"I hate how cold it is," Ruby shivered. She cozied up to Oscar.
Patch was quiet. Crickets played lullabies that drew day animals to sleep and woke nocturnal animals. Fireflies danced to the melodies of the crickets. The wind sang along in cold breaths that chilled the pair walking in the night.
"We're almost at my apartment, I'll heat up something warm for you," Oscar offered.
"That sounds nice…" she breathed. They walked on in silence for a little while longer. Oscar finally broke the silence.
"Ren and Nora are getting married. I still can't believe it," he confessed. Ruby smiled at him.
"Isn't it great? They make such a cute couple!"
"It is," he remarked. Oscar paused for a moment. "Everybody is doing so well. They're all so… grown up now…"
"Yeah, well, these things tend to happen," she chirped. "I think you have too!"
"Thanks. You've changed a lot too."
"I have?"
"Yeah, you still act cheerful all the time, but there are moments that I can see you're thinking about something. I don't know what it is, but you get sort of… sullen. Like you're thinking about some important thing."
"Really? Well with the move and everything I've been kind of stressed lately."
"If you need to talk about anything, remember that I'm always here."
"Thanks." Ruby smiled. She hesitated for a moment. "Hey Oscar?"
"We're here." Oscar stopped at the entrance of a small house with two front doors side by side. He dug around his pockets for his key.
"This is where you live?" Ruby asked. Oscar nodded.
"The owners told me a huntsman used to live here. When he passed, his children divided the house and now they rent it out. I live on the first floor."
"Who lives on the second floor?" Ruby asked.
"Nobody right now," Oscar shrugged as he unlocked his front door. "A couple used to live upstairs, but they moved out a few months ago."
"Maybe I should move in!" Ruby laughed. "We'd be neighbors! I could visit you everyday and won't have to worry about you being kicked out during movie night!"
"That would be fun," Oscar laughed at the notion. He opened the door and gestured her in. "Welcome to my humble abode."
Ruby walked in and looked around. She smiled at the small apartment. The apartment was tidy, spare for a few books laying around. There weren't many decorations, but there were many plants. Ruby could count five just by taking a quick look at what she could see. There was even a small potted plant on the shoe rack next to the entrance. Ruby giggled and played with the leaves of the flowers.
"I knew you grew up on a farm and all, but I never took you as such a green thumb," Ruby laughed. Oscar shrugged.
"Well these things don't leave you easily. Also farming and gardening aren't the same thing. I find tending to flowers is easier and more relaxing than growing an acre of crops."
"Hmm… interesting."
"Those are Vacuo violets, by the way. They can bloom all year round."
"Wow so even Vacuo can create something like this…" Ruby breathed.
"I'll go make some hot chocolate." Oscar hung up his coat and walked further into the house. Ruby trailed behind him.
"Your apartment is so cute~!" she giggled.
"Thanks, I guess. I'm not much of a decorator though…"
Ruby followed Oscar to the kitchen. She sat herself at his table and watched him prepare the hot chocolate. He leaned against the counter as he waited for the water to boil.
"You know, I have a living room. You can go there if you want, it's more comfortable."
"I like it here. It means we can talk," Ruby smiled. Oscar smiled back at her. "Maybe I should make some cookies to go with the hot chocolate."
"That might take too long. Also I don't think I have any ingredients."
"Hm… next time I come over we should bake some cookies."
"Next time? Are you already planning to drop by again?" Oscar chuckled. Ruby just grinned.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Well I mean, aren't you moving soon?"
"Yeah, but I haven't figured out where. Maybe I should move in with you." Oscar laughed.
"You can try, but I don't think Tai will be too happy." Ruby hummed in agreement.
"I'm an adult now. I can choose where I want to live!" she stated confidently. "And I think I'll choose here."
"Whatever you say." The kettle whined and Oscar started pouring the water into two separate mugs. He handed one to Ruby. "Why would you want to live with me?"
"I'm guessing you could use the company. You don't get a lot of guests, do you?"
"What makes you think so?"
"There's only one chair at this table. You're even awkwardly leaning on the counter because there's nowhere else to sit. If you had another chair you would have pulled it up by now."
"You caught me," he laughed. "Very good deduction, Ruby Rose."
"Want to move somewhere we can both sit?" she laughed.
"Sure. Living room?" Ruby nodded.
They took their drinks to Oscar's small living room. Oscar flipped on the tv and quickly found a show to put on. But the two just talked instead of watching. They warmed their hands on the warm mugs and laughed at stories. Ruby gulped down the last of her hot chocolate. She sighed in content and held the cup out.
"That was warming. Could you make me some more?" she asked. Oscar smiled and took her cup.
"Sure. I think I have some marshmallows. Want any in your hot chocolate?"
"Yes please! As many as you can fit on the top!" He chuckled.
Oscar walked to the kitchen and started heating up some more water. He leaned against the counter once more as he waited. He closed his eyes and lost himself to his thoughts.
Since Ruby was moving back to Patch, they would be spending more time together. He could look forward to that. It had been a long time since he had someone to talk to and hang out with. But Ruby herself had changed. She was quieter and had a melancholy vibe. Is it maturity? Or did something bad happen? How he wanted to take that sad look from her face.
The kettle screamed that it was finished, snapping Oscar from his thoughts. He sighed and poured them more hot chocolate. He grabbed the two mugs by the handle and walked to the living room. Ruby wasn't there. Oscar set the mugs on the coffee table and started looking around for her. He called out her name, but got no response. He checked the bathroom, nobody there. He checked his office, empty, He checked his bedroom, nothing.
He walked back to the living room, perplexed on where the huntress had gone. He felt a chill in the room and grabbed a blanket from beside the couch. He realized that the door to the back porch was slightly ajar. He grabbed both mugs and made his way to the porch. Ruby sat on the stairs to the backyard. She just stared up at the stars. Oscar set the two mugs next to her. He draped the blanket over her shoulders. Ruby looked up at him in surprise.
"It's not nice to leave the door open on a cold night," Oscar smiled. He closed the door and came to sit next to her.
"Sorry, I just needed some fresh air."
"So? What are you thinking about?"
"Nora and Ren are getting married… Jaune is a world-famous hunter… Yang is moving to Atlas soon to help Weiss with her company… Blake and Sun are doing amazing work for faunus equality… And you're a teacher. Everybody is doing amazing things. Compared to them? I'm just a failed huntress."
"You're an amazing huntress, Ruby. I can tell you that my students admire you, even Jett. Did you know that he was a troublemaker? Ever since you saved him, he's been earnestly working towards becoming a genuine huntsman."
"Thanks, but that's not what I'm upset about."
"Then what is it?" Ruby leaned her head against his shoulder, causing him to flinch a little.
"Maybe another day. I want to enjoy this moment." Ruby closed her eyes. Oscar wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. "You're warm…"
###
Ruby woke up in a soft bed. She groaned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She was quick to realize that it wasn't her bed. Ruby looked around the unfamiliar room. She was quick to spot a pair of suspenders hanging from the closet handle. It didn't take long for her to realize that this was probably Oscar's room.
She walked out of the room and went to the living room. She heard the tv talking faintly. She peered around the corner and found Oscar sitting on the couch munching on cereal. He wore a plain t-shirt and plaid long pajama pants. He looked up when Ruby walked into the room.
"Morning," he called to her. Ruby rubbed her eyes again to rid of the sleepiness.
"Morning," she yawned.
"I didn't really prepare anything special for breakfast, but there's cereal in the cupboard and you can make toast if you want."
"Thanks," she yawned again. She was never completely a morning person. Sure she would get up early is she was excited about a mission or something, but most days it took a while to get up.
Ruby fixed herself a quick bowl of cereal before sitting down next to Oscar. Like the night before, she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"What are you watching?" Ruby asked.
"Just a documentary on Mountain Glenn."
"Boring. I've been there. It's mostly wrecked buildings.
"Don't let Oobleck hear you say that," Oscar laughed. He sighed, remembering his offer.
"Hey, you're pretty tense, are you alright?" Ruby looked up at him.
"Well you're leaning on me for one thing."
"You're comfy," Ruby shrugged. "Anyways, is there anything better on? This documentary is pretty boring."
"Alright, alright miss bossy." Oscar flipped to cartoons.
"I'm grown up, Oscar. What makes you think I want to watch cartoons?" Oscar gave her a look. "Ok, yeah I do, but these are for kids! There's no real plot and the humor is just stupid!"
"Whatever you say." He handed her the remote. Ruby scrolled through the stations, finding nothing, she turned the tv off.
"Know what? There's nothing good on. Let's do something else."
"Like?"
"I don't know… hey can I borrow some of your clothes? I want to freak Yang out when I return home. Maybe give me a hickey or something"
"I am not doing that," Oscar replied deadpan. "Your entire family would kill me."
"I'll make sure they don't."
"But, if you want to borrow clothes, go right ahead. Just make sure you return them."
"So you're alright with the clothes?"
"I figured there's no stopping you."
"You would be correct," Ruby laughed. She gobbled up the rest of her cereal and practically slammed it on the table. She started pulling on Oscar's arm. He sighed and followed her to his room.
"Just don't take any of my work clothes," Oscar stated. He sat on his bed as Ruby rummaged through his closet.
"That's most of your clothes," Ruby laughed. She pulled out one of his old button-up shirts. "This ok?"
"Go ahead." Oscar leaned back and covered his face with a pillow as Ruby changed.
"Tada!" He took the pillow off his face. Ruby looked very pleased with herself. He was surprised how his shirt was almost like a dress on her. When they first met, they probably could have fit in each other's clothes.
"You're really excited about your little joke, aren't you?"
"Yup!" Ruby grinned. She twirled around. Then she started giggling. "It's almost like we're dating."
"Do you want to?" Ruby's face turned to panic.
"What?! I don't know! It- It was just a joke! I mean- not to say you're not handsome or anything- because you are- I mean not in a weird way!"
"Relax, I was just teasing you," Oscar laughed. Ruby let out a sigh of relief. She plopped down next to him with a pout on her face.
"That wasn't nice at all."
"Sorry, I just saw the opportunity to."
"I mean, we're friends, right?"
"Says the girl wearing my clothes to make her sister think we're together," Oscar smiled. Ruby smiled back. There was a silence between them, a comfortable one.
Ruby's scroll ringing snapped both of them from their trance. Ruby grabbed her scroll and checked the ID/
"It's Yang. I should take this as my cue to leave. I'll tell you how much she freaks out next time."
"I look forward to it."
Ruby got up and grabbed her things. Oscar helped her and gave her a bag for her clothes. He walked Ruby to the door.
"Do you want me to walk you home?" he asked.
"I'll be fine, thank you though."
"Be safe."
"I will, I will." Ruby put her coat on. Oscar handed her, her red scarf. Ruby wrapped it around her neck. She waved him goodbye and left.
Oscar returned to the living room and turned the tv on back to the documentary. The apartment felt a little colder.