(Charged)
Chapter 5: Guess Things Happen That Way
"Three months we investigated, turning everything over to Yang's F.B.I. contact." Ruby sighed, her back against the shared wall between the two cells. "But it didn't matter, before we had enough evidence for the F.B.I. to pull the trigger..." Ruby struggled to choke back her tears. "He framed me, they found evidence on my computer and in my apartment." Ruby began to sob. "Somehow it became public that I wasn't an accountant, that I was a fraud, so during the trial I wasn't allowed to testify in my own defense… I'm almost certain he bribed the jury but… If he could frame me that easily, I'm sure it wasn't even necessary." Tears began to poor from Ruby's eyes. "I never even met Yang's contact, not that she was any help… some contact."
Blake closed her eyes, grateful for the wall of concrete between them, knowing her stark expression was wavering. "I'm sure she tried her best… maybe she's still trying to help you."
Ruby scoffed, "Well its a little late."
Blake stared up at the ceiling with her good eye. "She might feel responsible."
"I guess so… so why are you here?"
"E-excuse me?"
"Well, now you know how I ended up here, so what are you in for?"
"Domestic terrorism."
"You're a terrorist?" Ruby shifted to look at the social slot.
"Depends who you ask, ask a government dog and I'm a terrorist, ask an abused and exploited human being and I'm a freedom fighter."
Blake's practiced persona returned, however the irony of her cover wasn't lost on her, a government agent posing as someone who despised the government. She always found it romantic in a way, it was easy for her to adopt a cover that shared some of her beliefs. Blake didn't hate the government but she wasn't blind.
Ruby laid back on her bed, "well I wouldn't have ever thought..."
"Thought what?" "That I was a terrorist?" "Criminals are people Ruby we aren't all mentally deranged psychopaths, well except Pyrrha."
Ruby sat up her eyes widening, "Pyrrha?" Ruby remembered how nice Pyrrha had been to her.
"Do you know what Pyrrha is in for?"
Ruby shook her head then remembered Blake couldn't see her, "no."
"She's serving two life sentences Ruby, shes a serial killer."
Ruby clasped her hand over her mouth to stifle a yelp.
"And Neo is an international political assassin, so congrats you made friends with a real rogues gallery."
"Only because you introduced me to them!" Ruby half shouted, "Why would you introduce me to people so dangerous?"
"That's exactly why, the more dangerous your friends, the less likely you are to find trouble."
Ruby laid back on her bed resting her head on her arms, "I guess that makes sense."
"Things work a certain way in here Red, just follow my lead." Blake rolled over onto her side facing the shared wall.
"So why did you take a beating for me?"
"I couldn't let them hurt you, never been able to watch injustice happen, could have been anyone I wouldn't hesitate."
Ruby felt a slight smile at the corners of her mouth, "That's very noble… for a terrorist."
Blake laughed before wincing at the pain, "I guess I defy expectations."
Ruby heard Blake's cell door open and the sound of boots crossing the small room.
"I have your work assignment miss Belladonna, librarians aid," came the familiar voice of the captain. A few seconds later Blake's cell door was shut again and a second after Ruby's cell began to open.
Ruby felt a flutter in her chest. She was nervous. About what, she asked internally. The work assignment? No, she was nervous about seeing…
"Work assignment Miss Rose, assistant."
Ruby took the small sheet of paper from the captain hoping her trembling fingers weren't obvious.
"Assistant, wait who's assistant?"
The captain walked to the cell door before doing an about face.
"Mine," she stated as if it was obvious.
Ruby felt her heart jump.
The captain exited the cell shutting the door and bolting it.
Ruby frantically turned to the social slot, "Blake did you he-"
"Yeah kid, congratulations you get to live out your fantasy of the ice queen ordering you around all day," Blake giggled.
"Sh-shut up," Ruby yelped.
"Try not to blow a valve when she uses you as a footstool," Blake teased.
"She wouldn't do that… would she?"
Blake winced in pain fighting back a laugh, "do you want her to?"
Ruby legitimately thought about it, her silence being all the answer Blake needed.
Blake burst into laughter before coughing in pain.
"Don't get hurt saving my life then die laughing at me"
Blake managed to get her breathing under control, "don't worry red I've had worse."
"Well I think I'm gonna turn in," Ruby settled back into her bed.
"You in a rush to get to tomorrow, You must be so excited."
Ruby leaned up slamming the social slot closed, even in its closed state Blake's laughter followed by her coughing could still be heard.
Ruby rolled over burying her head under the pillow.
A vivid mental image of being Weiss servant, painting her toes for her or fetching her coffee, stampeded through her mind. She screwed her eyes shut and huffed. Tomorrow was gonna be a long day, but the flutter in her stomach returned.
She was excited.
