You are a guardian angel, tasked with watching over one random child since their birth. As the person you protect starts to grow, you fall more and more in love with them, but they are unable to hear or see you. You must endure watching them get married and have kids, and it hurts. A lot.
Some days the love and the pride washed out the pain and just left a dull ache. This was not one of those days.
Ruby floated down from the ceiling where she had been sulking for the past hour, and she righted herself slowly as her feet graced the floor. Usually she wouldn't even bother with touching the ground, simply gliding over it elegantly with outstretched wings. Today she stood still in the crowd with lead feet. None of them could see her. Nobody could see her.
She was always alone.
Almost always alone.
The doors opened and Ruby's heart began to beat faster in anxiety as she waited, watching all of the assembled people turn as one and face the doors. She felt nervousness flow through her veins and her breathing quickened. For a moment, Ruby held her breath, placating her nerves and sending waves of cold calm through her veins. Then she walked through the doors.
Ruby felt her smile widen against her will as she saw Pyrrha walk through the double doors in her beautiful white dress, the very same one Ruby had subtly guided her to choose. Her flowing red hair was cascading down her back, curling at the ends and bouncing with each step she took. Ruby allowed her calm to break, feeling exhilaration and love pounding through her heart as Pyrrha approached her with a beaming smile. Ruby's breath caught in her throat as Pyrrha passed right through her to stand beside the grinning groom.
Pyrrha couldn't always see her. At least, Ruby didn't think she could. But perhaps she could sense her, that familiar feeling of compassion that pursued her everywhere. Every time Pyrrha had been sad or angry or frustrated, Ruby had been there for her. When her mother had died bedridden and sick, Ruby had been there for her. From the very beginning of her life, Ruby had always been hovering nearby, a shining beacon of kindness in the world. Sometimes Ruby would catch Pyrrha staring at her, seeing nothing, or speaking to her when alone, getting no response.
But for the first time in decades, Pyrrha didn't need her anymore. She could live on her own, make the right decisions, reign in negativity, and bring joy to all around her. And it stung. Ruby would never wish that Pyrrha be dependent on her, she had always dreamed of the day that Pyrrha wouldn't need her anymore. The day that Pyrrha was whole. But she didn't want her role to end in Pyrrha's life. She didn't want to move on and find a new life to protect. She didn't want to be anyone's guardian angel but Pyrrha's.
The sad smile playing on her lips and the silent tears that traced down her face to patter soundlessly to the ground revealed her emotions to nought but the sky and the floor, Ruby silently witnessing the ceremony continue. Her eyes drifted over to Pyrrha as she continued to send calming and loving waves through their link, vaguely wondering who she would even be without Pyrrha. She didn't want to think about it, but one day she would have to face the inevitable.
One day, Ruby would be standing by Pyrrha's grave, unaged and hollow. One day, the world would continue spinning as Ruby's stopped. One day, Pyrrha would be faded photographs in her mind, living on only as fragments within her. One day, Ruby would watch Pyrrha die and she would break into a thousand pieces, only to continue living in agony. Alone forever.
There was no end for Ruby. There was an end for Pyrrha. She couldn't protect that little girl forever. But she would try.
Ruby could remember that small, fragile baby that looked around with curious emerald eyes. That defiant girl who trained and studied as hard as she could to earn the life she wanted. That sweet and caring young woman who wanted nothing but the best for everyone and had enough love in her heart to spare for anyone who needed it. Almost anyone.
Closing her eyes to the ceremony as Pyrrha smiled and leaned over to kiss her husband, Ruby wondered if this had always been inevitable. She had always been attuned to Pyrrha, feeling how she felt and understanding her completely and totally. Perhaps that was the idea. Perhaps her love was always going to be for Pyrrha.
Opening her eyes, Ruby's heart swelled with pride and love as droplets of joy and sadness dripped from silver pools. Ruby couldn't wish for a better or more rewarding life than to guard Pyrrha and love her always and forever. A full smile gradually took over her lips as she simply watched Pyrrha laugh and smile, stepping backwards and out of Pyrrha's life.
Ruby remained distant, watching without interfering. A silent guardian looking over Pyrrha's life and letting it proceed accordingly. Slowly the scars healed as Ruby took to being a mere observer, feeling her link with Pyrrha fade over time. She was no longer needed.
Ruby gazed on as Pyrrha moved into a new house and life moved on. Ruby witnessed as Pyrrha changed jobs and travelled the world. Ruby watched as Pyrrha slowly grew older, feeling an old ache form a solid core in her chest, splinters radiating out into her mind and her soul.
Then, one day and all too soon, Ruby stood by Pyrrha's hospital bed and stared at the life signs feebly beeping on the monitors. She held her breath, and wished and prayed while Pyrrha's breaths slowed and tears dripped down past a smile stubbornly trying to remain happy. Ruby wept openly with Pyrrha's husband as they stood together, trying to hold and comfort her. Kindly emerald eyes shone with tears and weak words fell from pale lips while Ruby dropped to her knees. It felt like she was dying. And she wished that she was. That she could take Pyrrha's place.
Then slowly, with Ruby watching, Pyrrha's heart stopped.
And the entire world broke.
One day, Ruby would be standing by Pyrrha's grave, unaged and hollow. One day, the world would continue spinning as Ruby's stopped. One day, Pyrrha would be faded photographs in her mind, living on only as fragments within her. One day, Ruby would watch Pyrrha die and she would break into a thousand pieces, only to continue living in agony. Alone forever.
This was not that day.
Ruby's wings unfurled for the first time in many years, dust and feathers falling from them as a white glow surrounded her. Lifting off from the ground with golden tears descending to the tiles below her, Ruby vanished into thin air.
The universe warped around her as she pierced through, a lance of bright light shining through the unending darkness. Ruby shuddered and stopped as a form suddenly appeared before her, an old man with an intelligent twinkle in his eyes stepping forth with a mug in hand and a cane in the other. Collapsing at his feet, Ruby placed her hands above her head and begged, being cut off before she got a single word out into the open.
"It has been some time, Ruby," He began with an even voice. "I believe your final assignment ended some time ago. It's time for you to return to us, Ruby."
"Please!" Ruby shouted, her unused voice breaking with sobs. "Please save her!"
Ozpin looked down upon her kindly and tilted his head. "Do you truly believe that I can save her?"
Ruby's red veined eyes met Ozpin's as she let fall all the tears she had held in to spare the world some grief. "Yes! I have to!"
"How quixotic of you," Ozpin observed, regarding the angel over the rim of his mug while he took a long sip. "I do not exist to simply give out miracles, Ruby."
"I know! I know! But please!" Ruby pleaded, her wings dulling as feathers drooped and spun down through the darkness into nothingness. "Please," She sobbed, her chin falling down to her chest.
"I bring balance, Ruby," He explained, reaching out with one hand to bring her head up to face him. "There must be a price for this action."
"I don't care!" Ruby shouted immediately. "I don't care what happens! Just save her!"
Ozpin let out a knowledgeable smile, sadness tinging the corners of his eyes. "Then you will be placed on a new assignment. A new person to guard and protect for their entire life."
She would never see Pyrrha again. But that didn't matter as long as Pyrrha lived.
"Anyone, anywhere, any place, any time. Just save her." Ruby let her head fall to her chest, resigned to her choice.
"Very well." Ozpin smiled down at her. "It will be as you wish."
He waved his cane through the nothingness and ripples emanated out from it, radiating through Ruby's body and she felt her link to Pyrrha shrivel and die. Ruby felt hollow inside. Like she was made of glass and she would shatter just as fast.
"I believe you have an assignment to get to," Ozpin commented idly before he turned on his heel and stepped off into the darkness and faded from sight.
Ruby let out one final secret to the nothing, one she had held so tight it had burned. "I love you, Pyrrha." Then she let her body go limp and felt herself be raised up into the dark as her wings began to glow once more.
Ruby appeared at Pyrrha's side and she hesitated, waiting for a sign that she would have to move on. Then, with a flicker, Pyrrha's life signs burst back onto the monitors and her chest rose and fell again, eyes flitting open and staring straight at Ruby with a smile. Ruby watched with a lump in her throat as Pyrrha called out to her husband and they both began to smile and cry together. Ruby wanted to move towards her, to reach out and touch her one last time.
But her soul was being drawn in another direction.
To someone else.
The doors opened and a nurse came through holding a small bundle, and Ruby instinctively floated over eagerly to peer down into it. Small wails were being emitted from the tiny pink girl wrapped in blankets and as Ruby looked at curious emerald eyes, the crying stopped.
Ruby felt her soul intertwine with the baby girl and a link began to form within her heart, love already spilling over through the connection to the bundle of life.
Ruby smiled.