away. Didn't want to ruin the moment. Turning around, she saw Oswald lying on his side. Just a few inches away from her. Dressed in black silk pajamas, with his hair forming inky spikes against the pillow, he was the perfect mixture of rugged and refined. His pale face was the very picture of peaceful, with his beak-like nose flaring each time he took a breath. His thin lips were slightly parted.

More than anything, Ruby wanted to touch that beautiful face. But respect for its owner and shyness proved to be excellent restraints. She limited herself to pushing some locks away from his forehead. Just for a second, she let her fingertips rest on his cranium. So firm, yet the skin was so soft. Blushing all the way up to her roots, Ruby lay back down. Watching him. Trying to ignore the wild, powerful pounding in her chest.

Oswald's eyes flew open. Ruby quickly closed hers. Feigning sleep. She felt the mattress shift as Oswald stretched like a satisfied cat, yawning all the way. Making a funny smacking noise with his lips, like he was already imagining breakfast. Pretending to yawn herself, she smiled up at him. He was sitting up. His head blotting out most of the light. Achingly lovely. The edge of his lips rose. "Good morning, dear."

Ruby chuckled. "G'morning, lovely." Yawning, this time for real, she sat up with him. Cracked her neck with two swift movements. Oswald grimaced playfully as he leaned back in the cushions. Sighing with contentment. Ruby mimicked his movement. For a moment, they were both quiet. But it was the best kind of quiet. The kind where warmth and companionship filled the void. Ruby stared up at the canopy. At the hundreds of embroidered flowers. If only moments of time could be so easily captured. Fossilized.

At last, Oswald spoke. "It feels like a different world from yesterday."

"Doesn't it?" Ruby smiled at him. "We left a skid mark on Gotham last night."

Oswald scoffed. "It hardly needed another. But of course, ours is the best." He grinned at her, reminding her of the innocent young man he'd been in the cemetary. God, had it only been just under a year ago? Oswald took a breath, then turned to her. "We should get up, I have a matter to attend to at noon."

"Ooh, another drug ring?" Ruby asked. Her heart rate sped up at being in the loop again. "Or is it more tax evasion? Last time you got your cut, it was over two million dollars."

"Oh, yes." Oswald remembered with a smile. "That was a wonderful deal. But, no. This time, it concerns further interrogation regarding the whereabouts of Fish Mooney." His voice adopted a slight edge. Ruby said nothing. He continued. "I keep thinking about it. Why didn't she kill me? Yes, you were there to shield me," he reached out and took her hand, "but the Fish I knew had no issues letting innocents die if it meant getting her way. So why didn't she use my position to her advantage?"

Ruby squeezed his hand. "I wish I knew." Seeing Oswald's lost expression, she felt a new strength rise within her. Sitting up, she took his face in her free hand. Icy-blue met indigo. "But I do know this: whatever happens, whenever she attacks or how, we'll be ready." Oswald blinked, clearly moved. His surprised expression morphed into one of determination. He nodded. "Yes, we will." He sealed the deal with a hug. Ruby gladly responded. With one last squeeze, Oswald pulled away. "Come. Let's get ready. I will inform Gabe of his delivery the moment we head downstairs."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Yeah, won't he be thrilled. Forced to pick up the stuff of a servant."

"But you're not."

Ruby stopped. Blinked. Felt like someone had just pushed her off the bed without the shadow of a warning. Turning to Oswald with big eyes, she questioned him without opening her mouth. Oswald smirked at her. Took her hand in both of his. "Ruby...I don't want you as my servant anymore, but as my equal."

Ruby couldn't speak. Couldn't think, for that matter.

Oswald continued. "From the moment I met you in the cemetary, you have done nothing but show me kindness and compassion. Only my mother ever cared about me as much as you do. And I know without a doubt that if it hadn't been for you, I would still be cleaning up after Grace and her brats. Or, worse, dead." He squeezed her hand. "Which is why I ask...would you like to remain here, with me, not as a servant but as an ally?" A pause. "A...friend?"

Ruby stared first at their hands, then at him. At his icy-blue eyes, now filled with tenderness. Tears of joy blinded her. With a small cry she dived into his arms again, this time hiding her face in the crook of his head. Oswald gently hushed her. Stroked her hair. But inside, he was brimming when he heard her whisper, "Yes."

Deep inside both of them, Cobblair smiled.