Author Notes

So the drama starts... Enjoy :) This is the point where some darker themes enter the story.

Chapter 47

Blow-up

Ruby arrived for her shift feeling pretty good, and it wasn't the medication this time.

Finally getting through to one of the Toys felt wonderful.

In all honesty, the hostility had been getting boring. She could do so much more with them when she was on friendly terms.

She was already thinking of all the ways to irritate the rest of the Toys as she entered the building when she heard raised voices.

Eyebrow twitching as her good mood vanished, she prepared herself to jump into the middle of it when what they were saying registered and she froze.

The originals didn't seem to be in the middle of it but they were still clearly upset.

Teddy was standing with Mangle behind Hedy who was full on glaring at Toby.

Toy Chica was in the no man's land between them looking nervous.

"Toby, would you shut up for once!" Teddy was furious, fists clenched by his sides.

The rabbit crossed his arms haughtily.

"Well, its true." He huffed angrily.

"Take it back!" the bear demanded, moving slightly in front of Hedy.

Mangle agreed, hands flying through her signs too fast to read. Ruby caught the words 'insensitive' and 'cruel' from her position by the doorway.

"No." Toby snapped. "I think it's good. Now we don't have to deal with him. One less night guard." Hedy ground her teeth together, hands clenched on the arms of her wheelchair.

"He was a night guard after all. It's good that he's dead!." Toby added and Ruby felt her body go stiff with rage.

"How can you say that?!" Chica gasped from next to Freddy.

The blue rabbit glared at her.

"You can't really say anything since you guys were the ones to kill him." he snapped.

The originals recoiled like they were physically struck and Ruby let out an inaudible growl as her vision went red.

"The fact that he's my uncle doesn't even factor for you?" Hedy demanded coldly, keeping her anger barely in check.

Toby glared at her again.

"He was the night guard." He stated again like that solved everything.

"I miss him Toby!" she suddenly cried, blinking back tears. "Now I find out that he's dead and you just don't care?! You're happy?!"

He looked away from her stubbornly but said nothing.

Hedy bit her lip, both angry and upset simultaneously.

A tense silence fell over them.

Ruby had enough. Her anger reached a boiling point as she stalked into the room.

"What is WRONG with you?" she hissed, fury rolling off of her in waves.

Everyone jumped in shock and the originals shrank back fearfully. They'd only seen her this angry once before.

"Do you have any empathy in that empty head of yours?!" Any at all?!" she snarled. "You know, for your FRIEND?!"

The Toys had never been so scared of her since their arrival. She was weaponless but for some reason… she was more terrifying than ever.

"Ruby…. Don't-" Hedy tried to stop her but she ignored the mechanic.

Toby backpedalled as she advanced on him.

"You know you can't just FIX humans. If we're hurt, it takes time to heal. Sometimes it's permanent and sometimes we die which is even more permanent!" she backed him into a corner. "And you know the little issue with dying?"
Her eyes were alight with an unstable, fiery light.

"If you die... You. Don't. COME. BACK!" she punctuated each word with a rough shove and he was soon pressed against the wall.

If asked, the Toys wouldn't be able to tell anyone why they suddenly feared for their lives. Just that they did. A lot.

"You can't just get spare parts or build a new body. You're gone. Forever." She stepped closer, ignoring the height difference.

"The night guards that died here won't come back." Her voice started to slowly rise again as she spoke. "Hedy's uncle won't come back."

She reached out, hand closing around a jagged piece of metal on his chest that hadn't been fixed yet. Blood dripped down her hand and wrist as she tugged him down to bend forward. He went easily, terrified out of his mind.

"My parents damn well won't come back." She growled lowly, eyes dark."So stop being a supreme jerk rabbit and be there for your friend. It sucks to be alone."

Toby was petrified, feeling the murderous rage emanating from her. A realisation hit him.

She'd been going easy on them this whole time. So so easy on them.

If she really wanted them gone, they would be gone and probably never found again.

With a rough shove he was pushed back into the wall and she stalked away.

Silence fell heavily behind her.

Hedy glanced at the door she'd left through and sighed. She'd suspected as much about Ruby's family but to get confirmation like that…

Toby looked terrified still and the originals looked ready to follow her, concern on their faces.

Foxy was the first to move, sprinting out the room with Bonnie right behind him.

"What did she mean? About… her parents?" Teddy asked hesitantly.

Apparently he'd come to a truce during the day with Ruby much to Hedy's relief.

At least there was some progress.

"Exactly what she said." Goldy murmured. "Ruby's an orphan. Has been since she was ten."

"You happy?" Chica asked angrily. "You upset her. She hates talking about it."

Freddy patted her shoulder to calm her down but he looked worried.

Hedy started wheeling out of the room.

"Hedy?" Where are you going?" Toy Chica asked softly as the mechanic wiped her eyes subtly.

"Home." She answered curtly.

"Are you coming back?" she asked even softer, sounding scared.

Hedy paused and refused to looked at Toby.

"I don't know." She muttered and then she was gone.

Mangle whimpered quietly at the answer, looking close to tears.

The originals left the Toys as they whirled around to start yelling at Toby.

Foxy and Bonnie caught up to Ruby in the office. At least she waited until they were inside to close the doors.

She slumped in the chair before slamming her fist into the table with an angry yell. The force split the skin of her knuckles but she didn't even seem to notice.

If she wasn't in a cast she would have punched with the other hand too no doubt.

Foxy winced at the amount of blood dripping from that hand now. He was worried about how easily she hurt herself as well.

Bonnie fished out a first aid kit from somewhere and held it out to Foxy worriedly. He looked lost, not knowing what to do.

The pirate gently caught Ruby's shoulder.

"Ruby, lass, let us look at your hand please." He asked softly.

She looked at him and he was shocked to see tears glistening in her eyes. With a sigh she deflated into her chair again and held her hand out. Now she just looked… sad.

Frowning slightly, Foxy turned her hand over and winced again at the sight. The cut was jagged and deep, crossing her entire palm.

He got started on cleaning it off with tissues and water. Ruby stared blankly at the wall, only wincing occasionally.

He kind of preferred the punching now.

As he pushed her sleeve up a bit to get the bandage on properly, he froze. Old but clear scars crisscrossed her wrist. He glanced up at Bonnie who had also frozen in horrified realisation.

Swallowing hard he forced himself to continue wrapping the bandage. Ruby hadn't noticed the hesitation at all.

Clearing his throat he asked her. "Feel better now lass?"

She blinked and looked at her hand. Seeing her sleeve pushed up slightly she let out a rather colourful curse and yanked it back down.

She sighed heavily and rubbed her face, heedless of the injury and bandage.

The two 'bots shifted awkwardly. They didn't know what to do.

"Yes, I used to cut my wrists." She broke the silence.

She seemed to have gathered her composure again.

"Key words being 'used to'. So unfortunately I'm still prone to hurting myself in high stress situations." She waved her hand to draw attention to it. "But I'm a lot better. Okay?"

Those steady green eyes locked on them and they nodded after a moment.

She was back in control of herself and they realised that the lack of control was what had scared them before. Even when angry she was always in control of everything, seeming like nothing could stop her. Losing control of herself... not having a handle on her own emotions, it scared them.

"Alright lass." Foxy frowned, eyes dropping to her hand again.

Ruby's expression softened.

"I don't do it anymore. I promise. I realised long ago that it was just hurting others that I cared about. So I cope in more prank filled, property-breaking ways." She grinned at him.

He gave a weak smile back.

"Are… are you okay Ruby?" Bonnie asked softly. "You don't like talking about it… but you brought it up..."

Ruby sighed. "Yeah, I'm okay now. Just poked some old injuries ya know? I just get so… so mad when death is treated like it's nothing."

They nodded in understanding.

"We get it." Foxy's ears dropped back sadly. "I'm sorry that lowlife reminded you of it."

Ruby smiled slightly.

"Ah I'll get over it. I've got my favourite fox and rabbit checking on me after all." She relaxed back in the chair. "Wonder how much of this I'll remember?"

They looked at her, confused.

The teen grinned wickedly. "I think I took too much medicine. A little loopy tonight."

They both groaned while she laughed.

"Let's play paintball!" she declared. "Wait, where'd I put my bag? Hmm… I should find it. I forgot to disarm that timed glitter bomb.

An explosion went off.

"Oops… Nevermind." She grinned happily as they sighed in defeat.

At least... this was normal. Foxy glanced at Ruby as she convinced Bonnie to join in on some prank.

...She was very good at deflection. It worried him. Why wouldn't she just let them worry over her without feeling the need to reassure and distract them? He knew that they needed to have a proper conversation with her.

An explosion went off.

When she was off her pain medication of course.

Author Notes

Hope you enjoyed. Slowly getting back on track with my chapters. Hopefully I'll get some extra ones up this week.