A/N: Hello, everyone! I hope you all are having a good week so far. Sorry, it took me a while to update. I've been going back and forth with this chapter and 24, along with several scenes for later chapters. So now, I have five in total to finish instead of four. I'm now hoping to finish by March or April.
I know the last Update was a tease, considering how short it was. This chapter picks up from where we left off when Victor finds the polaroid but earlier. You get to see things from his perspective.
05/11/20 Update: I went back and fixed a couple of things. I even reverted to the original content for a particular scene.
Anyway, enjoy the read, and reviews are always appreciated! :)
It's undoubtedly bright this Christmas morning. The fresh snow on the ground seemed to glow whiter than it should, especially when the sun is partially hidden from clouds. It made Victor think of the Black Sabbath song, "Snowblind." Not in the literal sense of him getting high on cocaine kind of thing, though. It's just that the bright snow is blinding him.
Against the white, he can see the dark Neibolt House on their approach. Walking here took forever, but its better than having Belch's Trans-Am stuck in a ditch somewhere or worse. The yin-yang of black and white has a strange harmony. If it had dazzling Christmas lights, it would seem surreal. A place like Neibolt shouldn't be adorned with innocence, such as multi-colored lightbulbs or virgin white snow. Yet here he is, the house of where Ruth lives and with a guy who seems more intimidating than anything else.
Victor sighs heavily as he, Henry, and Belch, ascended the front steps. Henry could have knocked to announce their presence but opted not to. They all heard Ruth giggling, along with Robert, which is strangely masculine. Their brows furrow from the strange guffaw coming from the male but are relieved someone is having fun this morning. Their Christmas is mediocre at best, but it is well worth knowing Ruth's is better than any other year before this.
"I guess they decided to have a snowball fight," Henry states, then entered the dark house.
Belch followed after him but is quick to push in front. He wants to see if his planted mistletoe worked.
Victor watched the two go on ahead of him. He stood in the foyer glancing around briefly then towards the room they had decorated three days ago. He remembers the conversation he and the guys had with Robert. It was strange seeing the tall young man excited about doing something for Ruth. Mind you, Victor likes Ruth, too, but he would not go above and beyond for her. In fact, Victor wouldn't go to the extreme of falling for the pretty girl. Yes, he, Henry, and Belch are helping in keeping Ruth hidden from the public eye but have grown tired of it. Well, maybe he and Henry are, he's not sure about Belch, though. They're close like siblings, so Belch probably enjoys helping her still. There were a few occasions where they were almost caught here. Of course, since those times, the boys are careful now in visiting Ruth whenever possible.
Since they resumed their usual schedule, all three are still extremely wary of Ruth. They firmly believe it has something to do with this Robert guy. Granted, the slightly older adult and Ruth get along quite well and are extremely friendly. During his visits with Ruth, Victor has noticed something not so ordinary about her. Ruth's mannerisms and maturity level have improved immensely. It's scary, honestly. This is a side neither of the guys is used to seeing. Before meeting Robert, Ruth was charming but timid with trust issues. For good reasons, though. Now, it seems Ruth has turned into a person who is perceptive, calculating, and unpredictable. Ruth has even developed a playfulness that they find strange and a little cunning. Victor suspects it has something to do with her roommate, Robert.
Victor also has a suspicion there is something not right about her companion. The guy is intimidating and creepy. He does not like the guy at all. Of course, Victor won't directly say this to Ruth. She'll most likely do something that would cause significant harm to him. Ruth does have a temper if provoked. He has this gut feeling that the adult is molding Ruth into a person they don't recognize anymore. Thinking about it, even more, Victor noticed this change before Ruth murdered Jordan out of self-defense.
To get the answers he needs, Victor would have to pull Ruth aside and figure out who Robert really is.
"Hmm, looks like the mistletoe worked," Victor hears Belch say once he stepped on the back porch.
Victor snaps out of his thoughts to peek around the corner, barely seeing anything.
"Yeah, it sure seems like it. Get a room you two, jeez." Henry replied in mild disgust and started towards the naked snowman.
Victor finally came to the back porch and saw the pair ignoring their presence. He smirked at the two when Victor noticed the way they looked at each other. They both seemed surreally happy and content.
"Nah, let them stay like that. Oh, as a matter of fact," Victor replies, then stoops to grab Ruth's camera.
Ruth, a while ago, got into photography and is taking snapshots of her best moments as keepsakes. Victor firmly believes it's a terrific idea. Not only is art an outlet for her, but it's also a career worth striving for other than a robust and healthy relationship with a supportive male by her side. Apparently, Robert is that guy since the two have this strange look of longing in their gazes.
When Victor stooped to snatch the camera, he noticed a polaroid from the corner of his eye. At first, he was going to ignore it, but something caught Victor's attention. There are tuffs of wild ginger hair against the white, along with bright red markings. Curious, Victor analyzed the photo with a critical eye. The composition is not what intrigued him in the first place or the lighting. It's the subject.
I've seen those eyes before, Victor thought as he looked closely at the chalk-white figure's golden orbs.
He recalls seeing these bright golden eyes staring at him from behind Ruth at her old place. Victor was startled by them as they appeared menacing and were watching him like a predator.
Victor furrows his brows then glances over at Ruth and Robert, who is still laying in the snow and whispering amongst themselves with conspiring grins. They don't notice him watching or the fact Henry and Belch are altering the snowman by placing rounded snowballs as breasts on the torso.
He rolls his eyes at them with a corner of his mouth, quirked up. Victor glances back at Ruth and takes a photo of the unusually cute couple who are kissing again. He noticed Robert's hand gliding beneath Ruth's sweater, which ultimately made the boy uncomfortable. Victor is sure they are only doing this to get under his skin. It's working, too, because they are getting really into it. Plus, the sounds they're making are no joke either.
Good grief. Henry is right, those two need to get a room. Jeez, Victor mused to himself while fanning the polaroid.
Upon glancing at the fully developed shot, Victor's eyes narrow despite his grin. Slowly, he is putting his findings together. He knows Robert is awfully protective of Ruth and seems to continuously be near her. If Victor recalls correctly, whoever he saw at Ruth's old place was behind her and had a watchful eye on him, along with Ruth. He then noticed the smile. His photo of Robert and Ruth's of this clown have identical gleeful grins.
It hit him like a freight train, the clown in the picture is Robert. How is that even possible? Victor wished he knew. All he knows is that Victor is disturbed by his findings. He shoves the polaroid into his back pocket then started towards Ruth and Robert, who remained lost in a passionate frenzy.
"Alright, lovebirds, break it up. You're melting the snow," Victor replies upon approach.
They stop at his request, which Ruth snaps a dangerous glare at him. Victor doesn't back off. In fact, he's sure he'll receive more in the next five minutes.
"Sorry, but your heavy make-out session is making me uncomfortable."
Ruth pauses for dramatic effect before a strange smile graced her lips. Honestly, it unnerved him.
"That is the point. You shouldn't have intruded on us."
The tone in Ruth's voice sounded playful and sweet yet cunning, which only furthered Victor's uneasiness.
"We'll keep that in mind next time. Besides, we only came by to see how the surprise went."
Ruth's grins changes within seconds upon mentioning the Christmas surprise. "It was absolutely perfect! A marvelous gesture. Thank you so much for decorating our home."
Wait, their home?
He glances over at the dark and brooding Neibolt House. Victor felt a chill run down his spine, and it wasn't from the bitter cold. He regards Ruth again, trying his best not to show the apprehension in his gaze. Victor then noticed Robert staring at him with this odd gleam in his eyes.
Victor steps back with a frown.
Okay, this guy is definitely creepy, Victor thought.
"Huh yeah, you're welcome," Victor mutters then looks over at Henry and Belch.
They have taken the liberty in making a sexy snow woman and is adorning it with Ruth's lilac scarf, which apparently fell off earlier. To add on to their immaturity, they playfully swoon over the white shapely and busty figure.
"Just so you know, the nimrods over there made your snowman a girl."
Robert bolts up, leaving the warmth of Ruth's body with an aggravated frown.
"Hey! What in the name of the Crimson King are you loggerheads doing with my snowman?" He bellows with hands balled at his sides like a child having a tantrum.
Oblivious to the strange name, Ruth and Victor snickered at Robert's childlike antics.
"Finishing your snowman dude, well, girl. Ain't she pretty?" Belch responds with a goofy grin.
Robert groans then stood to his feet. He held his hands behind him, hiding something that only Ruth and Victor can see.
"Ain't is not in the English dictionary, you ignoramus. And for your information, I was in the middle of building him when my darling Ruth started a snowball war with me."
Henry blew raspberries, "Pfft, your darling Ruth? She ain't no," Henry doesn't get to finish when a snowball slams into his groin.
He makes a caw of a grunt and doubles over.
"Ahh, right in the nut sack," Henry groaned then collapsed into the snow.
Belch laughs hysterically at the fallen ring leader before a blast of cold and white powder burst in his mouth, muffling his voice. The impact caused him to fall backward, grunting upon landing in the snow.
Both Victor and Ruth laugh at the two while Robert lumbered forwards with more ammo in his hands.
"Vandalize my snowman, why don't you. Eat frozen rain, cretins!"
Ruth and Victor burst into a fit of giggles as Robert, who chased after Henry and Belch to hurl huge snowballs, face plants into the ground. After he got up, they watched as the two boys and the tall adult commenced in a snowball war themselves.
Victor chuckles lightly then glances down at Ruth, who is smiling fondly at Robert. He sees the pink in her cheeks grow redder when she touched her lips since they tingled still.
"Hey, would you like some hot chocolate?"
Ruth turns her attention on him, brows furrowing.
"You brought some with you?"
"Yeah, they're sitting on the table."
"Wouldn't they be cold by now? I know you didn't drive here."
"Eh, consider them chocolate milk then. Come on now."
He is quick to turn heel and head inside where it's warmer, leaving Ruth observing him.
Once inside the decent sized kitchen, well what should be a kitchen, Victor stood by the stove. He looks around briefly while fidgeting with his fingers. Victor is not sure what to expect with the conversation they're about to have. He only had a short minute when Ruth came in and removed her jacket.
She glances down at the table then at Victor.
"I had a feeling you didn't bring hot chocolate to share. If you wanted to talk, you could have said so," Ruth says while tidying up her hair.
"I could, but then you would be suspicious."
Ruth resolves herself to not say anything, only analyzed him.
He sighs heavily then regards Ruth with a deep frown.
"What's going on, Ruth?"
She appeared startled but cocked her head slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"You haven't been the same since before everything went downhill for you. I almost feel like there's something off about you now."
"I'm still the same Victor, only improved. Consider me, Ruth 2.0," she jokes lightly.
Victor doesn't laugh, though. "Very funny, Ruth. Come on now, what's going on? And just who or what is that guy?"
Her brows knit close. "What are you talking about? And who are you referring to here?"
Victor heaves a sigh, then fishes out the two polaroid's and slaps them on the wooden table.
"Robert, who is he really? Well, what is he?"
Ruth remained calm as she stared at the photos. She inwardly smiled at the picture Victor took since he caught an intimate moment between her and Robert. They do look cute together if Robert were an actual human being. Simultaneously, though, Ruth is freaking out. She set her photograph aside for Victor to see.
Oh, shit and Shinola!
"I don't know what you're insinuating here, but Robert is a human being like us."
Victor rolled his eyes and shoved the two photos directly in front of her.
"I'm not buying it, Ruth. Who on this planet could have the same smile as him?"
"You need to lighten up, Vic. Besides, what makes you think he is any different?"
"I've seen those gold eyes before!" Victor shouts, shoving the polaroid's at Ruth still.
Ruth stares, "Where?"
"At your old place. Well, what used to be your house since you burned it down several months ago. The night we came to rescue you on your birthday, I saw someone standing behind you with gold eyes watching me leave. Granted, they were glowing then, but I swear to you, Robert has the same colored eyes."
She heaves a sigh then glares at the photos with a critical eye. There is no mistaking it. Robert, aka Pennywise, has the same eye color and grin in each photo. How Victor figured this out on his own? Ruth wished she knew. All Ruth knows is to not let this bother her right now. She will figure out what to do with him to keep the numbskull from talking about his findings.
"Hmm, I don't see it."
Victor threw his hands in the air, groaning. "Seriously! For crying out loud, Ruth, it is clear as day!"
"Sorry, but I don't see what you're seeing. Now stop being so dramatic, and let's go have some fun in the snow."
Victor regards her now with a scowl, "You're lying."
She rolls her eyes.
"For the last time, you numbskull, Robert is human just like us. Now leave it alone."
Ruth brushes the subject off by starting toward the back porch.
Victor stares at her back, thinking about how to go about this now. It came rather quickly.
"You've been acting differently since you met this weirdo, Ruth."
She stops at the other end of the table, her back stiffening, and neck cracks.
"Careful, Victor," Ruth warns in a hushed, deepened whisper.
"Actually wait, you're not the same Ruth I know after you nearly got run over by that damned truck. Did you meet this freak after the black boy? If so, it would explain a lot of your strange behavior as of late."
Ruth's eyes darkened then turned sharply on her heels to approach him with her hands balled at the sides.
"Watch it," she growls with hostility.
Victor smirks, he struck a chord. "Are you being protective of him for a reason? Is this creepo of a clown, Robert, the one who slaughtered Jonathan? Do know, I can and will go to the police about him when I'm able."
Ruth stepped further, forcing Victor back an inch.
"I'm warning you, Victor. I don't care if you detest Robert, but you do not speak illy of him in front of me. Press your luck any further, I will make you wish you were nothing but a thought."
He didn't like the sound of her threat, nor did he like the way her hazel eyes glimmered dangerously. Something is defiantly not right about her, which only frightened Victor even more. Suddenly feeling very uncomfortable and scared, Victor reacts in a way he shouldn't have. He thrust a fist at her and strikes Ruth's mouth and nose. She yelps and backs away from him, bumping into the table behind her with a grunt. He watched her for a brief second when Victor realized what he had done.
"Oh shit! Fuck, Ruth, I'm so," Victor starts to apologize.
Ruth snaps her gaze on him, taken aback that he had struck her even... confused. She pulls her hand away, glancing down to see dark crimson liquid on her fingers. Her breath stalls from the sight then slowly regarded Victor again, gaping slightly.
He stares as fear gripped him at his throat like a vice. Victor never considered the consequences after punching Ruth. It was a reflex, a defense, and he's about to receive punishment. The look Ruth shot at him is evidence enough.
"Did you seriously just strike me?" Ruth growls.
"I'm really sorry," Victor begun only to stop.
Ruth dangerously glares at him, her nose bleeding profusely, and shoulders squared. They can hear voices coming in from behind them, and neither is prepared to answer questions.
Victor gaps helplessly, struggling to find the words to apologize. He glances from her to the hallway of which leads to the back porch nervously. His mouth opens to say something but couldn't.
"Don't say a fucking word," Ruth enunciates with a low, menacing snarl.
Her deepened voice startled him. He's seen Ruth angry before but never like this. Her vicious expression alone made Victor shrink back into the stove in fear. Her hazel eyes darkened with rage, and the corners of her lips tightened. It is a look that could kill, and it seems she is on the verge of doing just that.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about?" Belch inquired as he, Henry, and Robert entered the room covered in powdery white snow.
Victor watched in horror when with a flip of a switch, Ruth feigned an innocent exterior with ease. He shook violently when Victor realized how much of Jordan laid dormant in Ruth's anger. She could very well be much worse than her mother if Ruth just terrified him into submission just seconds ago.
Holy Shinola! Who is she?
"I just wanted to personally thank Victor for the gifts he got me, is all."
Ruth turned to regard the others with an innocent smile and a bloody nose.
"Holy shit, what happened to you?" Belch exclaimed at the sight of blood.
"It's just a bloody nose. I get nosebleeds every so often if my sinuses are dry. Robert, can I get your help, please?"
Victor saw Ruth snatch the two photos and stuffed them in the back pockets of her jeans. His stomach plummets from the sickening thought of her informing her newly acquired boyfriend of what he discovered. Victor is now beginning to wonder if he shouldn't have said anything. The glare she gave him before rushing off is warning enough.
Aw hell, I'm in deep shit now, Victor thought nervously.
"Whoa, Vic," Henry called to him.
He hums in acknowledgment.
"You don't look so good. You alright?"
"Hmm, oh yeah, yeah, I'm good. Get the cards out. Let's play some Blackjack."
"Ow," Ruth yelps slightly.
"Sorry."
Robert whispers, compressing her small nostrils with a towel to stop the bleeding. He watched Ruth while brushing strands of hair from her eyes. Robert then caught sight of the purple bruise at the corner of her mouth.
"I didn't know sinuses caused bruises," he states sarcastically.
"I didn't know that either," she jokes.
Robert removes the towel to glare at her, frowning.
"Are you seriously laughing about this?"
Ruth shrugs, avoiding eye contact with him. His closeness is causing a burning inferno to resonate deep within her abdomen. She can even feel her pulse quicken.
"It's either that or scream."
"I would prefer neither. Now how exactly did this happen, Ruth?"
She heaves a sigh through her nose, which was a wrong move since Ruth blew blood and trailed down her face again.
"Gah, damnit."
It's Robert's turn to sigh. "Silly girl, lean forward."
Ruth moaned and followed his instructions. Her head rests on his chest while letting him tend to the bloody nose. Ruth closed her eyes as she felt the start of a headache. She hates getting punched at, especially when it triggers memories from when her uncle Jonathan was around. He always seemed to strike Ruth in the head or face, and they were painful, too. The night she was backhanded because of the cookies is a good example. Him yanking at her hair is another. While Victor's punch hurt, it is not near as bad, though.
"Victor," she replies nasally.
Oh, god, I sound like a freaking chipmunk, Ruth thought to herself.
She can feel Robert's fingers tighten, which begun to hurt and made her eyes water.
"Ow, um, Pen, you're hurting me."
"Oops, sorry," she heard him mutter quickly then lessened his grip. "Victor did this to you?"
Ruth breathed through her mouth, "Yes."
"Why would he strike you, Ruth? You best answer before I go out there and murder the little shit."
"Let go of my nose, and I will explain. I don't want to sound like Alvin the Chipmunk here."
Strangely enough, Robert snorts from the reference and removes the towel.
"You mean the cartoon rodent dressed in red and wearing a stupid cap?"
Ruth smiles, "Yep, that's the one."
She moves back a little to rest against the sink and stare at his muscular chest. Ruth is only a mere inch away from Robert's towering frame, which is driving her wild. The downstairs bathroom is small. They can barely fit since it's a one-person powder room, but Ruth kind of likes it, though. Having Robert, well Pennywise, this close provided a strange, welcoming warmth in her heart and in other areas as well.
When Ruth glances up at him, she is startled to feel his warm lips lightly press at her nose and corner of her mouth. She grew rigid from his touch and has an awed expression. Inwardly, Ruth is squealing in sheer delight.
"What was that for?" She wonders softly.
He smiled gently against her cheek, pecking light kisses at Ruth's mouth.
"Kissing to make them feel better," Robert whispers, his breath ghosting over her skin.
If Ruth could keel backward, she would. This is by far the sweetest gesture Robert has ever done for her. He's done a lot of things, but this is second to the top of the list. Instead, she grins madly as a deep flush swept along her cheeks and nose. Strangely, Ruth felt a delightful tingle as Robert continued kissing her. She doesn't even feel or taste blood on her skin anymore.
"They're feeling much better now, thank you, Robby."
He pleasantly groans before pulling away and gazes at her. She saw it then. A light blush swept across his cheeks, and he looks cute with the little color on his fair skin. Ruth smiles fondly before clearing her throat and try speaking about what happened. She is sure Victor told Henry and Belch his side of the story. Except, for some odd reason, Ruth believes he kept his findings to himself. Although she doesn't want to take a chance of him foiling her dreams of being with Pennywise for the rest of his one-year here. They only have eight more months to go anyway. She wants to make his time here worthwhile.
"Hum about Victor," Ruth started in a whisper.
"Oh, uh, right."
"Did you forget already?" Ruth questions with a grin.
"Only because you distracted me."
She giggles, leaning back a little further.
"You allow yourself to get distracted, Penny Pen. This," Ruth starts as she pointed at her faint bruise.
"Was from Victor striking me for whatever reason. I-I'm guessing I had another episode."
Robert stared for a moment, considering something. "You blacked out again?"
"Unfortunately. I guess, maybe I was a little too threatening when Victor was speaking disrespectfully about you."
Robert's brows furrow, "Why would he?"
"He believes you're the reason I appear different to him, which I don't think I am."
"No, you are different, Ruth. Except I see it in a good way," Robert admits.
Ruth smiles, "Thank you, but that is part of the reason why Victor struck me. He wanted me to fess up about you."
A brow quirk upwards. "Huh, fess up?"
With a long, steady sigh and crossing her arms, Ruth answers calmly. "He knows."
Robert stares for a moment, his brows now knitting close. "Knows what?"
With a light huff, she pulls the two photos from her pocket and presented them to him.
"Apparently, Vic saw the photo of you in your clown form."
"So, there's nothing to be worried about," Robert replies casually while gazing at the photo with a smirk. "Great shot, by the way."
Ruth blinks and tilts her head with a slight grin. "Thank you, but take a closer look at the photos, Pen. What looks the same in each?"
With a skew of his lips, he scrutinizes the two snapshots. Robert then took notice of his smile. His smirk drops, deadpanning slightly. "Oh."
"You have the same cute goofy grin in both photos. Apparently, Victor is not as dumb as he looks if he was able to determine who you were just from your smile."
Robert scuffs with a roll his shoulder, "He recognized me by my smile, big deal. I'm telling you, kitten, there's nothing to worry about."
"Oh? I shouldn't, huh? It's not just your smile, though. He recognized your eyes."
A little disturbed at what she's pointing out, Robert took another look. His eyes are golden orange in color while in his Pennywise form. He then noticed there are the same in his current transformation. His grin, of course, is very much the same, as well. Robert does have an unusual yet unique smile and eye color. So, for Victor to recognize him because of these two traits is undoubtedly concerning.
He frowns and sighs, "How could he have known who I was just by recognizing my smile and eyes?"
Ruth sighs, as well. "From what Victor told me, he remembered seeing gold eyes watching him leaving the night of my birthday. You were standing behind me to watch Victor leave as I was."
Robert blinks, deadpanning when he remembered as well. He rolled his eyes with a deep groan and facepalmed himself. "Damnit."
"Concerned now?"
He glances down at Ruth, discovering she is not smirking or has the "I told you so," look. She is deeply alarmed that someone figured out who he was. Robert attempts to smile but had no strength to do so. Instead, he frowns.
"What do you propose we do to handle the situation?" Robert inquires.
Ruth sighs heavily, her arms crossed still and searching his gaze. "We have options on how we can go about dealing with him. We could kill him like you wanted to earlier."
Robert shook his head, "No, it will be too risky and obvious. The last thing we need is you becoming a suspect since the idiot was here with Curly and Moe."
"Okay then, what do you suggest we do?"
He considers Ruth for a moment, contemplating something. "I do have a solution. It requires getting you involved, of course."
Ruth blinks and furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"
Robert grins, "Scaring him into silence like you did with the Marsh girl."
She gasps, pressing herself further onto the sink.
"Absolutely, not," she protested.
Ruth starts for the bathroom door, only to be blocked by Robert's towering frame. She felt cornered and stumbled backward into the sink. He stepped closer, intimidating her, which she felt that searing heat rocket through her core. Ruth shudders a breath while avoiding eye contact. Doing so will give away the want in her eyes and the sensations she gets from him. Robert, her Pennywise and Eater of Worlds, is slowly becoming her kryptonite. He makes her weak in the knees yet gives her a strength Ruth never thought possible. Deadlights gives Ruth a sense of fulfillment and purpose. He's her fighting chance.
"May I remind you how good it felt?"
Ruth sighs, pleading. "Pen, please."
"It invigorated you. Do you not want to feel that pleasure again?"
"Pen, please, please don't pressure me into doing something I don't want to do."
"Ruth," Robert growls impatiently, his eyes flashing gold.
"Please," she insists and tugs at his blazer.
Ruth stares up at him then, her sad puppy eyes laced with fear emerged and lightly pouts.
"Please," she pleads once more. "I still don't understand what I had done to her, and now it happened again with Victor. The only difference is that I was more aware of what occurred then when it was with Beverly. Besides, what I felt doesn't matter. Yes, what I felt then was invigorating, yet it seemed... alien, foreign, and that scares me than anything. So, please, I don't want to go through that again."
He heavily sighs then stares at Ruth softly, reconsidering his motives now. Robert, well Pennywise, hates it when Ruth feels scared about something that is out of her control. The incident on the bridge is one of them. Ruth has no clue what had happened and vaguely remembers now. She now had a similar instance with Victor but was more aware and in control of herself. Robert remembered the exchange they had before he climbed onto her uncomfortable hospital bed and hugged her close. He regretted causing Ruth pain, and Robert doesn't want to do that again. He cares too much for Ruth to jeopardize his beautiful relationship with the human girl.
After a considerable moment, Robert backs off but kept close to Ruth.
"I'm sorry," he whispers, then took her into his arms.
Ruth doesn't object. She lets him hold her tightly, whispering in her ear.
"If you don't want to go through something like that again, then we won't go that route. We'll think of something else."
She lightly trembled as a sigh left her lungs, then wraps her arms around his waist, and hums in appreciation.
"Let's just scare him, okay?"
"Okay. A good old fashioned scare?"
Ruth hums in agreement, refusing to withdraw from him. The embrace is calming her raging storm within her mind and body.
It's short-lived, though, when Robert pulls away slightly and looks down at her with a gentle smile.
"You know, for someone who is supposed to be completely evil, you are incredibly sweet towards me," Ruth observed with a smirk.
"That's because you're my girl," he purrs. He bends and lightly kisses both of her eyes.
She doesn't know what the gesture signifies, but the sensation Ruth felt left her feeling extremely hopeful. Ruth hums appreciatively and lays her head upon his chest.
"I am, aren't I?"
He sighs contently, embracing Ruth if she were a lifeline. Ruth returns the gesture. They stood in the small bathroom like this in silence for quite a while, it seems. It was really only a minute when to them, it felt eternal. Whatever this relationship is, it runs deep.
This light and content silence is disturbed by a small voice.
"Pen," Ruth calls in a whisper.
Robert hums in acknowledgment, shifting slightly.
"Thank you."
There is another brief second of silence between them. Robert didn't have to say anything in return, he's just happy to provide Ruth comfort. He does, however, break the embrace to stare into her eyes. For a millisecond, Robert did nothing but stare. Ruth had looked up at him so innocently and licked her lips as if anticipating a taste of something in particular. He didn't hesitate to lean over her and captured Ruth's mouth with his for a searing kiss. She answers back with equal enthusiasm and a light moan.
Robert groans and hoists Ruth off the floor to sit precariously on the rim of the sink. It creaks from under her weight, dangerously close to ripping from the wall. Robert stood in between her and leans, adding onto the porcelain fixture. It made an unpleasant groan, but they refused to stop. He forces her back towards the wall, kissing Ruth hard and passionately. The intensity of their kiss caught Ruth off guard but is quick in following his lead with a light mewl. Her legs round at his muscular thighs, anchoring herself to keep balance. He has one hand entangled in her hair, cupped the back of her head and shoves his tongue in Ruth's mouth. Another wove under her sweater and caressed hot flesh at the small of Ruth's back. Robert is rewarded with a pleasurable moan from her, along with Ruth's nimble fingers finding the back hem of his shirt and tugged it out from within the jeans. Her hands glided along his back, the pads of her fingers soon pressed on him, and nails dug into his taut muscles. The sensations Robert felt made him moan and urged him further. His touch ghosts along her sides and stomach, creating goosebumps and for Ruth to mewl.
The poor sink creaked and groaned from their movements, but surprisingly remained intact. The two star-crossed lovers kissed fiercely for roughly a moment when they hear the boys from down the hall exclaim loudly and scream profanities.
Robert groans with agitation and unwillingly breaks the heated kiss. He stares down at Ruth, lightly panting and licks his lips to savor the taste of her. Ruth is eyeing him with her puppy eyes and a disappointed pout, a tactic he finds adorable and a weakness. With a sigh, he leans to lay his head on hers, enjoying the afterglow fondly.
"I'm going to kill them," he whispers near Ruth's lips.
Ruth hums and smiles. "I'd be happy to assist you with that."
He chuckles softly, then simply kisses Ruth again and purrs himself.
"I wonder what those loggerheads are doing now?"
Ruth chuckles softly, "Being boys. I guess we should see what they're up to."
He sighs heavily, disappointment evident in his gaze for leaving the comfort of Ruth's warmth and missing her lips.
"Yeah, I guess," he admits and hesitantly pulls back.
Ruth is quick to pull Robert towards her again and kisses him softly. She withdraws, smirks, and winks up at him.
"We'll pick up where we left off later. Let's go humiliate the mood killers."
He couldn't help but grin.
"What do you have in mind?"
Ruth continued to smirk then reaches behind her and underneath the sweater, unhooking her bra.
Startled, Robert quickly stood back and bumps into the blackened and moldy toilet. He is also quick to tuck his shirt back behind him.
"Um, uh, what are you doing?"
"Oh, don't have a coronary, Pen. To get back at the buffoons, I'm going to mortify them with an article of clothing that is sure to make their skins crawl."
He wanted to look down and watch but dared not to. "With your um… brassiere?"
Ruth gazes up at him, smirking and held her pink laced bra in his line of vision teasingly. "The boys consider me their sister since I'm "In the Gang" now. No boy, who has a sibling-like relationship with a girl, would want to see their unmentionables. Besides, most guys get weirded out by girls' undergarments."
A faint blush swept across Robert's nose then and glances down, faintly smirking. Well, she isn't wrong.
"Come on, Robby. Let's go humiliate the loggerheads as you put it earlier," Ruth urges with mischief.
Robert eyes her for a moment before taking Ruth's hand in his, grinning. He understood now. Robert exits first with Ruth following closely by his side, bashfully smirking and towards the rambunctious bunch.
Upon entering the dining room, the two discovered Henry, Belch, and Victor playing a game of Blackjack. Ruth had to scoff at them while Robert rolled his eyes at their need to gamble, which is something he never truly understood.
Ruth screws her lips as they are not acknowledging her or Robert since they stood in the doorway. This allowed Ruth to lightly toss her undergarment onto the table. Upon landing in front of them, Henry, Belch, and Victor recoil from the item.
"Ah, what the hell, girly? What, why did you take that off?" Henry questioned in disgust as pointed at the monstrosity.
"It's pink! I thought you hated pink… and it's lace!" Victor bellows.
"Oh, don't get your panties in a bunch, boys. I've had it for a while now. Besides, it wasn't me who took my bra off."
They glanced at Robert, who easily feigned a proud grin.
"Dude! You're like seven years older than her!" Belch yells and turning a bright red.
"Does it really matter?"
Robert smirks and winks at Ruth as he slipped past her to lean against the wall. She grins before turning her attention on the boys again.
"And what did I tell you about gambling?" Ruth scowls with arms crossed.
"Sorry, it was his idea," Victor defends while pointing at Henry.
Henry gaps audibly, "Was not!"
"Yes, it was!"
Ruth groans, finding their bickering childish. Except, a metaphorical light bulb went off in her head. She quickly glances at Robert and winks. Of course, the gesture confused him, especially since Ruth started forwards. She approached the table and sat near Victor.
"Um, what are you doing?" Victor inquired uncomfortably and tried not to look down at her chest.
"I would like to play."
Henry bewilderedly stares, "Um, why?"
"What kind of host would I be if I didn't play a couple of rounds?"
Belch, too, stares. "For winnings?"
"Oh, no. I don't gamble for earnings. I have something much better in mind."
"Okay, what would that be? And if all four of us are playing, who is the dealer?" Belch questioned.
"Oh, I'm the dealer. The rules are still the same as regular Blackjack, but with a twist. Whoever has the lowest hand leaves the table. If you bust, you're automatically out. We'll go for three rounds. Oh, and you want to lose. The last person standing will have to beat my hand two out of three. If you don't beat me, you must help me clean the basement."
The boys blink before the protest start spewing from their mouths.
"Seriously? What the hell girly?" Henry bellows.
"Why those stakes? You have Robert to help you with that task," Belch follows.
"Can I just go home?" Victor whined.
"Nope," Ruth grins. "Besides, we could use an extra set of hands. The basement is a little too big for two people to clean."
The boys groaned while Robert stared pokerfaced. Something about Ruth's eagerness is startling and concerning. Yes, he wants to scare the bejesus out of Victor and slug him one for hitting Ruth, but Robert feels today is not the day.
"What are you doing, Viv?"
"Robert," Ruth gently called.
He snaps his gaze on her, catching Ruth's soft angelic features. She smiles, which is a sure sign Ruth is up to something.
"Don't help."
"Would you be so kind as to shuffle and cut the deck for me, please?" Ruth implores with her puppy eyes.
Robert hesitates at first but caves after succumbing to the pleading puppy eyes.
"Sure."
Robert nervously snatches the deck, shuffling the cards at lightning speed and cuts them in half. He hands them back to Ruth, who excitedly hands each of the boys their cards.
First-round, Henry went out with a bust on one hit. He was glad, too, as Henry hates cleaning.
The second round, they had to go two as both Belch and Victor pushed on the first hand. Belch went out with a bust after hitting one too many times.
It was then Ruth and Victor, he must beat her two out of three. In the final round, on game one, Victor won with his first Blackjack since they started playing. Game two, Ruth won after hitting on a soft seventeen. She squealed in excitement, but it only raises the stakes for Victor to get a face card and a high number.
He stares Ruth down as she too glared. The final hand. Ruth deals, Victor doesn't get his face card but a disappointing total of ten.
Victor huffs, remaining calm as he looked over at Ruth's face-up card. She has a joker. He can only hope Ruth has a low number.
"Hit me," Vic demands with confidence.
Ruth searches his gaze before placing a card down.
Yes, a face card! And a king no less!
"Ha! Twenty! Beat that, Ruth," Victor boasts.
Her features remained placid as she slowly flipped the bottom card with the other.
"Come on, Vic," Henry encourages anxiously.
Ruth sighs heavily as her card flipped up to reveal her hand. Victor, who was grinning wildly, stares before his mouth hung open. Ruth's card is an ace.
She grins victoriously, "Blackjack."
Victor groans loudly, along with Henry and Belch, then sags in his chair.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"Sorry, Vic," Ruth starts with a grin, which only Robert caught. "Looks like you get to help Robert and me in cleaning the basement."
With a hard sigh, Victor reluctantly dragged himself out of his chair with a defiant whimper. "Fine," he groans. "Let's get this over and done with."
"Sorry, dude," Belch says, then started to the foyer. "I guess we'll see you later."
"Hold up," Ruth replies quickly, catching Victor's attention.
He glances at her, starting to feel uneasy again. Ruth has that look from earlier, but it is only him that sees it.
"It's Christmas, Vic. I don't want to sour this festive holiday. We'll begin early tomorrow morning at eight o'clock."
He remained to stare, his uneasiness escalating into fear. Victor noticed Ruth said absolutely nothing about what happened earlier, and neither did he. Henry and Belch don't need to know at this moment. He's going to give her a chance to speak the truth by next afternoon. Victor won't say anything now, though. He wants to catch her off guard. Ultimately Victor wants Ruth to come out of hiding, even if it means using persuasion with a certain someone.
What Victor doesn't know, Ruth, is aware of his deceit. She has known for a while and fully plans on acting first before he does.
When Victor returned to the Neibolt House the next day, he knew right away, something was wrong.