And some more
Chapter 15:
Wincing a little as she opened the door, Coco started to limp out gently towards the kitchen causing Ruby and Emerald to glance up from the table to see her. "Whoever said you don't drool when you are sleeping black out from pain killers... is a liar. Up there with whoever said when they are injected into your spine they last for twelve hours."
"No one has ever said either of those things." Emerald said as Coco rolled her eyes as she started to turn the sink on to get a glass of water. "And they said you shouldn't take anything for twelve hours afterwards because it is going to take your body about that to lower the drugs to an acceptable level." Emerald continued as she started to scoop up some of the ice cream in the bowl. "And they also said before you take some more you need some food in your stomach."
"How long has it been? Because I actually feel worse after there was a large needle stabbed into my spine and then sleeping with my neck at an odd angle... I'm in pain." Coco asked as she slumped into the chair. "Also... where is Velvet?"
"She is on her way back and it has only been like ten hours." Ruby began as she took a deep breath. "Do you want me to give you a neck rub? Because I was saving some information until you were up." Ruby asked as she could see Coco just smiling faintly at her as if accepting the gesture.
Standing up and walking over towards Coco as she rubbed her hands to just warm them up a little Ruby gently just placed her hands on top of Coco's shoulders as she started to gently bare her thumbs into the back of Coco's neck which caused her to relax as she could feel Coco relaxing as well.
"So what news is it? You just told me that you got through to the doctor and that you'd wait until Coco was up to tell me." Emerald asked as Coco leaned her head back a little and smiled at the feeling of how Ruby seemed to be removing the crick from her neck.
"She is dying. Her heart valves are stiffening. Even had a debate with the doctor of if I should fight to get her onto the transplant list to give her more time..." Ruby began as she just took a deep breath to try and calm herself down from how angry she was getting. "I then called Raven who is meant to be coming here after she closes down. But... I can't be happy because I know it is something Raven is going to be hit hard by. Summer was a close friend of her's and for the large part they still are friends. And for the most part... the only thing that really connects them is me." Ruby said with a soft tone as she could see Emerald just looking at her as Coco raised her hands just to catch Ruby's hands to tilt her neck slightly ignoring the pain to just stare into Ruby's eyes.
Taking a deep breath Ruby just continued what she meant as she pulled her hands free from Coco. "That isn't coming from me. That is something both Summer and Raven have said to me. Raven only started to visit her after she saw me for the first time. And Summer has said repeatedly the only thing that has gotten her through her sentence thus far is the possibility of me visiting more and more." Ruby began as she just took a deep breath. "I know Raven already knows that I'm happy about it... and she knows that I won't express any major joy with her being around. Just... I can already tell that is going to be hard I mean... Summer is actually going to give me what I always wanted from her. Her death."
"You seemed pretty messed up about it last night." Emerald said as Ruby just took a deep breath.
"It wasn't her dying that hit me hard yesterday. It was that stupid request that if I think about it for more than a few more minutes I'm going to get angry all over again." Ruby said as she just shook her head. "It is just that all these years of stomping on cracks in the sidewalk is finally paying off with interest. I just wish she would be dying slightly more painfully. Like if she bit through her lip and ended up swallowing some of it. She did force Yang to eat her own arm... she should be forced to eat some of herself as well before she dies." Ruby said as she just took a deep breath as she could hear the house phone starting to ring. "What are the chances that is Raven?"
"Unlikely. Her place doesn't close for another hour and a half and chances are it would be Sun on... and from what he has been texting me, she is hating him more and more. Did he seriously try and sell some of that sugary cocktail mix he calls a glaze?" Emerald asked as she walked over to the phone and picked it up. "Hello?"
"There are two women down here. One is Raven, and the other is a very timid looking brunette." The woman on the front desk spoke as Emerald just smiled faintly.
"Okay, I'll be down in a few seconds to let them up." Emerald said as she quickly hung up the phone and looked towards Ruby. "It is both Raven and Velvet. And seriously did Sun try and sell that crap?"
"Nah. At least not according to him. It was just resting on the counter last time I was there and he was left in charge because Raven was with me."
"He totally was." Coco said with a laugh before she winced loudly. "And that is karma... are you positive I can't take anything else?"
"Yes. We are sure." Ruby said as she could see Emerald walking out of the apartment. "They gave you some really strong things that you can get addicted to... or very easily overdose on. I don't want to have a reason to call poison control... or an ambulance. Unless it is something like our sex got way out of hand... or I accidentally take too many of my anti-depressants." Ruby said as she just took a deep breath and looked into Coco's eyes as she walked around and accepted the spot Coco gently patted on her lap.
"You need to take one of those a day. I have no idea why you've on several occasions have taken two..." Coco said as she winced a little. "And you should probably get off. Not so much that you are hurting me but we might get into kissing which always goes beyond. Especially when you are happy. And I can't think of literally anything else that would make you this happy." Coco said as Ruby just frowned and kissed Coco gently.
"I could think of some things." Ruby said before she blanched slightly fearing that she might have spoiled her plan to propose. That was when she thought of the only logical way out. "But you and Em both said I'm not allowed to have a kitty... or a puppy."
"You're afraid of dogs. And cats for whatever reason stay clear of you." Coco complained as Ruby started to stand up. "Seriously, what is up with that? I would love a cat because it would keep the birds far away from here... but they are seriously afraid of you."
Taking a deep breath, Ruby just began to cross her arms over her chest as she took the seat she had been sitting in. "I'm not afraid of dogs. I'm afraid of dogs being like Beo and Wolf... you and Em don't know what it is like to have a dog latch onto you and shake you like you are some rabbit it caught and it wants to bring you back to your master... and they never cared how many stairs it needs to drag you down. Or how ready you were. I couldn't tell you the amount of concussions I've gotten from them because I was a minute late getting up to get breakfast ready for Salem and whatever one of the four where there." Ruby said taking a shaky inhale "Or god forbid you were up early... I mean have you ever had two dogs clamp their jaws with very sharp teeth on your limbs thinking you were trying to make a break for it? Because I have. The only solace I have is the fact up until they were put down their mouths were remarkably clean because I was the one in charge of brushing their teeth."
"Ruby? Come back to me. They are dead. Just come back to me right now." Coco said as she stood up, wincing a little as she held onto Ruby gently. She knew that she should have waited for Emerald if she wanted to be without pain, but she couldn't. At least not when it came to Ruby or Emerald. "You seemed to accidentally slipped back. You back here?"
Taking a deep breath to nod her head, Ruby just looked into Coco's eyes. "Sorry. You are so going to be in so much pain." Ruby said as Coco just shook her head lightly. "And I know this time I was the one to trigger those types of thoughts. But seriously... nothing against dogs as a whole. Got a thing against dog owners when they train vicious attack dogs that don't mind traumatising a young child up until they got killed." Ruby said taking a deep breath as she could hear the elevator coming up again.
"Yeah I got that Ruby." Coco said softly as she held onto Ruby and gently swayed on the spot. "Did they seriously give you a lot of concussions?" Coco asked as Ruby just sighed.
"Remember all those times I went into school and you and Em just thought I was wanting to be kinky because I was really freaking horny?"
"Way to ruin those fun thoughts." Coco asked before she shook her head. "Wait how come we never put two and two together after you gave yourself a concussion... and all the times after that that you did it accidentally?" Coco asked as Ruby just laughed softly.
"Coco... I love you and Emerald. But I hate to be the one to tell you this... but you both aren't very smart connecting dots about those kinds of things. I mean it took you two me being kidnapped and tortured for you two to learn that Salem was a monster as were the four I was forced to call my siblings... and those awful dogs." Ruby said with a laugh as the elevator dinging filled the apartment. "And now to try and suppress how happy I am that Summer is dying and try not to have two breakdowns in one day. Should be easy... Neo was the cause of the first one."
"How did Neo get our number?" Coco asked as she could see Velvet walking into the apartment with Emerald and Raven behind her.
"We ran into her babe. While you were doped up. She works at the hospital. As a... doctor? Nurse? I didn't get a chance to ask her. Ruby was nearly in a ball and you were beyond useless and you two take priority for me over something stupid that we really don't need to know. All we need to do is figure out how does one change hospitals when our doctors work there... and Ruby's shrink occasionally works out of there." Emerald said as Ruby just took a deep breath.
"Guys that can wait until tonight when we are alone in our room." Ruby began as she looked towards the older woman. "How are you feeling Raven? Do you want some tea?"
"No. Ruby can we talk? Preferably in private? I just got off the phone with Summer's doctor."
Taking a deep breath Ruby gently wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm not going to help Raven. Even Summer gets that that is asking too much of me."
"She is your mother Ruby!" Raven yelled slightly louder than she might have intended but that wasn't going to stop her getting her point across. "Seriously! Do you think you're the first child ever whose mother is in jail!?"
"No! I don't even think I'm the first child ever to be tortured by her mother and constantly reminded how she is an orphan and was a ward of the state because her mother murdered her family!" Ruby yelled back as she just took a deep breath to try and calm herself down. "Why do you care so much about this Raven?" Ruby asked once she was able to regain control of her emotions. She knew that if she didn't keep on it she was going to snap at one of the few adults from her childhood who meant a lot to her.
"She is my friend Ruby. And I already failed her once."
"Friends don't kill other friends children and force them to eat their own body." Came Ruby's snarky reply as she quickly clamped her hands over her mouth regretting her choice in words as she could see Raven almost wanting to cry. "I didn't mean that Rav-"
"You know. For someone who fights tooth and nail not to be compared to her. You are more like Summer than you are like Tai." Raven snapped at Ruby. Saying her piece Raven spun on her heel and was about to walk out of the apartment when a frail voice spoke up.
"And you are nothing like Yang." Ruby said causing Raven to stop in her tracks. "Yang hated Summer more than me and she had less reason to. I'm just glad Yang is dead so she doesn't need to see her own mother fighting so hard to try and keep the one we had alive. Over some stupid notion that they were once friends and grew up in argueablly a much better home... even when they weren't in foster care." Ruby said as Raven spun around full and stormed over to Ruby.
"You don't know what the fuck you are talking about Ruby. And be glad it is you saying it because if it was anyone else I'd be flooring them. And I would stop until my hands broke from punching their skulls." Raven barked as Ruby stared into the red eyes, seeing a fire she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Qrow told me a lot. Your Mom died giving birth to you and Qrow and your dad was an abusive alcoholic who would have rather kept you two just as dumb as him so his children wouldn't be smarter." Ruby could see Raven being taken aback but she had to push on. "Meanwhile, Summer killed my father and sister because she wanted to get drugs. Drugs that if she had her way would have come from selling me into sexual servitude. You and Qrow where in two foster homes both more so caring about the fact that they got paid to look after you? I was in four in one year where they didn't even care that much. I've been burned, I've had bones broken, I have deep mental scars that no one is even sure if I'll ever recover fully. I can't even sleep in my own house with another female without my door being locked from all the shit I've been put through." Ruby spoke as she took a step closer to Raven. "And you want me, the victim of all of that... to push to save the person who caused all that? How would you feel if Merlot called and wanted you to get him a kidney? Would you seriously suss one out for him and vouch for him to any sort of transplant board... or would you laugh in his face? Because that is about half of what you and that doctor are asking of me."
"She is still your mother Ruby." Raven said through gritted teeth. She knew that Ruby wasn't wrong in that regard. But Raven in good conscience couldn't let this be something that weighs on her conscience in a few years time.
"She lost that right a long time ago. She gave birth to me. That is it. And at points... I even hate her for that. I would seriously have taken Salem over Summer as a mother any day. At least Salem never tried to sell me into slavery or kill me. She was very open about what she wanted from me. Even when she let people rape me. She was still the better person."
"You don't mean that." Raven said knowing that Summer was bad, but she wasn't nearly as bad as Salem.
"I do. I do mean that. Because of Summer, I learned my basic math from drug dealers. Some of my first memories was her placing me on a stool in a drug den where she whored herself to get a hit for her to then drill into me that I need to lie to my Daddy about where we had been. My fourth birthday was nearly spent as a play thing for a drug kingpin who thankfully had a conscience and brought me home to spend it with my Daddy and Yang." Ruby said as she got up as close as was possible to Raven. "A week later, Daddy kicked Summer out and was murdered. Not even a minute later, Yang was caught. She was then tortured for twelve hours and in the process forced to eat her own arm before she was killed. Over a week later where I was in the same room as their decaying bodies... Qrow found me after having been starved. So if anyone is qualified to say how good your life has been with an alcoholic and abusive father... it is me. And if anyone is qualified to ignore requests to extend Summer's life... it is also me."
"You..." Raven said as Ruby just took a deep breath.
"Literally the only reason I've been visiting her is because of you still being her only friend. I'll pretend I'm not happy that all those years of drug abuse and what she put me through for you. I'll even pretend to not be happy around Summer if that is what you want. But I cannot fight for her life to be extended. I could not bring myself to do it. Not when without a doubt there is bound to be people out there who aren't like her... who aren't in an insane asylum for criminals because all the years of designer drugs fucked with her head." Ruby said as she could see Raven wanting to almost wanting to run, but Ruby quickly hugged her to hold her in place. "I am sorry your friend is dying Raven. I know you like the doctor don't understand fully how I'm as messed up as I am because of her and what she put me through by making me a ward of the state... but I can't... that is just... too much. I can't." Ruby whispered the last part as she held on as tightly as she could ignoring the fighting that was coming from Raven. She just had to. Just so she could get her message across. "If it was anyone else, I would. I'd be fighting so hard that I wouldn't care if I ended up bankrupting myself in the process. You as well as my girlfriends know that. But for Summer... a woman people wrongfully claim is a mother... I can't. Because my mother has always been you Raven. Someone who has always looked out for me, someone who doesn't care about her own business and would gladly become homeless if I needed you to... you even come by here when I'm sick and my girlfriends aren't around to make sure I'm looking after myself and are there every time I wake up with a panic attack and are here as fast as you can be."
Letting go, Ruby took a deep breath as she stared into Raven's eyes. "In short you are everything a mother is meant to be. And if you were where Summer is... and you needed the heart valves... I'd push for you Raven. I'd push so hard the transplant board would be fed up with me and give them to you just to shut me up"
"But Summer gave birth to you." Raven whispered as Ruby just took a sad breath.
"Family doesn't end with blood. And it doesn't start there either. You taught me that." Ruby said as she just stared into Raven's eyes. "You're not the one that deserves to be punished for Yang's death. You did what you felt was best. I am the one to convince her to stay in the room and then asked her to go check on Daddy... and Summer is the one that killed her."
"I could have been there Ruby." Raven said as Ruby just shook her head and hugged her gently again as she could hear the patio door closing. Just signifying that the group that had been in the apartment had dispersed out. "I could have answered her call the night before. I could have told Yang when she was old enough to remember that I loved her."
"No one knew that Summer was going to go to murder them. And even if you somehow did... she would have murdered you too... and then years later I would have been murdered... or just gave up living long before that. Trust me Raven... living in the past gets you nowhere. At least according to my therapist. We just need to grow from it. And you have. You are to this date the only woman I can stand to be around that didn't know me from before everything. Everyone else needs to be in a very sparing situation for years and years and even then it can't be just us for even more time." Ruby said softly as she just stared into Raven's normally fiery eyes where she could see that the storm in them had started to die down.
"I'm sorry I brought up Yang like that to you... but... if it makes you feel better I'll visit Summer more. But actually extending her life... I just... I can't Raven. Everything Qrow has told me about your two families in the system plus your father... honestly... it sounds a lot better than what I've been put through. I know no one can really make that call... but... Summer is a lot worse of a parent. And Salem did a lot to just try and destroy me. But at least you still had Qrow... and even if you were ejected from your father's funeral... as was Qrow... but would you have gotten him a liver?"
"Maybe if it was the wrong blood type...but Ruby... my Father was different. He did awful things to me and Qrow. And while Qrow drinks those memories away I can't. I know it would take too much for me making me possibly become like him." Raven spat as Ruby just took a deep breath.
"Raven. Because of Summer I've been raped, I've had burns over large portions of my body... I spent more time in school where I was constantly bullied by people just so I wouldn't be at a home. I have serious trust issues with women and at points think they'll literally, not figuratively stab me in the back. Once because that literally happened and I ran into her today after during a nightmare I hit Coco in the ribs so hard I actually nearly broke several and we were at the hospital where that psycho bitch actually works and if I think about her more I'm going to need to get the book out again if not call my shrink."
"You've been stabbed in the back?"
"Neo is very twisted and just barely avoided charges because she was under the age of ten. But I got to meet you because of her... but now she is a doctor or something."
"Get a new hospital immediately."
"Planned on it. And I'm seriously sorry about the Yang thing. I'm sorry for bringing her up." Ruby said as she took a deep breath. "Um... is there anything you want to say to me that you brought up?"
"No. Because you are like her in a lot of regards... namely getting something through my head. Tai never could."
"Normally I'd punch someone for bringing me and her up as a comparison... but because it is you... I'm letting it slide."
Author's Note:
And another chapter is done.