Ozpin sat at the table in the teacher's lounge, organizing papers in a folder. Glynda entered the room, her arms filled with paperwork. "Good morning Professor Ozpin, have you seen my pen?" She started opening up the cupboards, peering into them.

"Good morning Glynda. Why would your pen be in here?" He sipped at his drink.

"Because this is the last place I remember having it." She rummaged in the drawers.

"Do you need it right now?"

"Yes."

He retrieved a pen from his breast pocket, and held it out to her. "You can have mine for now. You can try searching for your pen later."

She accepted the writing utensil. "Thank you, sir." She walked past him towards the exit, then stopped and turned back around. "Before I forget, Barrie invited us both to an All Grimm's Eve party he's throwing."

"Who?"

"Barrie, you remember," she snapped her fingers, "the one with the hair?"

His brow creased for a moment before relaxing again. "Oh right. Barrie."

"I'm going," she informed. "It's been a while since I've seen Barrie. And it seems that would go double for you."

"Yes, well, I suppose I'll go too." He tapped the papers into an even pile against the table. "It would be refreshing to see old friends again." He closed the papers up in the folder, and tucked the folder under his arm. He walked past her for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"I have a private engagement at the moment. I'll see you later, Glynda." He gave a cursory wave over his shoulder.

The trees were dressed in golds and scarlets, though some were scandalous enough to still allow a bit of green to peek through. The discarded leaves skipped along the ground, scattering and gathering as whim dictated. Long cobble-stone pathways stretched about, with some water fountains set at the occasional juncture. A little ways away, some kids played, flying a kite and jumping in leaves. Ozpin walked through the park, careful that his cane didn't get caught in any of the seams in the sidewalk. When he reached a certain light pole that had a weathercock perched atop it, he stopped. A quick look around told him all he needed to know, and he took a seat on the nearby bench.

No sooner had he sat down than his scroll buzzed in his pocket. A text from Ruby read: "Sorry, I'm running a bit late. I'll be there soon! :) xo" He typed a quick reply, then settled, arms resting on the back of the bench. He watched the birds chirp and huddle, pecking at the ground for insects. He watched a squirrel run up a tree, and another one sneak near a bush and bury a nut in the ground.

An old man with wild hair and a receding hairline ambled by, pushing a small merchant's wagon full of bagged crumbs. One of the younger children who had been jumping in the leaves slipped on one and fell, and began to blubber. From seemingly nowhere their mother appeared at their side, and comforted them. Enjoying a walk through the park, Ozpin spotted a young couple, the two holding hands and smiling as they chatted.

He watched them as they went, the two looking like they were in their twenties, close in age. He felt a small weight begin to build in his chest. Why did this have to happen? He could feel the stiffness in his bones. He felt at his jaw, fearing for a moment that he'd missed a spot when he'd shaved that morning. I'm so wrong for her. Ruby was such a spirited girl, she deserved someone who could keep up with her, like how that young couple could probably keep up with each other.

Him...he was just old and worn out by comparison. He knew he wasn't much fun to be around, he could see it in her eyes whenever he failed to output the same amount of boundless energy she displayed in reaction to something. But she never said a word. Was she just putting up with him because they were soulmates? Did he ever intimidate her, just from the difference in maturity between them?

"Hey!" He looked up to see Ruby jogging towards him, waving. He stood as she stopped in front of him. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting?"

He gave her an easy smile. "Not at all."

"Alright, then let's get going." She turned and lead the way, her red cape a whirl. He followed close behind, the two of them walking aimlessly through the various paths in the park. He watched as she occasionally took too-big or too-small steps to crush a leaf underfoot, smiling when it crunched. He could feel some of the anxiety and tension slip away from him, observing her antics as she began to babble about her school life. Thank God she doesn't feel pressured to be mature, at least.

But this relationship was lasting a lot longer than he had initially expected. He'd expected it to last a week at most, give or take a few days. He'd expected her enthusiasm to die down, he'd expected her to lose interest. He'd expected her to realize that her life can't be dictated to her by a tattoo. He hadn't expected her to cling. He hadn't expected her to keep trying. And now he could feel it all closing around him like a vice. Tightening and squeezing him painfully every time it seemed that her feelings were hurt. Why wouldn't she just break it off, so she could finally go be happy with someone better for her?

"Oh look, look!" she said, pointing. He looked over to see the old man from earlier with his cart, standing next to his wares. "Breadcrumbs!" She turned to him, and it seemed her smile could light up the sun. "Can we get some, to feed the ducks and stuff?"

"Oh, certainly." He immediately went to fish out his wallet, but when he looked up again, his eyes widened to see Ruby already at the stall. She paid the merchant for two bags of breadcrumbs, and came skipping back.

"This one's yours." She held it out to him.

He accepted it from her, putting his wallet away. "Thank you."

"No problem. Now, let's go find some ducks to fatten up." She turned on an offshoot in the trails, bag swinging in her hand. He watched her for a moment before pursuing. Soon the trail lead alongside a creek. Ruby went to it, using her arms for balance as she climbed down the steep bank. Ducks, a couple geese, and various other waterfowl floated with and against the current of the dark water. Ruby sat on her heels, grabbing a fistful of crumbs in her hand.

He came up beside her as she tossed her breadcrumbs in the water. The birds swam away for a moment, startled, then began to gather around the food, plucking it out of the water. Ozpin crouched down, setting his cane to the side. It didn't take long for the ducks to start bickering and quacking at each other. The littler birds just slipped under their wings, stealing what bits they could. The geese reigned supreme, their girth easily knocking the other fowl aside. He peered at Ruby, who had that same easy, bright smile on her face as she watched the birds.

"Have you ever done this before?" she asked.

He glanced down to his crumb bag, and said, "No, actually. This would be a first."

"Do you know how to do it?"

He quirked a brow. "Isn't it just throwing the crumbs to the birds?"

"Oh no no," she shook her head, "there's a technique and everything to this." She set her bag aside, and scooted over to him. She took his bag and his hand, and poured out some of the crumbs into his palm. "You can only do a little bit at a time." She closed his fingers around the crumbs. She moved closer, wrapping her arm around and gripping his by the forearm. His shoulders stiffened. "And then, you gotta throw it like this, so it goes in an arc, and everybody gets a piece." She guided his arm through the motion, and opened and closed her free hand for emphasis on how to scatter it.

She's too close. What if someone were to see them?

"Go on, you give it a try," she said, giving his shoulder a little shake. He moved his arm the way she'd shown, opening his hand and letting the breadcrumbs cascade out of his fingers in a fan. Immediately the ducks and geese went to it, gobbling it up before it could get too soggy and sink, or else float away. "There you go." She clapped her hands.

She leaned away to grab her own bag, then started tossing her own crumbs to the geese again. But she was still so close, their arms touching, as it almost seemed like she was leaning against him for support. I should move away. Just a few inches more to the right and they'd have space between them again. Or he could otherwise jostle her with his elbow, and get her to move away from him. Just a little bit of space, so that nobody who saw them would be suspicious.

A goose flapped its wings and exited the creek. It waddled towards them. Ozpin started to rear back, but Ruby caught him, taking hold of his arm. "No wait, I think it's okay," she said. She moved his arm forward, imploring his fingers to open and reveal the crumbs to the goose. He went very still, watching the goose for any signs that he should retract his hand. It came closer, tilting its head and turning it to look at them. It looked down at the breadcrumbs, back at him, then started nibbling the breadcrumbs out of his hand, pinching and tickling.

"Ah, amazing!" Ruby cooed, fingers going to thinly veil her smile. Ozpin could only stare, stunned. The other ducks and geese soon followed suit, gathering around. Ruby quickly started tossing crumbs to them, and holding her hand out. The ducks went to her, trying to poke their heads into the bag. She held it against her chest, guarding it, and they started snuffling all around her. She giggled as they tugged on her clothes, pulling on laces and loose strings.

One hopped up on her shoulders, pecking at her hair, and she fell over as they stepped all over her. She laughed and rolled in the grass as they besieged her, quacking and poking their beaks around in search of the crumbs. Clark watched her, and felt his heart flutter in his chest, teasing a smile out of him. What a magical person. Her black and red hair glittered in the sun, her eyes shining. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, her laugh pure.

He was so busy watching her, he didn't notice the goose sneak up beside him, and suddenly snatch his glasses off his face. "Wha- Hey!" he said, turning to see the goose waddling off at top speed with his glasses. "Those are mine!" He got to his feet and started chasing it.

"Oh snap." Ruby scrambled up and followed after him.

A squawking group of waterfowl followed after them both, feathers molting, some pausing to pick up the occasional dropped crumb.

The goose started to flap its wings. "It's taking flight!" Clark realized. A sudden blur of crimson and rose petals went past him, and Ruby tackled the goose before it could take off. They rolled on the ground to a stop, Ruby wrapping her arm around its body, pinning its wings, and holding its head still by the neck as it struggled. Clark slowed down to a walk, stopping in front of her.

"Don't worry, I got it!" She jerked her head back just in time before the goose could smack her with one of its wings. "Just get your glasses."

He knelt down, and pinched the goose's jaw. Its mouth popped open, and the glasses fell to the ground. He swiftly picked them up as Ruby let the goose fly off. "That was a bit more than I had bargained for," Clark remarked, inspecting the glasses for damage.

"Heh heh, yeah..." She brushed some leaves out of her hair, looking at him. "You know, you're really handsome without your glasses." He felt a warmth come to his cheeks. "I mean, not to say you aren't handsome with the glasses, but it's a different kind of handsome." He put his glasses back on. "Without them you're like a pretty-handsome, and with them you're more like a smart-handsome."

"That will do." Ozpin stood, just as the other ducks and birds caught up with them in their chase. Ozpin overturned his bag of crumbs, letting the remainder of it fall to the ground in a pile. He then offered a hand to Ruby, which she took, and pulled her to her feet.

"I just realized, we left your cane behind in that chase."

"It's fine. I don't need it to walk." He adjusted his glasses on his nose, and turned and lead the way back to where he'd left his cane. Ruby followed at a bit of a distance, leaving a breadcrumb trail as she went. She emptied out her bag as Ozpin picked up his cane.

"I'm glad they didn't get broken." She went to a nearby trash can and threw out the empty bag. "It wouldn't have been as much fun if they had been."

He paused. "You're having fun?"

"Of course. I always have fun when I'm with you."

He rejoined her on the sidewalk. "I was under the impression I was a bit of a drag."

"Nah, man," she gave him a light punch on the shoulder, "you're great. You're always up for anything, which is what makes you fun to be around." He considered for a moment as they walked, then his mouth turned up for a small smile.

There came a point where a short railing ran alongside the path, and Ruby balanced on it, her arms stuck out as she walked. "So All Grimm's Eve is coming up," she said. Ozpin looked up. "I was thinking you and I could hang out on that night. Go trick-or-treating maybe, watch scary movies and pig out on candy..."

"As inviting as that sounds," he could already feel his stomach churning from the thought of consuming so much sugar, "I have already made plans to attend a party being thrown by one of my old colleagues that night."

"Oh." Her shoulders slumped.

His breath hitched. "We'll do something else, some other time. Maybe watch a ghost movie."

She smiled at him. "Sure, no problem."