Chapter 20
"Oof!" Ruby rolled over and winced at the pounding behind her eyes. She definitely over did it a bit on the drinking last night. Remembering puking her guts up in the bathroom with Bruce watching, she groaned. Could life get any worse?
Cracking her eyes open enough to let the light in slowly, she looked around. Gasping in alarm, she sat up quickly; she wasn't in her room! In fact, she didn't recognize where she was at all. Great, she just had to go and issue the universe a challenge. Swallowing down bile and panic, she looked for clues to whose room she had ended up in.
A soft snore drew her gaze to a nearby chair. Curled up on it, looking terribly uncomfortable, was Bruce, his head at a funny angle and his mouth open as he snored. Dressed only in sweatpants and the blanket he had attempted to cover up with on the floor, his upper body was bare to her study. While not rock hard like some of the others that lived in the compound, he was built nicely. She flushed as she remembered how he felt on top of her as they kissed. Yeppers, there was nothing wrong with that body at all.
Wait, if he was half dressed…? Lifting the covers and looking down, Ruby confirmed that she was still wearing her dress from last night, though it had ridden up and was now bunched around her waist. Somewhat disappointed that nothing had happened between them last night, she was nonetheless glad since she couldn't remember anything after the scene in the bathroom. It would really suck to not remember having sex with the man she'd been fantasizing about for the last few days.
Nor could she blame him for choosing the chair instead of sharing the bed with her after watching her make a fool of herself. Her breath could probably drop the Hulk right now. Sliding out of the bed slowly to keep from waking up the sleeping man, she rose to her feet a bit unsteadily. Looking around for her shoes, she found them at the foot of the bed. She briefly considered putting them on, but then decided she would be quieter without them.
It took her several tries and a good deal of wiggling to pull the dress back down over her hips. It might have been easier to just take it off and put it back on, but she wanted to get out of there before he woke up and she died from mortification. Behind her, Bruce moaned and moved. Ruby froze, mortified that he was waking up. There was no way she could face him after making such a fool of herself last night. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that he had just shifted in the chair and his eyes were still closed. She redoubled her efforts to adjust her dress.
Finally decent, she cracked open the door and peered outside. The hall was empty, so she slipped out the door, shutting it softly behind her, then tipped-toed to the stairs. In the stairwell, she saw that she was on the third floor of wherever she was. Probably the main building, she thought. She vaguely remembered hearing that the Avengers all had rooms there. Reaching the ground floor, she listened at the door before stepping out into the hall. She had been correct; it was the main building. Orienting herself, she recognized the hall. To her left were the double doors leading to the main foyer and the bathroom. Flushing, she refused to think about last night. It could wait until she was safely back in her room.
Chewing her lips with indecision, she considered her options. Through the foyer was the shortest distance to the dormitory, but it was also had the most traffic. If she went that way, the probability of someone seeing her was high. She wasn't sure what lay to her right, but surely there was another exit. Her options were a quick dash out the front where she could be spotted by just about anyone, or a path that led deeper into the building where she may or may not run into someone.
"Rough night?"
Ruby started and let out a squeak, spinning to confront Carol Danvers. The Avenger, dressed in comfortable workout clothes, appraised her with bright eyes.
"I'm just trying to get back to my room without embarrassing myself more," Ruby said glumly. "I guess I failed."
Danvers cocked her head, "I might be able to help, if you want."
When Ruby hesitated, she smiled slightly, "but if you'd rather continue your walk of shame…."
Ruby flushed, "what do you have in mind?"
"Come on," Danvers pulled open the door Ruby had just come through. "Let's get you out of that dress."
One the second floor where Danvers' room was located, the two women had to duck into an empty office when they heard a group of people approaching. Peeking through the blinds, Ruby watched as a man she didn't recognize and two agents passed leading a dark-haired woman in cuffs. She was wearing an obviously borrowed men's shirt that hung to mid-thigh on her. Her eyes were deeply shadowed, and her shoulders slumped in exhaustion. As they passed, she turned her head slightly, her bleary, dark eyes meeting Ruby's for just moment.
"Who's that?" she asked Danvers when the group had passed.
"A Hydra operative they apprehended late Friday night."
"She looks like she's had a rough time of it." Despite herself, Ruby felt kind of sorry for the woman.
"She's your enemy," Danvers looked at her with her head cocked to the side.
"That doesn't mean she doesn't deserve to be treated with kindness."
Danvers just shook her head. "Come on. Let's see if we can make it to my room now."
Bruce waited until he was sure Ruby was gone before he opened his eyes and sat up in the chair. Rubbing his face with his hand, he gave a sigh of relief. He was sure she had discovered him being creepy yet again. Her struggle with that damn dress had roused him from his fitful sleep and when he opened his eyes all he could see was Ruby's glorious ass bouncing in front of his face as she fought to pull down her hem. Her lacy panties had bunched up and both globes were practically bare as she bent over.
The hard-on he had fought to rid himself of last night came back to life with a vengeance, painfully bent at an odd angle from his posture in the chair. He must have made a noise as he shifted into a less constricted position because she froze like a rabbit sensing a predator. He quickly shut his eyes, feigning sleep, when she looked back at him. Even with them shut, all he could picture was her ass, so perfect and pale in the dim morning light filtering through the blinds on the window.
He must have been convincing because she continued her work with the dress and left the room just a few minutes later. Somehow, that made him feel even creepier. How had his life gotten so difficult?
Groaning, he stood and stomped to the bathroom. He needed another shower.
Thirty minutes later, Ruby exited the building through the foyer wearing a borrowed set of workout clothes. While Carol Danvers was seemed somewhat aloof when they first met, she had a quirky sense of humor and had put Ruby at ease while they searched for clothes that would fit her small frame.
She had repeated the Kree's offer for Ruby to come study at their home world. Ruby admitted that she was curious, and they had agreed to meet later that day to discuss it at greater length.
Feeling a lot better, Ruby entered the dormitory and pushed the elevator button. It opened almost immediately, and Andy stepped out.
"Ruby?" he looked at her questioningly. "You're up early."
"Yeah, it was a such a lovely morning, I thought some exercise outside would be lovely," she embraced the story Danvers had helped her concoct.
"Wow, you are a beast," he shook his head. "After last night, I'm surprised you're up before noon."
"Last night?" she swallowed nervously. Had he seen or heard about her incident in the bathroom?
"You were pretty lit when you left. I was worried about you getting back to your room."
"Yeah, well, I did," she said, relieved.
"Remind me never to try to out drink you," he laughed.
"Oh, I normally don't drink like that," she said a little defensively.
He waved away her comment, "how about joining me for dinner tonight? You can tell me your secret for holding your alcohol like a pro."
She blanched, "I'm supposed to meet with Captain Marvel. Sorry."
He shrugged, "no worries. Maybe later this week?"
Smiling, she nodded, "I'd like that."
"It's a date, then," he smiled back. "See you later, Ruby."
Stepping into her room, she shut the door softly, careful not to awaken Izzy.
"Lucy, you have some 'splaining to do."
Ruby shrieked and spun to confront her friend, "what is wrong with you? You scared me to death!"
Izzy was reclined on the couch, her feet propped up on the table. Her hands were cupped around a mug from which emanated the intoxicating smell of coffee. On the table in front of her was a second mug with steam rising from its contents.
"All is forgiven if that coffee is for me," she said as she crossed the room and picked up the mug. Raising it to her face, she inhaled deeply. "Ah," she sighed in pleasure.
Mug in hand, she collapsed on the couch by her friend. "Okay, shoot."
"Where did you spend the night? Was it with Andy? He's adorable," Izzy said in quick succession.
Taking a sip of the coffee to give her time to think, Ruby decided not to lie to her best friend.
"No, it wasn't Andy," was all she said.
"Okay," Izzy drug out the word. "Then who?"
When Ruby didn't reply at once, Izzy turned to her with a frown, "oh, no. Tell me it wasn't Dr. Banner."
"Yes," she answered, "and no."
Ruby filled Izzy in on all the details from the night and morning. By the time she was through, the two were giggling like schoolgirls.
"Oh my God, Ruby!" Izzy said with exasperation. "You are the only person I know that could get drunk at a party, spend the night with the one man that didn't attend and STILL not get laid in the process!" She shook her head, "what am I going to do with you?"
"Hug me and tell me you still love me?"
Izzy complied immediately, "I love you, but you are hopeless."
"What am I going to do?" Ruby said, her head buried in the other woman's shoulder. "I can't get him out of my head. Every time I'm around him all I want to do is kiss him."
"You got it bad, luv," Izzy agreed. "Does he feel the same way?"
Releasing Izzy and leaning back on the couch, Ruby stared at the ceiling, "sometimes I think he does, but then he does something that says he doesn't."
"You want to know what I think?"
"Of course, I do."
"I think you should give it some time. Maybe he has an issue with the age difference? You're half his age."
"Tell me something I don't already know."
"Well, then," Izzy continued, "you two are going to be working together all next week. Just play it cool and see what happens."
"I guess," Ruby wasn't convinced, but what other option did she have? She sure wasn't going to confess her infatuation to him. There was no way she could do that.
"You could also give some other guys a chance."
"What?"
Izzy burst out laughing, "you are so clueless, I love you!"
Ruby frowned at her.
"Are you telling me you haven't noticed that a certain trainee has his eyes on you?"
"Are you talking about Andy? He's just being nice."
"I don't think so," Izzy shook her head. "I think he has a thing for you."
"I think you are reading too much into it," Ruby shot back.
"Well, if he asks you out, just give him a chance. You never know, you might accidentally like him."
"Okay," Ruby wasn't convinced, but it wasn't worth arguing over. Then she remembered something. "Oh! Guess what?"
"What?"
Ruby lowered her voice, "they have a Hydra operative in custody here."
Izzy blinked then frowned, "no, way."
"Yes, way!"
"How do you know?"
"I saw her," Ruby said proudly.
"Her?"
Ruby nodded, "this morning, when I was sneaking out of the building, I saw them escorting her. She was in cuffs. Carol said she was with Hydra."
"What did she look like?"
"She was about your height, with dark hair, but not as curly as yours. And her eyes were dark like yours too. But that's as far as the resemblance to you went. Her skin was darker, and her features looked almost exotic."
"Huh," Izzy grunted. "I wonder who she is."
Ruby shrugged, "I don't know."
Izzy was quiet for a moment, then gave a little hop in her seat, "Now it's my turn for a surprise," Izzy slapped her knee, "I have something for you. I was going to give it to you last night, but you bailed on me early."
Ruby almost replied that Izzy was the one that bailed on her, but kept her mouth shut.
Izzy, picked up a box that had been sitting on the couch by her side and held it out, "happy birthday."
Ruby tentatively took the box, "but you already gave me a present." She fingered the pendant at her throat.
"I know," Izzy shrugged, "but you've had a rough time over the last week. I thought this would cheer you up."
Opening the box, Ruby pulled out a silver charm bracelet.
"Oh, it's lovely."
"Here, let me put it on for you."
Izzy fastened the bracelet around her wrist. Ruby shook her hand and the charms made a delightful tinkling sound.
"Do you like it?"
"It's perfect, just like you," she hugged her friend.
"Shut up before you make me throw up!" Izzy pushed her away. "Now go get a shower. You smell like a brewery."
Izzy coaxed her into going to the pool and, after much debate, she decided on a baby blue bikini that was relatively modest. At least next to Izzy's it was. Her friend had no qualms about baring her body for everyone to see. Wearing a bright orange bikini that barely covered her, she proudly flaunted her model-perfect body. Ruby was almost surprised when she put on a cover-up before leaving the room.
The building housing both pools was tucked between the main building and the river that ran past the campus. The interior and the indoor pool were still under construction, but the outdoor pool was open for use, as was the track. Surrounded by construction and bare ground, the shimmering aqua color of the water stood out like an oasis in a desert, complete with umbrella covered tables and lounge chairs in bright, vibrant colors.
This late in the morning, there were a handful of people making use of the pool, most doing laps. With the same air as Elizabeth Taylor playing Cleopatra, Izzy glided across the cement, claiming a lounge chair. Stripping off her cover-up, she stretched like a cat before gracefully sitting down and arranging herself on the lounge. By the time she was satisfied with her position, she had the attention of everyone in the area, including the swimmers and even some nearby construction workers. Ruby watched her with envy, wishing she could be as confident.
Conscious of all the eyes looking in their direction, Ruby took off her cover-up and quickly crossed to the water's edge. Choosing an unoccupied lane, she dove smoothing into the cool water, kicking strongly. She came up a few yards away from the wall and started swimming. If she was going to be at the pool, she was going to get some exercise. Two laps in, her body reminded her that it had been several months since she last swam; her arms and shoulders were starting to burn with the effort. Flipping over onto her back for the third lap, she changed to the backstroke.
From this position, she could see the bright blue summer sky overhead dotted with just a few fluffy clouds. Her mind clear of all but the effort of moving her body through the water, Ruby gave herself over to the exercise and relaxed. Finding her Zen reinvigorated her so much that after her fourth lap, she flipped again, changing back to freestyle for two more laps. At the end of her last lap, she clung to the side of the pool to let her breathing and heartrate return to normal.
With her eyes closed, she wasn't aware of someone approaching until their shadow blocked out the sun. She blinked up at the person, not being able to see them clearly with the sun behind them until they crouched down beside her.
"Hey," Andy greeted her.
"Are you stalking me?" she smiled.
"Maybe."
"Keep this up and I'll have to notify the authorities," she pushed away from the side to tread water.
"Well, I happen to know a couple that I could recommend," he grinned.
"I may take you up on that."
"Are you done?" he asked.
"Yeah," she floated back to the side, "I think six laps is my limit for today if I don't want my heart to explode."
"Huh, not bad for a civilian. Here," he held his hand out to her, "let me give you a hand up."
Andy pulled her out of the water as if she weighed nothing, not even grunting from the effort. Once out of the water, her skin cooled quickly giving her goose bumps. Looking over to where Izzy lay, she realized that her friend had quite the audience now and she would have to go through them to get her towel and cover-up. She heaved a sigh.
"Here," Andy held out a towel with a smirk.
Taking it, she asked, "is this how you spend your spare time? Stalking women and handing out towels?"
"Everyone's got to have a hobby," he shrugged.
She started giggling. "What's your next move?"
"Have lunch with me and I'll tell you."
"Smooth."
He grinned, "I thought so."
She glanced back towards her friend, "I guess I'll have to brave the hoard to get the rest of my stuff."
"Want me to go in and clear them out?"
"Nah," she shook her head. "Let Izzy have her fun. I doubt they'll even notice me."
"Then they're idiots."
She flushed, "err, thanks."
She reluctantly started towards the crowd only to be stopped by Andy.
"Wait, you never said if you'd have lunch with me."
She gave him a sly smile over her shoulder, "no, I didn't."
"Well?"
"I guess you'll have to wait and see."
