A/N ARMV7: So that last chapter was good right? I received a review that really sums up what I'm trying to do here; it was from a guest [Thanks whomever you may be] the section that stuck out was "She shouldn't be all bad, everyone has a soft side..." Exactly. For all we know there could've been some traumatic event that made Cinder the way she is in the show, and that's what I'm delving into with this. A Cinder that just needs a little help to realize it's okay.
I've also heard about some fan thing a select few of you have been doing on tinychat? Seriously, is my writing really that good, I mean there's way better writers than me... *cough* momoxtoshiro.
Four chapters in and I'm at 87 fav's, and 50 follows, almost 100! If this gets to 100 follows, I'll do something for you guys like... uhh... Put on a Cinder Dress and wear it for a day! Nah I kid. Seriously though; shoot me a PM or leave it in a review for your idea; whatever it may be.
This chapter contains a lot of back-story as noted by the italics, so Enjoy, and don't forget to review!
Chapter 5. Drawbacks.
In the weeks leading up to that fateful day...
The afternoon air was laced with the arid scent of pollution and fresh-cut grass as a young Cinder made her way home from her school; Atlas Elementary, just a small school that lied only a few blocks from where she and her... parents lived. Normally she'd be reluctant to return home, for one reason and one reason alone.
Her parents...
They'd been acting... different ever since the passing of Roman. Her mother and father had nearly shut down upon returning home from the funeral. They didn't say anything for a weeks, not even to her. Cinder would ask questions; wanting to know why mom and dad hadn't returned to normal.
She'd been asking that same question for almost two years now.
And with each passing day; her parents had begun to resent her. Young Cinder was in denial at first, blaming it on the sole fact that her mother and father still hadn't overcome the death of their only son. But on that day; her denial was shattered on the pavement like glass.
It was her eleventh birthday; Thursday October 9th...
"Maybe... just maybe..."
She was an optimist, maybe on this day things would finally return to normal again. Whole, together at last.
She quickened her pace, fallen leaves danced in the drafts left behind by cars as they drove by; fluttering into the air in a myriad of red and ochre. Most would've had second thoughts about being in this weather but Cinder didn't mind.
Today was her birthday!
She pulled the flimsy hood of her raincoat further over her head, shielding her against the onslaught of the gale-force winds.
Turning the corner and entering the crescent she lived on; Cinder started running to her destination, and reached her house just as it started to rain. Smiling at the fact that her mom's little red sedan sat idle in the driveway. Reducing her running to a slow walk; Cinder crept up the three steps that led to her porch; tip-toeing the whole way. She grew giddier by the second as she approached the window-flanked front door.
Cringing a little as her small hand gripped the ice-cold brass of the door knob. She scrunched her eyes shut, and glided the door open; bracing herself for what she thought would be a surprise.
She thought wrong.
Scrutinizing Saffron eyes scanned the living room. Her hopes were brought back up at how the curtains were closed; bathing the empty room in darkness.
Cinder took another step, waiting for the lights to flash on and her parents to jump out from behind the furniture.
Nothing.
In a mix of sadness and confusion; Cinder scratched her silky smooth locks and prodded on, still holding out for some kind of surprise.
She stepped into the small kitchen; feet creaking against the hardwood floors. She came up empty...
Again.
A familiar soul-crushing emotion washed over Cinder, obliterating her optimism and replacing it with pessimism.
Just like the previous year; her parents failed to remember what was supposed to be a special day.
Tears already forming behind her eyes; Cinder muffled her sobs with the sleeve of her raincoat and turned back, dashing down the hallway and to the posterior of the home.
If her parents didn't stay; why should she?
Reaching the side door, Cinder zipped her jacket back up, readying herself for the bone - chilling cold that awaited her. Shaky hand met cold brass once more as Cinder slowly opened the door. As if holding on to a glimmer of hope she cautiously and gradually slid the door back, making slow and exaggerated movements; praying for her parents to show-
"Autumn, look I think we should do what we said we would."
Cinder stopped cold. The voice of her father echoing from the den.
They did come!
Cinder ducked into cover, concealing herself around the hallway corner; listening intently.
"James, you know if we go that route; we'll have to do it soon."
"C'mon, you've seen how she acts in school, sometimes I wonder why we even had her in the first place."
"Yes, she's been a real pain with all of questions."
"Exactly, she'd never end up as good as Roman, brats to moronic to even realize what's going on."
"Alright then, how about you and I go on a... business trip soon hm?"
"Sounds perfect."
"..."
Did she really just hear that?
She did.
And it hurt... it really hurt...
Cinder's world was turned upside-down, shaken, and obliterated. All of her worst fears had come true. All of the hope, the optimism; was for nothing. Clamping her hand down over her mouth, Cinder choked down a sob and ran, ran as fast as her shaky legs could carry her. Bursting out the rear door and into the shadowed yard .
"No, no, no, no..."
Walking around the house, Cinder snuck out through the gate and ran into the street, not caring where she went, anyplace that wasn't home would suffice right now.
She ran, and ran, and ran. As fast as possible. As far as possible.
Her body racked with sobs as she ran; what started out as quiet gasping and sniffing, quickly escalated to full blown crying, loud and laced with sorrow.
"W-Why..."
A thought crossed her mind, or rather; a memory. A memory of Roman, the day he left for his flight, everything was perfect, her parents loved her, her brother was alive, life was great. A million ideas raced through Cinder's mind as she continued her pace. But one in particular stood out. Was the reason her parents loved her to begin with just nothing but a facade? Just a mask they'd put on so Roman could feel like he grew up in a normal household?
What else could it be?
It all made sense to her now; Cinder really was unwanted, a slip-up, a mistake. Of course her parents lied to her, made her feel like everything was normal, and when Roman passed away; their true colors shined through on how they felt about their daughter.
Resent.
With her convoluted mind made up; Cinder went to the only place that she could think of. The source of it all. Like instinct; familiar anger rose in the raven-haired girl. This was all Roman's fault.
Recalculating her vectors, Cinder ceased her running and slowed down into a nervous speed walk. After a short walk to the place she had in mind Cinder eyed the sign ahead of her baring the name of this dreadful place.
'East Vale Cemetery'
Cinder stood by the metal-railed fence; shimmering orbs scanning the land before her. The majority of the ground was covered in fallen leaves from nearby trees, decorating the ground with orange and red. To her right was a small gate leading into the graveyard, beyond that was several cobblestone pathways leading off to different burial locations, one of which she had in mind. The heavy gate squeaked open, Cinder's efforts to push the thing we're aided by the heavy winds the blew around her.
Breaking out into a sprint again, Cinder Fall made her way back to the far-reaching areas of the cemetery, there located in a remote plot was the burial place of her brother Roman. She stood over the grave; lips twisting upwards into a hysterical grin, she began reading the expensive ivory tombstone;
"Here lies Roman Fall"
"A bright young mind, who shall never be forgotten, a son and brother of the loving Fall household."
"Loved by James Fall, Autumn Fall, and Cinder Fall."
...
Cinder's eyed watered over, her form looming over the tombstone. Softly she spoke;
"You were apart of this weren't you..." She gritted her teeth. "Y-You didn't c-care, just like Mom and Dad..."
She balled her knuckles into fists and stomped down hard on his grave, "Why did you have to go!"
Cinder fell to her knees, her torn jeans becoming soaked in the muddy ground. "You could've stayed... Y-You could've stayed a-and everything w-would be normal." Her hysteria returned. "Why, why, why, why, why..." She bound up, "This is all your fault! I hate you!"
She was starting to feel frightened, her body was shaking in the freezing cold, she didn't know whether to scream, cry, or break something.
Cinder collapsed to her knees again, letting her tears cascade down her cheek in rapid succession.
She didn't care anymore...
Love was no longer held a meaning; just four random letters, dead, dull, meaningless...
######
Cinder awoke, the all to vivid memory of her past still looming in her mind. She leaned forward, realizing that she had fallen asleep in a chair, evident by the squeaking of oak as she stirred. She surveyed the room; the entirety of it bathed in brilliant satin white, bar the baby blue trim that lined the walls and ceiling. Still a little dazed from her impromptu nap, Cinder swept the dust from her fluttering eyes as the memories of why she was here to begin with, came back.
Cinder had elected to take the long way to meet up with Ruby, instead of the straightforward route she'd normally take; Cinder took to the streets that encircled the neighborhood, effectively making a big loop around their subdivision.
She had walked with a slow pace, taking every odd pathway and crossover to kill time.
As the winds blew and her bones chilled, Cinder wrapped herself tightly in her maroon leather jacket, deciding to take a detour down a back-alley road the ran behind behind the lines of houses and the main streets. As she carried on; something, or rather, someone caught her attention. Roughly sixty yards down the alley were three individuals, one dressed in gray, another wearing what seemed to be a football jacket, and a third smaller one, clad in a cherry red hoodie.
The shorter one in gray, was grappling the one in the hoodie, while football jacket guy appeared to be berating the red one. Upon closer inspection, Cinder could hear the taunts of a familiar voice;
"Oh? Y'hear that Dove; little red wants us to stop."
"Cardin."
Cinder's mouth went agape realizing who that hoodie toting crimsonette was.
Ruby.
"Oh Fuck no..."
Cinder averted her direction and shifted towards the group at the end of the alley. In a wild sprint, Cinder made the distance within seconds, with the element of surprise; she called out to Cardin hoping he'd leave Ruby alone and focus on her.
"You never learn do you!"
Cinder breathed a sigh of relief as Cardin dropped Ruby.
Cardin turned around; eyes widening in fear at the sharp knuckles pending towards his face. With uncontrolled force Cinder's knuckles made perfect contact with the boys temple, sending him careening back, hitting the rough ground with an audible whimper.
Dove's fearful eyes shifted from the out-cold heap of Cardin, to the near bloodthirsty smile on Cinder's face. Doing what you'd expect; Dove attempted to scale the chain link fence and flee to the other side. Cinder bound over to Dove readying herself for the next move, just inches from him; a pained cry sounded from her left. She first looked to Cardin, who was still knocked out cold, she shifted her gaze to the more important person in that situation.
Her heart almost stopped when she took in the mess that was her best friend.
"Red! Oh no, no, no."
Stepping on Cardin rather than over him, she rushed to Ruby's side, kneeling down on the leaf covered pavement, she assessed the damage. Brushing back Ruby's Crimson bangs that cascaded over her face, Cinder went even colder at the shredded skin on Ruby's soft face. Small trickles of blood seeped from her mouth and onto to hood under her.
Whatever Cardin did went further than just a few scratches.
With no time to waste; Cinder dug her phone from her jeans pocket and attempted to dial 911. Her hand was so shaky that it took her three attempts to dial it correctly. With the number punched in and the call made; Cinder picked up Ruby's limp body and held it close to her own, doing whatever it took to keep the girl warm.
In a matter of minutes the ambulance had shown up; two paramedics carrying a stretcher in between them rushed up to the scene, two other medics came and retrieved Cardin not soon after. When Cinder had to relinquish her grasp on Ruby so the medics could do their job; she felt like a part of her was being torn away, like a puzzle with a piece missing.
Incomplete.
It felt even worse when Cinder was told to stay behind, based on the premise that "Everything would be okay."
So as the ambulance pulled off into the impending dusk of evening; it felt like dejavu all over again.
Dead, Dull, Meaningless...
...
Cinder shook her head at the events of the previous day. Sitting fully upright she put her leather jacket back on. She cracked her sore shoulders and shakily got up; her legs feeling like noodles from their uncomfortable sleeping position. Her saffron eyes looked to the only windows in the room, blurred and lined with condensation and beads of rain. As her senses slowly turned on one-by-one; the next thing that graced her presence was beeping, high pitched and incurably annoying. Her eyes followed the sound coming from a peculiar machine; it's LCD display highlighting someone's heart rate. Cinder traced the wires, leading from the machine to-
"R-Red..."
The memories came full force now. After the fight, Cinder ran back to Mercury's house and demanded a ride to the hospital, reluctantly he agreed and drove her there.
Upon her arrival at the hospital, Cinder's expression went solemn, as she noticed Yang and Blake along with an adult; already sitting in the reception area, waiting for permission to see Ruby. Staying out of sight to avoid another shouting match, Cinder had waited outside, and after a while the three individuals had left, by then it was already bordering on 1:00 A.M. She breathed a little easier, knowing their sooner than later departure meant Ruby was okay.
So she saw an opportunity and took it, Running back inside she remembered pestering the receptionist with questions in Ruby's whereabouts, and after a few threats; was allowed entry into her room.
...
"Must've... slept here last night..."
Eyeing the stagnant form of Ruby; Cinder felt guilt slowly rise within her. If she hadn't bothered Cardin in the first place none of this would've even happened.
But she would even have received the opportunity to meet Ruby either.
It was a blessing and a curse.
A curse that hopefully would've been broken with Cinder and Cardin's last scuffle.
Emptying her mind, Cinder focused on the sleeping form of her friend. Ruby lied there; deep in the bliss of warm sleep. Cinder brought her hand down and cupped the girl's cold cheek, stroking the smooth alabaster skin with her thumb. Cinder groaned a little at the realization of what she was doing. Pulling her hand back and scolding herself internally.
The reason she had that dream made sense now.
To her at least. In Cinder's mind, the dream about her past served as a grim reminder of what could never be; a genuine person who cared for her. She was cursed with a life like this. Cinder hastily stepped back from the hospital bed, shimmering eyes cased away from Ruby's form and towards the window, following the drops of water that slid down the outside. She sauntered over to the window pane, eyes scrunching as the reflection of her face came into view.
Using the sleeve of her jacket she wiped a small hole in the window; allowing her to watch the swaying autumn trees battle the vicious winds of October weather. Ruby's room was located on the fifteenth floor giving Cinder an ample View of morning time Vale. Her eyes watching the cars in the streets below hustle and bustle about, wondering what kind of lives their drivers were living, what it would be like to be a different person; just for a day.
Different person?
Her mind wandered to Ruby again, wondering what it would be like to live a carefree life like hers, surrounded by friends and family...
There was only one thing le-
"C-Cinder?"
She damn near died when that voice echoed through the air.
In the reflection of the window, Cinder could see Ruby; sitting up straight and clutching the white bed-sheet close to her body. Turning around fast enough to make her dizzy, Cinder graced eyes with Ruby, both girls not knowing what to say.
The elder of the two decided to break the ice, taking a deep breath, she spoke. "Well, well, well, look who's awake." Cinder quickly masked herself back to her aloof personality.
Ruby smiled a bit, "W-Was that you who saved me?"
Cinder still stood by the window. "Of course red."
Ruby's expression raised. "C-Could you come over here?"
"That's fine." Cinder shrugged before walking over.
Reaching Ruby's bedside, Cinder looked down to the crimsonette, Saffron and Silver orbs danced back and forth between the two. After a minute of what looked like a staring contest Cinder, once more, choose to speak first this time.
"How are y-umpf." Cinder was cut off as Ruby bound up from her seated position and wrapped Cinder in a tight embrace. Pulling the raven-haired girl as close as possible.
"Thanks..." She mumbled through the leather of Cinder's jacket.
With each passing second that Ruby remained latched to her, Cinder's heart beat became quicker and quicker. Her skin was flustered, and in all honesty; she didn't have any idea what she was supposed to do!
A stray though crossed her mind: her dream.
It was reminding her again, gnawing at her insides and filling her with guilt and apprehension. This wasn't meant to go this far; she should've cut it off right then and there on the first day of school. She was being a hopeless optimistic again, something she'd promised herself never to return too...
Ruby on the other hand was reveling in Cinder's warmth, but something was... different about Cinder today. On any given day Cinder would spend ant of her free time with the crimsonette. Each enjoying the others company. But the weak hold Cinder had reciprocated upon her embrace combined with the feelings she had seemed to fabricate, Ruby couldn't help but notice a certain...stiffness to her actions.
With a swift gesture Cinder let go of Ruby and gave her the best smile she could muster. "No problem Red."
Ruby continued to watch, the raven-haired girl seemingly carved from stone.
"Cinder? Are you alright?"
"Of course Red. L-Look I have to go, you're sister is going to be here soon I bet." Cinder dug her hands deep in her jacket pockets and started to slowly make her exit from the hospital room.
"Are you sure? We could watch TV?" Ruby almost pleaded.
"Red, it's fine, I've been in enough fights for one weekend." She punctuated those last words with a giggle before opening the door and stepping out.
Ruby watched the door closed ever so gently. The room returned to it's silence; bar the annoying beeping. Ruby lifted the hem of her hospital gown to her face, taking in Cinder's arid perfume, sweet but edgy. Just like her.
Ruby wasn't going to deny it anymore, and Cinder saving her a second time solidified her emotions. Ever since the first day, Ruby enjoyed her time with Cinder, even if one time was practically robbing a convenience store. There was just something about her. Her cool and smooth personality, those stunning Saffron eyes, and that smile. Whether she was ready to admit it or not; she likes Cinder.
She... Like, Likes, Cinder.
However contrary to popular belief; Ruby wasn't as awkward as many had interpreted her to be. Upon looking Cinder in the eyes before she made what seemed like a hasty retreat, Ruby caught a glimmer of something in those beautiful eyes of hers. Something along the lines of... dejection.
It wasn't only evident in her facial expressions, but also her movements, normally swift and smooth ones were replaced with jagged nervous ones, almost as if Cinder didn't want to be there.
"Oh no! Was it my fault? Was the hug too much? Oh man that was way too much... she must think I'm some kind of creep or something..." Ruby fought internally. "I have to make it up to her. Yeah!"
Ruby already had an idea in mind. Weeks back after the variety store incident, Ruby remembered seeing Cinder's student information package sitting on the coffee table in her living room. She didn't actually read it over; but she did notice the date of birth.
October 9th. Today was the fourth, meaning it was just five days away.
She had to get her something perfect.
Maybe she'd even confess...
Little did Ruby know, these next few weeks would be the beginning of something terrible and something incredible.
A/N So lots on Cinder's past here. Apologies if it was any bit confusing, but if you have questions, just PM me, we're open 24/7. Don't forget to drop a review and thanks for reading! See ya next week!
-ARMV7