And some more

Chapter 55:

"How do I look?" Ruby said as she began to brush her hoodie flat against herself. For once she was feeling very self-conscious with how she was looking. But she did at least know that she was going to be fine. At least if Blake accepted that Ruby really was going to need to hold off on the date.

"Like you are a child parading around as an adult who frequently forgets about important things most people learn by the time they are ten. For example things in ovens are hot, and that if you are doing anything that has the chance to cause damage to the eyes you should probably use your proper eye protection." Emerald said as Ruby let out a loud groan. One that just caused Emerald to laugh at. "Oh. You mean how do you look as in your clothes."

"No Em. I wanted to hear how you are taking the oven's side and that you still think I intentionally wanted to burn my eyes." Ruby said as she gently swung her hand to just smack what she hoped was Emerald before she winced. "And that wasn't your arm was it?"

"Nope it was a brick wall. Besides, you look fine Ruby. You are better dressed than I would be if I was just going to cancel a date on someone because I blinded myself." Emerald said as Ruby just started to seethe in her own way.

"That would require you to get a date in the first place." Ruby said as Emerald just glared gently at Ruby. "See? I can be hurtful when I want to be too. You just never see it because let's be honest, if Neo was doing this she would have just put a collar around my neck and walked me like a dog. And she certainly would have avoided me talking to Blake just so she could make sure I got back to Mom on time." Ruby continued as Emerald just took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Okay, ow. But one for you, two for me. As for the collar thing... the idea did cross my mind. I just have a lot more self control than Neo. And Neo also wouldn't be bringing you back early. She would chance her arm a whole lot more." Emerald said as she began to look around. "Can you find the counter by yourself?"

"Oh my god. What happened?" Ruby could hear Kali's worried voice as she just smiled faintly.

"I had a little accident with a welder last night... kind of came by to talk with Blake. We had plans to meet up here but I'm like super blind and have some burns... and not even meant to be out in brightly lit areas." Ruby said as she could hear the maternal worry.

"I hate to say this Ruby but can you come back a bit later? Ghira and Blake are currently dealing with some people from years ago in the backroom." Kali said as Ruby just started to deflate.

"Who is it? Sienna? Corsac? Fennec? Adam?" Ruby asked as she just knew Kali was going to be surprised. "Oh please tell me it isn't Corsac or Fennec."

"How?"

"Ruby's family have dealt with the White Fang really since the murmurings of a coup were common under your husband. And was calmed because of Ruby's family under Ruby wanting it to be stopped." Emerald explained as she braced herself against the divider. "Both times actually."

Smiling a little Ruby just smiled as Emerald gently patted her back. "I did? I only remember the one. Regardless, I'm glad I did. Mom would have killed Sienna if she did try again." Ruby said looking around again and sniffing the air. "So who is it? And are those cookies as fresh as they smell?"

"They are, and it is Sienna. And she isn't in that good of a mood." Kali said just hoping that this wasn't going to cause any sort of friction because while she did know of one, those wounds had to have been fresh in the current leader's mind.

"I can fix that. Largely because I'm in a rush and need to get Ruby back to her home, and get back here for several classes." Emerald said as Ruby just swung her arm gently in the direction she could hear Emerald from before she winced again. "Wooden divider."

"Stop moving around like that Em! And Mom won't freak out!" Ruby said as she began to rub her hand. "And that time it actually hurt a lot more because I hit exactly where I got burned."

"I disagree RUBY, your mother, CINDER would be very mad if you got WAYLAID HERE." Emerald said putting larger and larger emphasis on the words that she knew would go over Ruby's head, but seemed to catch in Kali's mind. "Not to mention what SALEM WOULD DO if they found the REASON OUT." Emerald continued as Kali just smiled as she could hear some worried rushing towards them.

"Why do you keep shouting randomly like that? You are probably hurting Kali." Ruby complained as she looked towards where Kali spoke from was last. "I'm sorry about Emerald. She has just been in a mood all day." Ruby said as she could hear them taking a deep breath. "Plus Mom won't freak out at you. I'll take the blame." Ruby said softly as Emerald gently shook her head as she held a finger to her lips as she looked at Kali who nodded her head in understanding.

"It's fine Ruby. My ears aren't that bad. Besides it sounds like they are coming here anyways." Kali said as she looked over her shoulder to see a new sight for her. Namely Sienna looking into the room terrified. It was one that just seemed to cause Kali some confusion, but she was actually a little glad for this turn in events. "Oh, Sienna, I believe you know Ruby."

"Hi Sienna... sorry if I can see you. I accidentally blinded myself again. Should have heard how mad my grandmother was last night."

"I can imagine Ruby." Sienna said taking a deep breath as she looked behind her. "Ghira, Blake. Just give what we talked about some thought." Sienna continued as Ruby let out a single 'eep' as she was pulled over by Emerald.

The sound of which was something that caused Emerald to just smile a little. "Oh, Sienna, before you go... Cinder would like it if I asked... you aren't doing anything that would require her attention. Would it?" Emerald said as she looked at the tiger Faunus stopping at the exit.

"No."

"Cool. Have a good day. Tell Adam if he is trying anything it will come back to bite you as well." Emerald continued as Sienna begrudgingly left the building. The sight of which did just cause Emerald to smile as Ruby just seemed to enjoy the moment.

Holding a hand out, Ruby just smiled faintly. "Blake? You here?" Ruby said as Kali just shook her head laughing softly.

"I'll lead you to the counter." Kali said as she gently took hold of Ruby's hand as they started to walk, she just had to chuckle at the sight of Ruby. "And this kind of thing has happened before to you?"

Before Ruby could respond, she could hear the distinct sound of laughter which caused her to groan a little. "Shut it Em!" Ruby bit back as she just took a deep breath. "And a few times... I can be pretty clumsy. And in several examples which is what my friend was laughing about... I should have remembered to use the proper safety equipment... but in my defence, it was late at night and I'm paying for this all because of the pain my eyes are in. And it isn't the good type of pain where you can just ignore it." Ruby stated happily as she felt the counter in front of her.

"You are aware sunglasses indoors is kind of a douchey thing to wear right?" Blake said as Ruby just laughed softly. "No, seriously what happened to you and what is with all the bandages? As far as I was aware we were meant to be going on something akin to a date today." Blake continued as Ruby just continued to smile softly.

"Kind of why I'm here. As for the bandages did you know when you are messing with home made welders you need to use proper eye protection and it can still arc despite being far and welder's burn is all kinds of immediate and immense pain you don't notice your hands being burnt?" Ruby said taking a deep breath knowing that this was where it was going to seem bad. "And I was really really looking forward to the date Blake... but I really really have to postpone it because right now I've got a bunch of burns, I can't even see out of my eyes until Friday at the earliest, and even then they are going to be super sensitive to light... even right now with the little light that gets through it feels like someone is shoving millions of daggers into my eyes despite several layers of bandages, pads of pure cotton, my eyes being closed and the sunglasses and my suddenly new eye surgeon even says going outside could lead to me going permanently blind but I had to run the risk so you wou-"

Silencing Ruby, Blake leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips as she just enjoyed the feeling of how Ruby seemed to relax before separating. "You didn't need to. Although I probably wouldn't have bought it because blinding yourself sounds kind of made up."

"With how often it has happened, at least to me, you would have been laughed at, by a lot of people. I'm known for getting into bad situations from not taking my own safety into regard." Ruby began softly as she gently captured what she hoped were Blake's surprisingly soft hands in her own. "And I really hope your parents aren't around. I may be open with a lot of topics... but I'm not one for doing anything of the sort in front of parents. Had some really bad experiences with my first ex." Ruby continued softly as she gave the hands a gentle squeeze.

"Yeah it is just your one... I want to say friend... who has been eyeing me up. And I'm oddly enough more afraid of her than I am Mercury who I know has caused some shit with the White Fang. And that tiny girl who has been in here a few times." Blake began as she took a deep breath and looked down. "And is Cinder Fall really your mother? And by extension the ever fear inducing Salem your grandmother?"

"Yeah... she found me when I was a baby and saved me... eventually adopted me. And since then has gotten very protective of me. Same with my Grandmother. Both of which aren't actually that bad. People just blow them out of proportion." Ruby said softly as she just took a deep breath. "And that tiny girl would be Neo, and the fastest way to actually anger her is to bring up the fact that she is just above the cut off point of being declared a dwarf. But her bark is seriously worse than her bite... but she does actually bite so be careful. Like, I'm not even joking. She just chomps down on people no matter where they are and I've had to get several stitches because of it."

"Wait... she is an adult that still bites people? What is her damage?" Blake asked as Ruby just laughed softly.

"Nobody really knows. But if I didn't need to stay at home on Saturday I'd suggest a date then Blake, regardless how sensitive my eyes are going to be with light."

"Are you going to be back Sunday? Because I'm thinking about a late night walk. There is a nice pond around here."

"Sunday, six o'clock. I'll be here with most of the bandages removed. Still will have the ones over the burns." Ruby said softly as she just ran her thumbs over Blake's knuckles. "And frankly... I'd love another kiss just until then. Because I meant what I said when we first met. You are very pretty and if I could see you, I just know I would be tripping over what to say. Just feeling your hands in my own is making it hard."

"Sure." Blake said softly as she gently pulled Ruby closer to give her a simple and chaste kiss.

Closing the door behind her, Salem took a deep breath as she could see the man she had hunted for for so long. She could feel herself be giddy about it but she knew that he had to have seen this coming.

"Ozma... so this is where one of your hiding holes was." Salem said as she walked across the room as she could see the man simply glancing up. Placing the gun she was holding onto the table, she just took a deep breath.

"I gave up running a long time ago Salem. If I didn't I would have left the second I saw someone with Cinder's last name on the student roster." The defeated man said just taking a breath as he stood up and grabbed the decanter and began to pour a glass. "Do you still drink?"

"I quit a long time ago. About the time you ran taking our daughters with you." Salem bit as the man just smiled faintly shaking his head. "I could have forgiven the running. But you took the one thing I could have ever cared about before I found four orphans and even then I built more and more of a name in the underworld to the point where I'm beyond untouchable and have kept the balance in the underworld." Salem continued in a soft tone as she could see the man just taking a deep breath.

"Believe me Salem... I regret every day that I took them. Not even because of this game of cat and mouse we've had for going on five decades. It is because if I would have just left them with you then maybe they would have been alive." He continued to speak as he took a drink from the alcohol in the glass. "I've caused you to torture and kill dozens of people but the death of our girls is what haunts me to this day. But Ruby seems like she is a great kid. With an even better head on her shoulders."

"She is. And is the first person since I held onto Spring for the last time to actually give me hope for the world and if anything were to happen to her that cost her her life from someone's ineptitude, I'd stop being semi-retired and start to burn the world literally." Salem said taking a deep breath. "And once you are gone permanently, I'll gladly become fully retired and the grandmother that Ruby constantly imagines me as." Salem said just taking a deep breath.

"I wouldn't harm her. I will say she reminds me a lot about one of the older students I had a long long time ago. In appearance at least. Summer Rose was her name, and they do look identical. She certainly looks a lot more like Summer Rose than Cinder Fall at least. And she certainly doesn't have the temperament of Fall Maiden's daughter." The elderly man said as he walked towards his seat where he got comfortable again. "Before you kill me... can you just promise my great grandnephew isn't going to be harmed."

"I shouldn't even grace you with that. But I shall." Salem said as she produced a bag and tossed it onto the table. "You can take the poison which will be a largely painless death. Or you can make me shoot you repeatedly where I just know I will make sure you die slowly." Salem said just taking a deep breath. "The poison it will look like a natural cause... and the only reason I'm offering you this is because Ruby has softened me up over the years. Because your death, I'd gladly go to prison and tarnish the memory Ruby has of me if it just means you'd be dead."

Grabbing the powder the professor just smiled faintly as he broke the seal and poured it into the glass as he swirled it around. "Also look after that girl of yours." He stated as he downed the liquid as Salem just took a deep breath.

"I plan on it. She means so much to me. And has been the only person I could love after you took everything from me." Salem said as she stood up from the chair to walk around and plant a kiss on the man's forehead. "Goodbye Ozma. I hope in the next life you will be able to be with our girls. Because I know I can never be with them again." Salem continued as she could see the man's head lulling to the side as Salem grasped the gun once more.

Walking out of the room, Salem just smiled as she closed the door and just took a deep breath as she raised a hand to wipe the tears that had started to spring forth. Taking a deep breath to just compose herself, Salem reached for her phone so she could message Cinder about the one person she had wanted to hunt down for as long as Ruby could vocalise the fear she had from the nightmare. One that Salem could understand. Especially because of how much Ruby meant to her and her adopted children.

As she walked out of the building she just smiled at the sight of Arthur standing there as he pocketed his phone. "Are you alright Salem?"

"I'm fine. I just told Cinder the name of the person who tried to kill Ruby when she was an infant. So everything is looking up." Salem spoke as Arthur produced a handkerchief and handed it to the normally terrifying woman. "Talk about this to anyone Arthur... and I'll produce a tenth body today."

"Talk about what?"

"Exactly."

Author's Note:

And done with some resolution for Salem and the first ladybug kiss of the story.