Hi everyone,
Recently I was asked if this fic was going to have some Kailex in it and honestly, I hadn't even thought about it.
I know that's what people love about TMC and I love it too, but I also care about the ordinary people.
Because TMC isn't all about Alex, it's about an entire world, a world that I love as much as she does. Although it is told from Alex's perspective, (and a bit from Bear, Dix and Jordan) there are hundreds of other people who also have a perspective and a voice. And in their story, they are the main character, they suffer and learn and grow just as much as anyone else.
And I care about them because in these difficult times, I'm just an average person. I'm not a doctor fighting to save people's lives from coronavirus, I'm not a President or Prime Minister, and my voice will never be remembered in history.
That's why I like writing about the ordinary people, because they deserve to be heard, too.
As for if there's going to be some Kailex, I don't know. I still don't know where Ruva will go next, and if her path will collide with Alex's.
Let's now hear the next part of Ruva's Story, someone who is considered ordinary, but is still an amazing person.
27
Hours later, when Ruva had witnessed more ribbons than she could count, she started listening to the birds. They distracted her from everything she had done, with their dedication to menial tasks. Ruva smiled at their enthusiasm, leaning against the tree trunk. Her ribbons appeared around her, and Ruva's tension from earlier eased, watching them dance in the late afternoon light.
Ruva's attention was drawn to a nest above her, where she could hear six hatchlings, chirping meaningless words. They wouldn't learn how to speak for a few weeks, and until then, their mother wouldn't name them.
With her ribbons, Ruva could see an orange ribbon connecting the hatchlings to their mother. The mothering ribbon, she liked to call it, even though the ribbon was more than that.
It was a ribbon of admiration, who the hatchlings looked up to, whose example they followed. Such ribbons were constantly changing as they grew, but they were young enough that their only idol was their mother.
Ruva watched as the mother – a sparrow – took care of her five hatchlings, feeding and preening the helpless chicks. She nudged each bird in turn, all of them releasing a squawk. When she nudged the fifth bird, it didn't make a sound.
Ruva's heart ached for the bird, one she realised was the runt.
The mother nudged it once more, but it still didn't cry out. The mother nudged it harder, to the same result. The runt was nudged to the edge of the nest, and with a flick of her wing, the mother pushed the bird out of the nest.
The featherless hatchling fell, screaming in a way that only birds could.
Ruva lurched forward, catching the bird in her hand. Her other hand latched onto a branch, stopping her from falling.
She stood up on the branch, coming eye to eye with the bird. "Why did you drop your own hatchling?" She cupped the bird in her hands, the poor thing shivering with fright.
"That is no hatchling of mine," the bird said.
And without a moment more, it bit at empty air, but it didn't look empty to Ruva.
The bird bit at an orange ribbon, the one connecting it to the runt.
The ribbon snapped, and the hatchling let out a wrenching wheeze.
"No!" Ruva cried, reaching for the severed ribbon.
And without another thought, she tied the ribbon to herself.
The runt's shivering eased, and it looked to Ruva with expectant eyes. It didn't even notice its mother, who had already turned her attention back to her nest.
Ruva took in a deep breath, her hands shaking slightly at what she had done. She didn't know what to do, didn't know where to go.
She had tied a ribbon to herself, a ribbon that was never meant to be there. The little hatchling would admire her now, she had taken the place of its own mother.
Ruva held the bird closer, trying to calm her unsteady hands.
The bird let out a small squeak, a sound that made Ruva's heart melt. This was her little bird, she decided, and she wouldn't let anything happen to it.
…
Leo stood just outside the food court, trying to work out where Ruva had gone. He hadn't seen her since breakfast – none of them had.
Harry walked out of the food court, eating a packet of chips. "Still looking for her?"
Leo nodded, scanning the students walking around, in case he might see Ruva. 'Are you sure you haven't seen her?'
"Yes," said Harry with a smile. "Not since the last time you asked me, five minutes ago."
Leo sighed. 'It's just… something doesn't feel right. I don't know why, but I feel like something has happened.'
"Excuse me," said a voice from behind, making Leo jumped. He turned around, realising the voice was Marselle.
"Do either of you know where Ruva Springden is? She hasn't attended any of her classes today, and I know many teachers want to have a stern word with her."
Leo's stomach dropped. Ruva had been missing all day?
He couldn't bring himself to answer, so Harry did, instead. "Sorry, Sir, but we both haven't seen Ruva all day. Have you tried asking her roommate, Arra?"
The headmaster sighed, stroking his beard. "Arrabella doesn't know her whereabouts either, unfortunately. We'll have to keep looking for her, and please tell me or another member of staff if you find her."
"We will, Headmaster," said Harry.
Leo could only manage a nod.
As soon as Marselle was gone, Harry said, "Where could Ruva be? Why would she just disappear?"
Leo froze, Harry's statement making him realise something. 'Maybe something made her panic, and she ran off, but now she doesn't want to come back.'
Harry blinked. "Has she done that before?"
Leo nodded, his thoughts too crowded to try explaining.
Harry recognised the look on Leo's face, so he said, "Where would she go to avoid everyone?"
Leo already knew the answer. 'The forest.'
"Can your gift reach her there?" asked Harry, "It's definitely stronger now."
Leo shrugged. 'I'll give it a try.'
He pushed his thoughts to Ruva, an action that he likened to shooting an arrow. He felt the words flying through the air, further and further, looking for its target. Leo's energy draining as it flew, and just when he was at his limit, he felt his arrow meet its mark.
'Where are you, Ruva? Everyone's been looking for you?'
But there was no response to his question, Ruva was silent once more.
'Are you okay?'
If he could see Ruva, Leo would know what she was saying. He could read the small signals, the twitch of her lip, a flicker in her eye, they all spoke more meaning than words ever could.
Ruva finally responded, the words quiet from the distance between them. 'I'm in the forest and… I'm not okay.'
Leo froze, overwhelmed by the need to reach Ruva.
'Don't worry,' he said, using a softer tone. 'I'm coming, now. Just tell me where to find you.'
Ruva gave him the instructions to reach her, and Leo started running.
"Wait!" yelled Harry, Leo only just remembering that he was there. "Where are you going? Did you talk to her?"
Leo was already halfway across the field, shoving an explanation to Harry. He lost the precision that he normally used, some of his words becoming disjointed like when he first discovered his gift.
But he didn't care. Leo needed to get to Ruva – needed to see if she was okay.
He ran into the forest, following Ruva's directions.
Leo dodged branches and tripped more than once on logs and roots, but he somehow managed to keep going. He lacked Ruva's grace and ethnicity in the forest, not once had Leo ever seen her lose balance or misstep while amongst the trees.
Branches slapped against Leo's arms, leaving red welts that would become scabs. But he couldn't stop – he couldn't stop. Not until he saw Ruva, not until he knew that she was better.
Jumping over a fallen log, Leo stopped. He was in the clearing Ruva had told him about, but she wasn't there.
A movement caught his eye on the tree to his left.
It was Ruva.
She was climbing down with perfunctory grace, her attention was concentrated on a small bundle in her hands.
Ruva jumped, somehow landing silently on the leaf-covered ground.
'I'm here, Ruva,' said Leo, not daring to move.
Ruva's lips curled into a slight smile. "You're here," she echoed, her voice only a whisper.
Leo stopped, staring at Ruva.
His chest seemed to burn with radiant heat, she was just… perfect.
Her eyes were darker than usual, her lips pressed in a thin line. Loose strands of her hair fell across her face, giving Leo the urge to step forward and brush it aside.
Be her friend, nothing more.
The words were stark, echoing in Leo's head. But he knew better than to disobey them, especially when Ruva was in such a fragile position.
'What went wrong?' he asked. 'You were fine this morning, but then…' Ruva had disappeared, nobody had seen her all day.
Her chin sunk, and Leo fought the urge to tilt it up.
Be her friend, nothing more.
"Epsilon PE," she quietly said, her hands cradling the bundle. She looked up, her golden-blond hair falling across her face.
Ruva's eyes fell on his face, and he was enraptured by her. The way her hair fell across her face, the way she held his gaze, and the slight twitch of her jaw, as though she was forcibly pushing the words from her throat.
"I'm in Epsilon PE and… I don't want to go in the water."
Leo froze. Ruva was being so vulnerable, it took everything within him not to close the distance between them.
Be her friend, nothing more.
'You won't have to. I won't let them,' he said, Ruva seeming to solidify at his words.
She offered the smallest smile, a smile that made his knees wobble.
Leo didn't speak. Didn't move.
Be her friend, nothing more.
It was so hard to control his impulses. If Leo let himself move, he didn't know what would happen. He might lean in, might go too far.
Far enough that Ruva would never let him come back.
Be her friend, nothing more.
The thing Ruva was holding chirped, a smile touched Ruva's lips. Looking closer, Leo realised it was a small bird.
Ruva gave a small smile, stroking the bird's tiny fluffy head.
Leo stepped forward, bringing his hand towards the tiny creature. It seemed wary of him at first, but it let Leo slowly bring his hand closer until he was brushing the tiny feathers.
The bird relaxed, and Leo brought up the courage to look at Ruva.
It took everything within him to stay grounded at what he saw.
Trust and awe were radiating from her, and the fire inside of him doubled. It was amazing – she was amazing. There were no words in any language to describe how he felt.
But as he watched Ruva's jaw twitch, Leo realised he didn't need words. Not for this. Not for Ruva.
Be her friend, nothing more.
Ruva stepped forward, showing Leo she was ready to go back.
Nothing more.
They started walking back, the silence between them telling more than words ever could.
Nothing. More.
They walked all the way back through the forest, until they finally reached the academy. The sun was going down, bathing the academy in golden light.
Ruva froze when she saw the lake, rippling like liquid gold.
Leo squeezed her hand, but Ruva still didn't move.
'Ruva, look at me,' he said, not continuing until she faced him. 'I'm not going to leave you, so keep moving forwards.'
Ruva stopped, looking at him in a way that she had never looked before.
There were no words to describe it. Not one.
It was hard – so hard – not to lean in when she looked at him like that. Like he was a star in her sky.
And so, Ruva kept moving forwards, Leo by her side.
They walked to the dorms, up to the top floor, all the way to Ruva's dorm. Leo was about to let go when Ruva squeezed her hand.
She was saying thank you, in her silent language more beautiful than any words. Leo squeezed back, relishing in her scent of peaches.
Then, he let go.
'Sleep well,' he said, before abruptly turning and almost running back down the hallway.
Leo had felt his self-control crumbling, being steadily chipped away until only a fraction remained.
If he had stayed a second longer, he had no idea what would happen.
He could've pushed too far, far enough that Ruva would never let him back.
Be her friend, nothing more.
He would do anything for her – even if she wanted him to do nothing.
…
A few hours later, Harry walked into the dorm, his jet-black hair falling into his eyes. "Did you find her?" he asked.
Leo nodded, incapable of speech.
"Is Ruva okay?"
Leo smiled as he heard the name, he felt like he was flying. Eventually he said, 'Yeah, she panicked because she was in Epsilon PE, and she thought she would have to get into the water.' Harry looked confused, so Leo explained more. 'Ruva has a fear of water, and she refused to get in the lake for PE lessons. She was worried that now she was in Epsilon, Finn wouldn't let her say no.'
Harry smiled, realising something unknown to Leo. "She's got aquaphobia, like my uncle used to have. He moved to the Soori desert just so he would never see rain."
Leo was surprised when Harry didn't explain more, it was the sort of event he could weave into a great story. Leo's thoughts drifted to Ruva once more, a smile touching his face.
Harry's TCD chimed, and he pulled it out. Once turning it on, he said, "Look, it's a message from Ruva."
Leo bolted upright, rushing to Harry's side so quick he almost tripped. However, once he saw the TCD screen, he realised it was blank. He blinked, then gave Harry a look.
Harry snorted. "Sorry, I just wanted to see how you reacted." He sent Leo a sidelong glance. "You like Ruva, don't you?"
Leo smiled, resting back on the bed. 'I think… I think I love her.'
As soon as he said the words, he knew it was true. Everything about her, her small frame and golden-blond hair, how she moved like she was floating. He loved how her jaw twitched and the necklace she held when she was nervous, how her breathing sped up when she was worried.
But it was more than that. He didn't just love how Ruva looked, but who she was inside, and how comfortable she made him feel.
With other people, Leo was constantly aware that he couldn't speak. He could carry out a conversation using his gift, but it never felt the same. But with Ruva, he felt at ease. She spoke through silence more than anything else, making Leo feel normal.
He had never, ever felt normal before he met Ruva, there had always been a fence between him and everyone else.
Be her friend, nothing more.
If Ruva wasn't willing to cross that gap, Leo wouldn't force her, not for all of Medora. He would be nothing more than her friend, whatever it took to make her comfortable. Even if it hurt to keep Ruva at arm's length, he would do it. Again and again, to whatever end.
But… He couldn't deny how she had looked at him today. Like he was valuable, precious. Her smile had become something more, something he could never describe. He hoped he wasn't imagining it, that the smile had been normal, but in his heart he knew the truth.
Lying in bed, Leo dreamt that someday, Ruva would feel the same way he did. That she would hold him, and let him hold her. That she would clasp his hand, whisper comforts in his ear.
But it would have to remain exactly that. Dreams.