Chapter 7

The remaining afternoon, evening, and night passed by in a flash. Ruby went through it all on autopilot. She finished her chores. She received her week's payment of five hundred dollars. She returned from the bank just in time to serve dinner and clear up afterwards. Then, she joined the other servants in eating within the kitchen's warm, richly-scented walls. She shuddered as most of the others ate meat - chicken legs, turkey slices, or pork chops - and hid her face in her vegetable stir-fry. In the end, however, she could only consume half of it. The smell of meat was vile enough to rob her of her appetite.

Finally, she cleaned herself up, changed in her nightgown, and tried to go to sleep.

The key words being 'tried to'.

Ruby tossed and turned, trying every trick in the book to fall asleep. Counting sheep. Reading. Jumping jacks. All efforts were in vain. Nor did it help that, every time she closed her eyes, she kept seeing that malevolent smirk.

Ruby slapped a pillow over her face.

Oswald wasn't that man anymore. He'd said so himself, and he'd sounded as honest as can be. Not only that, but his entire body language had been honest. Oswald had been desperate to detach himself from his criminal self, pleading to be believed. And Ruby had believed him, as had the Master. That wasn't the problem. What was truly eating away at her was the question: who had he been before coming here? Apparently, he'd been a 'kingpin of crime'. But why? What had he done? And how had he suddenly become as innocent as a lamb?

Ruby lay there for a while. Contemplating.

That was when the creak of a door caught her attention. The maid twisted in her head, listening, as the soft thumping of footsteps reached her ears. Tossing the blankets aside, Ruby snatched her robe and left her bedroom. Stopping only to lock it, she ran down the steps as quietly as a mouse. Following the noises eventually led her to the kitchen.

Seated at the table was Oswald, wrapped up in the golden-black robe and sipping tea. Several damp tissue-balls sat next to his steaming mug. Even in the dim light, Ruby saw his bloodshot eyes. She was just about to leave when Oswald's eyes met hers. A sad smile spread across his angular face. "Hello, Ruby."

Seeing no way out of this, and strangely liking it, Ruby held up a hand in greeting. Her indigo eyes landed on the clock. "Oswald...it's two in the morning. If I may, what're you doing up?"

"Ah, I...couldn't sleep." Oswald wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "So..."

Ruby pressed her lips tightly together. Pushing some blonde-brown-gray hair out of her eyes, she gestured to the chair beside Oswald's. "May I?"

Oswald smiled. It was tiny, but genuine. "Please."

Ruby sat down beside Oswald. Close enough to feel the heat emanating from his body. She could feel her own cheeks catching fire. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Oswald kept sipping his tea, sniffling every so often. The clock kept ticking. Other than that, the house was as silent as the dead. Ruby scratched her ear. Finally, she noticed three other mugs sitting in the sink.

"Four cups of tea?" She inquired. "Not a good sign."

Oswalf sniffed. "I just...I couldn't stop thinking about what happened today."

Ruby winced. "Try not to worry." She tried, "They're very...caught up in themselves. All three of them. It's going to take them some time to get used to you."

"I..." Oswald's eyes filled with tears. He quickly covered them with his hands. "I know that I deserved it! But I...I never thought they'd be so brutal." His words quickly melted into muffled tears. Ruby hesitated as she listened to him cry. He sounded so inconsolable, so heartbroken, that it made her own heart bleed. She hadn't heard such sobbing since the Master's parents died. In that moment, Oswald didn't look like a former criminal. He just looked...tortured. Finally, Ruby went with her gut and placed a hand on his back. Oswald's sobs subsided a bit. Encouraged, Ruby continued to stroke Oswald's back and began to hum tunelessly. After what felt like forever (in a good way) but was really only a few minutes, Oswald's hand found hers. Ruby froze. Blushing like mad. Still looking down, Oswald spoke shyly, "...Thank...you. For your words, too."

Ruby got over her shock. Smiled and squeezed his fingers gently. They were warm, almost hot, from clutching the tea-heated mug. They eagerly squeezed back. Ruby raised her eyes to look at Oswald, who, in turn, was staring at her like she was...well, worth much more than she actually was. Those damn questions came back then. Asking who she was really holding hands with in the middle of the night. But at the same time, Ruby didn't want to scare him. He'd already suffered a blow today. And if there was anything she had learned, it was that there was enough cruelty in the world without needlessly throwing in more.

That was when she asked, "How would you feel to go someplace?"

Fifteen minutes later, Oswald and Ruby were trudging through the snow. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Their steady rhythm was all that could be heard. This far out in the countryside kept the ruckus of Gotham out. Only the most distant of sirens could be heard. As Oswald followed her, shivering beneath the thick coat, Ruby drank in the sights. Above their heads, the sky was obsidian velvet studded with diamonds. All around them were trees. Green, gray-and-green sentinels with theirs arms spread out. Every so often, Ruby caught sight of a patch of fireflies. Their feverish, golden glow was as bright as a lighthouse out here.

Ruby turned back to Oswald. He was shaking violently, and his pointed nose was as red as a pepper. Even from this distance, she could hear his teeth chattering like maracas. "Don't worry," she assured him, "we're almost there."

"C-c-c-c-couldn't w-w-w-we d-d-d-do t-t-t-this s-s-s-somewhere w-w-w-warmer?" He asked.

"Trust me," she said, "where we're going, it is warm."

Indeed, it was. Before long, they had arrived. The hand-made scarecrow in front of the entrance was a dead giveaway. Hanging around its neck was a sign reading, 'PRIVATE PROPERTY. DO NOT ENTER'.

Ruby walked right past the scarecrow and began to remove the debris. In Gotham, no matter how far away from the action they actually were, one can never place too much security.

"W-w-w-what're you d-d-doing?" Oswald asked, clearly disturbed.

"Getting this junk out of the way." Ruby explained. Just then, she picked up a boulder the size of a ripe watermelon. Groaning, she dumped it a few inches away. "Wow. There's got to be a better way at doing this."

"B-b-but it's p-p-private p-p-property!" Oswald protested, pointing at the sign.

Ruby gave him a look as she tossed another piece of rubble away. "I put that sign there."

Oswald simply looked confused now.

"Well, duh!" Ruby chuckled as she kicked the last of the debris out. "If people think that they could get into trouble for entering someone else's cave, then they won't. Plain and simple. Out here, people have a reputation to maintain." She finally stood aside, hand gestured to the dark corridor. "After you. And watch your step." Oswald stared first at the hall, then at her. His eyes were so big and trusting that it stung. Then, after collecting a breath, Oswald slowly made his way down. Ruby was quick to follow him. Along the way, she seized a torch that she'd hidden behind a stone. Flicking it on, she revealed her hiding place.

Oswald gasped.

A few feet below them was a small grotto, no bigger than your average camping tent. Inside were a few scattered items: dusty blankets, geology books, and, most impressively, precious stones. Not only on the floor, but embedded into the walls. Oswald stared, mouth agape, at the thousands of dark purple stones gleaming from within the earth. They varied from light lavender to a purple so dark that it was almost black. Whenever the light hit them, they cast violet glimmers on the ground. Oswald looked so funny, standing there with his mouth open, that Ruby couldn't help laughing. "Pretty, isn't it?" She hung the torch on its usual perch: a wire suspended from the ceiling. "Who would have thought that this area is so rich in amethyst?"

"How did you...? Where did...?" Oswald couldn't even get the words out.

"Some miners found this cave a few years back. But since amethyst isn't actually desired that much, they just shut it down." Ruby gestured for Oswald to sit on a pillow. He crashed in it. She sat down next to him. "So...one day, after they'd closed it, I came to explore. And since this is as far as they got, I decided to adopt this place. My home away from home, I guess." She reached for a plastic bag and undid the knot. Oswald hugged the coat tighter to his body, still looking around like a tourist who'd just seen the Grand Canyon. Realizing that he was still cold, Ruby kicked the radiator with her foot. With a clunk and a gurgle, it began to gently release warm air. Oswald sighed in relief. Ruby smiled, reached into the bag, and held out a candy bar. "Snickers?"

"Huh?" Oswald looked at the bar, then laughingly shook his head. "Oh, no, thank you!"

"I have Butterfingers, too." Ruby offered. "Or Hershey's, M&Ms, a jar of peanut butter-"

"Is it smooth?" Oswald asked.

Ruby scoffed. "Naturally." She tossed it to him, alongside a spoon. Oswald caught both expertly. Then, with no hesitation, he thanked her and began to dig in. Ruby smiled and took a bite out of her own snack. She waited until he'd gotten some peanut butter smeared around his face before she spoke up, "Um...can I...ask you something?"

Oswald smiled at her. The peanut butter mess crinkled around his mouth. "Of course!"

"Er..." Ruby swallowed. Hard. "Uh..." She held up her hands. "It's fine if you don't want to, but could you...tell me what you were like? Before, I mean."

Oswald grew silent. He hesitantly wiped his face clean, his eyes flickering from the amethysts to Ruby. Conflict cast shadows across his face. Ruby quickly looked away. "It's cool, you don't want to-"

"No, no." Oswald interrupted gently. "I...I want to."

Ruby looked at him. Surprised. Pleased.

For the next two hours, Oswald spoke. Every so often, Ruby had to toss him a bottle of iced tea to ease his tired throat. But other than that, she made no moves. Years of servitude had taught her how to blend it, to be quiet. She crossed her legs and rested her chin on her knuckles, absorbing every word. Even if some of those words gave her the shivers.

Oswald told her everything from his status as an errand boy to his snitching on Fish Mooney. From Jim Gordon sparing his life to Oswald's bloody way back. From his setting the Falcones and Carbones against each other, yet winding up hanging by his wrists at Fish's mercy. The gunfight. The brawl with Fish on the rooftop. Becoming the king of Gotham. Ruling. His run-ins with Theo Galavan, who threatened to kill Oswald's mother if he didn't kill Galavan's opponents in the mayoral election. Teaming up with...'friends'...to take down Galavan after the latter kidnapped Bruce Wayne. Oswald admitting to the murders, taking full blame to avoid any trouble befalling his friends. Getting out, certificate in hand.

"And..." Oswald spread his hands out. "Here I am."

Ruby didn't say anything for a few seconds. Then, she got on her hands and knees. Crawled towards Oswald and, before she could stop herself, threw her arms around him. Oswald froze, a gasp tearing from his throat, and Ruby hung on. She smiled against his shoulder and gently stroked his back. At last, Oswald relaxed in her arms and returned the gesture. "I'm...sorry you had to endure all that." Ruby said after a while.

"Are you afraid of me now?" Oswald sounded scared himself.

Ruby didn't answer right away. She just kept hugging him. Tried to understand her own sentiments in the process. After a long moment, she answered honestly. "Well...maybe a little. But I'm more afraid of the person you used to be than the one you are now." She didn't mention that, if he knew what she was, Oswald wouldn't even be here right now. He probably would have run away screaming. Just like all the others, except for Master. Ruby held out her hand, near the back of Oswald's head. She morphed it, changing the color and nail length as easily as one blinks. Then, returning it to normal, she squeezed Oswald in her arms. "All in all, I'm very happy and honored to serve you."

Oswald pulled away at that, looking her in the eyes. Fear gripped Ruby's heart with an icy, bony hand. "Ruby," he said gently, "I am...deeply grateful that you feel that way, and that you don't let me past trouble the present." He inhaled. "But I don't want you to just 'serve' me."

Ruby blinked.

"What I mean is," Oswald smiled bashfully, "you have been incredibly kind since I got here. You, and Father, make me feel at home. And tonight, you made me feel better. Ergo, I would like to ask if you would like to be...my friend?" Those last two words were so hopeful, Ruby felt awful for being disappointed. But she knew that Oswald was offering her a precious gift. More precious than all of these amethysts put together. That was why she felt warmth spread across her chest. She smiled. Nodded. "I would love to."

The two returned to the mansion shortly after that. A stray glance at the hallway clock told them that it was four thirty in the morning. The house was silent, bathing in the sounds of sleeping breaths. Ruby accompanied Oswald to his room. Stopped at the doorway. She gave a little bow. "Sweet dreams." She said.

In reponse, Oswald hugged her. Stroked her hair. Ruby's heart rate picked up, "Goodnight." He whispered. "It was one of the best nights in my life. And I thank you for it."

Then, he gently closed the door. Ruby stood there, smiling like a dope, before retreating to her own room.

She woke up two hours later, feeling more energized than she had in ages. Ruby leapt out of bed, grabbing her uniform and rushing to the nearest bathroom. In her haste, she didn't notice that the water was cold - the result of someone simultaneusly showering. Once she was out, Ruby dressed and applied some jewelry. Today, she picked a black pearl necklace, peridot earrings, and her favorite scarlet ring. It was a gem the size of a pecan nut and the color of fresh blood. It was also smooth as glass. Ruby had no idea if it was her namesake or not, and her grandmother hadn't spilled the beans. But it was still gorgeous.

A humming Ruby made it to the kitchen and swiftly prepared breakfast for Oswald. She would cook the rest later. Expertly, she brewed some herbal tea while the toaster ejected two perfectly golden slices. She poured some margaery, jam, and butter into three separate bowls, placing them near the toast. Next came an apple and a pair of scrambled eggs. Finally, Ruby stepped out into the garden and, with a quick apology to the plant, severed the most perfect iris in the flower bed. Placing it in a water-filled cylinder, Ruby took the heavy tray and shambled up the stairs.

She'd been ready to knock when a sultry, girly voice purred, "Good morning," from the other side of the door. Ruby went still. Then, unable to resist, she peaked through the keyhole. What she saw made her feel sick.

Sasha, clad in a short silk robe, was sitting on Oswald's bedside. Smiling down at him like a satisfied girlfriend. Oswald blanched at the sight of her. But a shy smile crossed his face immediately afterward. Ruby's words echoed in his brain. Perhaps Sasha was trying to rekindle their fractured sibling bond. This was very pleasing...as well as unexpected.

But Oswald wasn't about to look a gift-horse in the mouth. "Good morning!" He sat up, blinking in the bright sunlight. Sasha rose from where she sat. Drew the curtains. Sunshine streamed into the room like molton gold, chasing the shadows away. "I was hoping to spend a little time with you...Mr. Penguin."

A prong of discomfort mixed with Oswald's flattery. "Okay," he kept smiling, "but, um, please, call me 'Oswald'." He threw the covers aside and swung his legs over. The carpet felt soft under his bare feet. "I'm not that man anymore." Sasha kept standing there, toying with the chain of her robe. Sihlouetted against the bright curtains, she looked like some shadowy angel. Seductive. Beautiful. She smirked playfully. "There isn't a little bit of Penguin left?" She asked. "A little...bad boy?"

Calling his former self a 'bad boy' was like declaring a hurricane as 'a mildly windy day'. But of course Oswald didn't say that. More than anything, he didn't want to screw up his chance at repairing things with his stepsister. Though he couldn't deny his confusion. "No." He answered.

Meanwhile, Ruby was snorting like a bull ready to charge. All she could think was: what the devil was that bitch planning? Or, rather, what was her mother planning? No matter what happened, Grace was always the brains behind the operations.

"I got a little bad girl in me." Sasha undid the robe's knot. Beneath was most every heterosexual man's fantasy: a flat, smooth stomach, and breasts as ripe as seasoned peaches. All teasingly wrapped in black lingerie. Oswald could feel his pulse pick up. A strange heat began to simmer between his legs. Clearing his throat, he crossed them.

Ruby dragged her nails across a nearby walls. High-pitched whines erupted as fissures appeared.

Sasha, still revealing her mercandise, stepped close enough for her to hover over Oswald. "Whatever you've got planned for the old man, I want in."

"In?" Oswald, forgetting (mostly) about that body, frowned questioningly at Sasha.

"We could do great things, you and me." Sasha continued, sounding like a lady trying to sell passenger-by's perfume.

Oswald looked away, thoughtful. "I suppose-"

Sasha leaned forward and rested a hand on Oswald's knee. Cutting off his train of thoughts. "If you and me work together, we can have it all. We can squeeze my mom and brother out."

Oswald frowned innocently. "Why would we do that?"

"I dunno."

A second later Oswald was thrown back in the satin sheets. Breathing uneasily. The fire in his loins died in an instant. Sasha began to crawl on top of him. Her hair hung like vines on his body. "I guess we're just a couple of crazy, mixed-up kids."

Ruby seized the doorknob.

At the same time, Oswald slithered down from beneath Sasha's long limbs. He slid off the bed, spinning like a drunken dreidel. Hitting the floor, he scrambled to his feet and clutched the drawer. Sasha spun around, shocked. Ruby halted.

"Restrain yourself, woman!" He said breathlessly. "I am practically your brother! What're you thinking?" Even as he spoke cold sweat trickled down his face. For some reason, he felt ready to cry. Instead of answering him, Sasha simply tied herself up again and stormed out of the room. Oswald stared after her, jaw dropped. When Sasha saw Ruby standing there, smirking wickedly, Sasha flipped her off and treaded down the steps. Ruby sneered at her before quickly hurrying in the bedroom, knocking as she did. "Oswald?"

"R-Ruby!" Oswald steered around to look at her like a frightened animal. He quickly wiped at his leaking eyes. "God, I'm blessed to see you right now..."

"What happened?" Ruby asked, trying to push those images out of her mind.

"I...I'm not sure myself." Oswald looked like he'd just woken from a deep slumber. "I...I think I need to sit down." He all but crashed on his bed. Ruby placed the tray on the bedstand before sitting beside Oswald. He didn't look at her. Just stared off into the void. The maid watched, pursing her lips, before taking his hand. Oswald's eyelashes fluttered. He held tightly onto her hand.