Squeezing out one last Roseweek week post before the week is over. Its been a blast. Had a lot of fun. You can see the other contributors on Tumblr.]
Let me know what you think! You readers keep me writing!
The last text Ruby got from Winter Schnee
[Why haven't you caught him yet!]
It hadn't even been a month and General Winter was already breathing down her neck. After 6 years of thinking him dead, you'd think the huntress would have some more time before the demand for results.
It's not like Ruby expected to walk into a bar in a small town in Mistral and see Roman Torchwick as a bartender. Sure he wasn't wearing his trademark hat or jacket, but he still had that lovely orange hair sweeping over one eye. She had been giving chase ever since. Now in a bustling city of Mistral, she turned the tight corners of the alleyway.
Bang
She shot as soon as her eyes landed on him, clipping his Aura, forcing him to stumble. Seizing the opportunity to petal burst him against the brick wall. He looked strangely excited, as he leaned down to purr, "Red, I do cherish seeing you again, especially since you are so ready to have your way with me."
Ruby would like to say she got used to his flirting, but nope. She squeaked and instinctively backed away ever so slightly. He took advantage of the extra half-inch she gave him and spun her around.
Towering over her, "I think you get off on this, Red."
Her fingers laced through his bright hair, he smirked.
Ruby lightly bit her lip with a coy look, "Torchwick, I do like that you are over a head taller than me."
He rested his hand on her hip and chuckled, "What woman doesn't like a tall and handsome ma-!"
Jerking her hands slammed his face into the wall directly above her. His orange Aura flashed, he grinned like a fool and threw her sideways. Turning a few corners with her sprinting behind him. She lost him, she smiled, Red wasn't ready for this hunt to end.
XXX
It was the middle of the night as Roman felt a thrill shiver down his spine. Ruby was clearly herding him in a direction. While he was no outdoorsman, the fact the Red could force him into a lush forest near the Mistralli coast made him appreciate the scenery. The thief tried to veer right only for petals to obscure his path, pushing him back on the original trajectory. He couldn't outrun her here. Heck he was so out of his element he didn't know how to give her the slip. She was toying with him, and he loved it.
He was falling.
When did a cliff get installed? She was next to him, falling as she snaked an arm about his waist. Damn, he was impressed that the combat skirt protected her modesty…maybe a little disappointed?
"Trust me?" She chirped
He rolled his eyes, "you need me alive if you want that bounty."
"Not true! But don't let go!" Gravity dragged them down at a terrifying speed, and he had to wonder why wasn't Crescent Rose out digging into the cliff face or shooting to slow their descent. Ruby's arms were tight about him, and she focused on the sand they were going to crash into.
Suddenly Roman was unmanned, and there wasn't a beautiful woman to cling to. Instead, everything was rose petals, and he had no idea where he began or ended.
Then he rolled into the sand with Red on top of him. She ruptured into giggles and that this was more than acceptable.
Until he realized she was wearing his hat.
She stood and when he reached for his trademarked bowler, she spun away. It was dark, but there was a flash of teeth as she gave him a cheeky grin. Chasing her down the beach only to barely brush fingers against her before she dipped out of his reach. If Red didn't look so fetching, he'd manage a scowl. Suddenly his arms were full with her, she pointed, and he saw the sun was rising.
She whispered, "this is my favorite view in Mistral."
Sunrise at the beach after spending a rigorous night with a woman.
"Little Red, is this a date?
Her face was buried into his jacket. She gave the most unconvincing "No" he ever heard.
"Then shall we enjoy the view before I make my unavoidable escape?"
They sat on the sand and huddled close...for warmth.
Obviously for warmth since it dawn at the beach. Which can be very cold.
Not romantic at all.
XXX
Ruby hadn't expected to find an outdoor art exhibit at night miles away from the city of Mistral. She rubbed her arms to steel against the weather. A heavy white coat draped around her shoulders filling her nose with the scent of burnt vanilla. She spun around and flushed at the sight of him, she had no idea he wore only a black tank top underneath.
"You're staring, Red." Tucking his cane under his arm he made long strides towards a statue.
She giggled as she put her arms through the coat arm noting that her fingertips got nowhere close to the cuffs. "Didn't realize you wore so little under your jacket."
Giving the sideways glance, "Like what you see?"
Rolling her eyes, "This statue is rather nice."
Bored, "All of these are the same barely qualified artist. Probably died and the family had to do something with all the statues."
"How can you tell?"
Using his cane to gesture to some lines, "Look at how the carve folds of what should be clothes. It's identical, no variation. Artist with technical skill but no creativity. Not even worth stealing."
"So why are you here?"
"Where else can I take a beautiful lady when I am a wanted criminal?" He gave a long sigh and walked off to a different statue. "I wouldn't even call this art."
She furrowed her brows, "What makes something art?"
Leaning on his cane she watched the muscles in his shoulders move and missed the smirk he gave her knowing she was checking him out. "Well Red, art moves you to be better or worse or simply to reflect." He watched her pair of moons blink widely at him, "I only see one thing here that does that for me."
She glanced behind her to see no statue there, pulling his collar tighter about her neck. "Did you just refer to me as art?"
He chortled, bridging the distance between them, "Easily the most infuriating piece of work I've ever seen."
She gave him an annoyed punchy exhale and gloved hands gripped his coat about her petite frame pulling her close. He growled, "I see how you move and I am left breathless."
She looked up and slipped her hand out of his sleeves and wrapped her arm around his waist. Cheek to his chest, "Stay with me."
She was spun and suddenly cold in the night air.
Jacket over his shoulder he winked, "Soon Red, but not tonight." Leaning in close, his mouth pressed to her forehead. He sauntered off and Ruby chose to spend a few minutes amongst the statues before giving chase.
XXX
"You messed up." Ruby pouted as she hung his white coat. For a man handcuffed to a chair in a hotel room, he was cocky. Leaning back head tilted, smug grin plastered on his face. She pulled off his gloves.
"Did I, Red?" His green eye sparkled watching her work.
Her cheeks went rosy, "um I have to untuck your shirt and check the waist of your pants."
His brows rolled up in feigned impressed "Oooo proper hunter protocol. So glad I helped you enroll in a good school."
Fingertips barely under the waistband she moved back to front stopping to pull out a deck of cards, a knife, a-
"A condom?"
"I pack all sorts of protection. Besides you'd be surprised how often I overhear some bloke forgot one"
"How considerate."
"I am a man of charity."
Her fingers moved to the front and he turned his mouth close to her ear.
"Torchwick, I will punch you in the dick."
His lips twitched before warm chuckles rolled up through him, "you know I always thought thorns were the best part of a rose."
She huffed and dropped his things onto a table.
He teased, "Red what's wrong? You caught me, Atlas will be here in a few hours. You've done your job." His long legs stretched out, ankles crossed
She pulled the hat off his head and after checking in over she placed it on her head and it drooped over her eyes.
She snorted, "I've been having fun."
He blinked, he hadn't expected her to be so blunt. Even though this was Ruby, it wasn't like she had an ounce of guile. "You could let me go?"
She lifted his hat and narrowed her eyes.
He took a steady breath, "Well what do you want?"
"I want to do my job."
His head bobbed generously and she was giving him a critical look. "You want to hear about my hopes?"
She gave a dry laugh, "are you trying to talk your way out?"
"I thought you of all people would be interested in why I retired."
"You've retired?"
"If you haven't noticed you stumbled upon me at an honest job, and I've been out running you since."
She chewed her lip, she didn't have any proof that he'd been doing anything illegal, "you're still evading the authorities."
"Why didn't I just continue being a criminal. I could have easily, Raven could use me. Vacuo is just begging for some organization."
"Why?"
"Blowing out of that Grimm and seeing Vale burn. My conscience caught up to me and I ran away." He looked away from her warm gaze, "Then you caught up to me and I ran away. I want to be different."
"What changed?"
"A good woman." He lifted his eyes back to her. "you"
She watched how his face softened. Biting her lip she shook her head, "you got something up your sleeve, you're working an angle"
Swallowing heavily, he went for broke. His chin went to the coat. "Inside pocket."
She geared up her Aura adding more protection to her hand as she slipped it in and pulled out a small box. Raising a questioning brow she saw he looked down into his lap embarrassed then back up, his green orb bright and a gentle smile radiated from him. Her heart flew to her throat and her fingers trembled as she opened it.
"Ruby Rose, will you marry me?"
It was a simple gold ring, the style was old with a simple emerald nested around diamonds. Not her style, in no way her style. It was obviously a family heirloom.
And it left no doubt that he was serious.
Roman had not expected his intended to explode into flower petals or the box to fall to the floor. Roses swirled about in his lap before settling back into his favorite form. She was crying as her mouth pressed into his and before he could return the pressure she once again burst into rose petals and flew across the room.
What did he just sign up for?
Her hand clutched her chest and her moon colored eyes stared widely at him. "How will this work, Torchwick."
"Given that you are wearing my family's ring, I believe calling me by my first name is appropriate."
She gave him a stern look, which was undermined by her bouncing on her toes.
He groaned, "To answer your question." The rope that bound his wrists fell to the ground, "I can easily bust out of any prison. Winter knows she cannot hold me." Standing he flexed his fingers. "Now I'm sure I'll have to work my sentence in Atlas for a decade or so." He crossed the distance between them, brushing a thumb over her flushed cheek. "I suspect you would be fine settling there."
"And starting a family."
He bobbed his head, "hopefully a rather large family."
She mumbled, "I wouldn't mind trying with you."
He chuckled, "We could start trying now."
"Roman!"
"What we're in a hotel room. We just got engaged, its normal."
"You're insufferable."
"See I've already figured out how to be a husband."