Author Notes

Ah! This was supposed to be up yesterday! I'm trying to get back on schedule and I'm sorry for the missed and late chapters. I'm in the last two weeks of my teaching practical though so things should calm down after that.

Chapter 49

Break In

Hedy frowned when she got to her front door, her angry thoughts from the night stilling as she stared at the door.

It was unlocked. Why was it unlocked?

She cautiously pushed it open. It creaked softly as it swung inward. Hedy pursed her lips into a thin line as she pulled out her cell phone and placed on her lap. It was probably nothing. One of her roommates probably just forgot. Still...better safe than sorry.

"Sarah? Rena? You guys home already?" It wasn't likely.

True, neither of them had classes that day but they were probably out shopping or meeting with their boyfriends or something. One of them was probably in a hurry and left without remembering to lock up.

Nothing seemed out of place until she entered. The sounds of some movie drifted to her. Entering the lounge slowly, the last thing she expected greeted her.

Ruby was sprawled on the couch watching the movie, popcorn on the floor next to her and a glitter bomb in her hands that she was working awkwardly on with her casted arm.

Hedy stared a Ruby for a long moment, her mouth slightly agape.

"Am I dreaming? Or knocked out? Because I'm pretty sure I've had this nightmare before..." she finally said aloud.

Ruby threw her that insufferable smirk that screamed 'this is just the reaction I wanted and I'm enjoying it' before setting the glitter bomb on the coffee table.

"Hey Hedy! Geez you took forever to get back. I was running out of places to boobytrap. And those two that got caught in the net are starting to annoy me."

She kicked her boots up on the couch, smirk widening.

"Oh my g- " Hedy suddenly paused and her eyes darkened dangerously. "You better not have gone in the garage."

She eyed the glitter bomb.

In the back of her mind, Hedy realized that she should have been more concerned about her friends/roommates than her workshop, but honestly she knew Ruby wouldn't actually hurt them.

...Right?

"Your garage? That place with all the wonderfully complex and expensive looking machinery?" Ruby asked innocently. "Now why would I, a teenager with a history of making mechanical pranks and disrespecting other people's property as well as privacy, go in there?"

Her smile was wide but her eyes were clearly daring Hedy to call her out on it. She was starting to enjoy her confrontations with the mechanic.

She picked the bomb up again and started absently tossing it up and down as she ate some more popcorn.

Hedy looked like she wanted to strangle the teenager.

"Oh, you are so dead," she said matter of factly. "Do you expect me to kick you out? Because you, little miss psycho, are not leaving this house until you clean up everything." she pointed above her head without even looking up. "Starting with whatever's in the bucket hanging over my head."

Ruby just grinned wider.

"Aw you want me around? I'm so flattered Hedy! And here I thought you didn't like me. And good peripheral vision. The blonde didn't see it." she stretched out on the couch like a cat. "At least I got someone with it."

Suddenly voices came from the bathroom.

"Hedy! Is that you?! Call the cops, she's psychotic!"

"And get us down from here! I'm getting sick of being stuck in a net."

Ruby rolled her eyes.

"Their fault for falling for the old tripwire-net trap." she muttered, eyes straying to the movie which…

That wasn't even one of theirs! She'd brought some horror movie WITH her!

Hedy resisted the urge to facepalm and huffed as an obnoxious scream came from the television. She refused to look at it. She could understand why other people thought them entertaining but she always found them somewhat painful. They didn't scare her. She just had an intense dislike towards them. Bad memories and what not. She'd have a certain recurring nightmare for days afterward.

"They haven't been working the night shift with you for the past couple weeks." Hedy pointed out. She reached down and disconnected the tripwire before lowering the bucket down while ignoring the yelling from the other side of the house. The sludgy, brown chocolate pudding sloshed around slowly. What did she use on Sarah?

"You gonna let them out or what?"

Ruby snorted.

"Not even the 'bots fall for that trick. I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts. Ooooh! It's the chainsaw part! This is the best part of the movie!" she sat up, eyes fixed on a rather disturbing scene in the movie.

...there was no way this movie was for under eighteen... how did she get it?

Strangely enough, as Hedy set the bucket on the floor she didn't see any mess from it hitting Sarah. Did she clean it up already just to try and get her next? At least it didn't stain the floor, whatever it was.

She cringed as Ruby excitedly turned the volume up. She could tell the screaming from the movie was fake but still. It was familiar.

"What are you doing here? How did you get in?" she groaned.

She might as well focus on one of two distracting things in the room. "No. Scratch that last one. I think I know how. How do you know where I live?"

"I feel offended that you don't already believe that I can pick locks." Ruby scoffed. "And bonus, got to do it twice in one day! Your lock was harder than the manager's though. You keep it in good condition. Anyway, also got some awesome blackmail so he handed over your address and here I am. Geez that was a long walk. Why do you live so far away?!"

Hedy really hoped that she hadn't had too much sugar already.

Ruby shifted so that she wasn't leaning on her cast as another violent scene started on screen.

"Hmm, they made good fake blood..." she mumbled.

She looked back at the mechanic after a moment.

"As to why I'm here, guess." she smirked at her again.

Hedy scoffed as she wheeled the rest of the way into the room.

"You walked?" Hedy asked incredulously.

She shook her head. "Look. I just needed some time to think. I didn't expect you to care if I came back or not."

Ruby groaned, pulling one boot off to massage her foot.

"The whole way." she muttered. "Anyway, it's because the Toys are sulking all over the place. And I like two of them now so that bothers me. Sure Toby's a jerk but Mangle hasn't come out from under the stage and Teddy's been snapping at everyone."

She looked up at Hedy, gaze steady.

"Why are they suffering if it wasn't their fault?" she asked.

"You don't understand." Hedy said, her voice hesitant and a little sad. "Don't think I'm trying to punish any of them. Not even Toby."

Ruby raised an eyebrow.

"They're like insecure teenagers and you left without telling them that?" she asked a little heatedly. "You could have said that you need some space and will tell them your decision later. Instead they think you might never come back."

"I know. I should have said something," Hedy admitted, "But all I could think about was that I needed to get out of there. I didn't want them to see me lose it I guess..." Her lips twitched. "Want to know something strange?"

Ruby cocked her head to the side, looking curious.

"I'm going to make a terrible mom. If ever. You're right about them. Being children that is. Teenagers. And no one's said it out loud and it's weird to think of but...I have kind of been their only parent figure besides Puppet." Hedy scoffed harshly at herself. "Hmph. Murder, betrayal, weakness, and abandonment. Some examples we've set."

Ruby rolled her eyes.

"You'd only be a bad example of you didn't try and fix it." She shrugged.

Hedy sighed through her nose.

"And what have I fixed Ruby? Mangle's still fragile and can't speak but she wants to tell stories so badly. She has dozens running through her head but can't even write them down properly to share with us. Toby can't tell right from wrong but he wishes he could so that the kids would like him more. Balloon Boy can't read even though he wants to. Then maybe everyone would stop thinking that he's stupid. Chi has memory problems that makes it hard for her to remember how to cook and she's insecure about it. Teddy wants to take care of his team, his family, but he's not sure how and the rules are the only guidelines he's had for so long. That and Puppet. Speaking of, as horrible a creature as he is, I can see he's scared of something. Something to do with night guards obviously. But he never talks. He'll never trust anyone. I'm trying my best but I'm not sure much more I can take. Knowing that my uncle and...others...have been...hurt doing their own bests doesn't help."

Ruby turned her full attention to the older girl now, a softer light having entered her eyes.

"Can't see the wood for the trees." She told her. "I didn't mean fix as in your completely fixed idea. You've done more than you think. The things I heard from the bots about them... they changed before they got here, they're more bearable. Mangle's not trying to kill me after all. And I made a truce with Teddy. Sure the rabbit and the chicken are stubborn but you're getting there. It won't just sort itself out after a few attempts. You've got to keep pushing and sure there will be set backs, but you'll get there in the end."

She sounded like she was talking from experience.

"It's not the end result that you should be focusing on. It's the process."

Hedy looked down, a tiny smile on her face. "You know, this isn't the next conversation I expected to have with you. The screaming in the background is ruining the mood a bit." She gestured to the movie then toward the direction of her roommates' shouting.

Ruby shrugged and grinned.

"Yeah but I didn't think that you would appreciate me tasering your roommates." she smirked, eyes drifting back to the tv.

After a moment she looked back at her.

"Anyway, that's what I wanted to say. I'm not the type to demand answers so I guess I'll leave you to find all the traps. Have fun. I've got to get back before Alice starts freaking out."

She stood up and grabbed her glitter bomb and popcorn and stopping the movie.

"Whoa. Did you not even hear the part about you not leaving until you clean up?" Hedy said sternly. "Call...Alice and tell her you're staying for a little while longer and if you get in trouble for that then I'll explain. I'll let you keep five traps up but only that, and the garage, attic, and basement are off limits. We have too many important things in our workshops." She looked Ruby in the eye, dead serious.

Ruby groaned at her, actually looking like an ordinary teenager for a brief second.

"Left my phone at the pizzeria by accident." she said as she dumped the popcorn back on the table. "Was a little high on pain meds again."

She stretched and winced slightly as she pulled on her broken arm.

"And I didn't make a mess. The mess in the bathroom is all because of your roommates swinging the net around. There's like, six traps now that you took that one down and those two set that one off. I started feeling lightheaded after that many so I settled on the movie."

"You can use my phone. Any traps in the workshops?"

No mess huh? Hedy made a pointed look toward the popcorn spilled on the floor beside the couch.

Ruby rolled her eyes at the look and actually picked it up to Hedy's surprise.

"Nah, I don't boobytrap other people's workstations. I'd kill if anyone did that to mine." she held her hand out absently for the phone as she put the popcorn back into the bucket.

Hedy handed it to her. "Good. Also I should probably point out that Sarah and Rena are probably almost out by now. Rena keeps a pocket knife."

There was a loud crash from the bathroom followed by lots of colourful cursing.

Ruby grinned. "Not bad then."

She didn't seem bothered as she dialled a number on the phone.

"Hey Alice-" a frantic, female voice exploded out of the phone and Ruby had to hold it away from her ear until someone else got it away from her.

"Oh, hey Clint. Yeah I'm fine. Went somewhere. Left my phone at work. Uh huh. Yup. I know. Sure. I will." she ended the conversation and handed the phone back to Hedy.

"Thanks."

She was looking at the bathroom now excitedly waiting for them to exit covered in who knew what.

"Where'd that little-" an angry voice said as the two other girls in the house rounded the corner.

"Wait. Rena..." the second voice cut herself off. "Hedy!? Did the psycho get you too? Ugh...my hair..."

They came into view and Hedy's eyes widened as she tried not to choke on her laughter.

It looked like they were covered in a combination of chocolate and cream. There were also rainbow sprinkles all over them.

Ruby had no such reservations about laughing and collapsed back on the couch, trying to drag air in between laughs.

Hedy snorted and her friends snapped around to look at her.

"Aw no fair." The blond pouted and glared at Hedy. "How come she didn't get you?" She was cringing at the stickyness of every movement.

The black girl crossed her arms and focused on Ruby as a drop of cream fell from her nose. "Who are you and what the heck are you still doing here?"

Ruby finally managed to get some words past her laughter.

"Came to...talk to...Hedy and...got bored..." she gasped.

After a few minutes she regained control and only giggled now and then.

"Hedy wanted me to clean up and make sure I didn't boobytrap anything important." she shrugged. "And she didn't fall for the kind-of-obvious prank. Name's Ruby."

Rena shut her mouth and turned to Hedy.

"Heds..."

"From work." Hedy said. "She has a couple pranks to clean up and she's helping with the bathroom."

"Ooooooh." Sarah said. "Thaaaat Ruby..."

Ruby looked pretty proud to be recognised.

"I said it wasn't my fault though." she pouted. "I told them to stop swinging the net and they didn't and knocked everything over. The chocolate is made so sticky so that it doesn't drip. I'll clean up a couple pranks though. Maybe the microwave one is too mean..."

"Thank you." Hedy said.

She then smirked at her roommates. "While she's doing that, who wants the shower first?"

"Out of my way!" Sarah yelled as she and Rena spun on their heels to make a run for it.

Rena turned too fast and hit the ground as Sarah jumped over her with little regard.

"Sorry! I have a date tonight!" She shouted.

Rena groaned without lifting her face from the floor. "She's going to be in there for hours."

"Then she can clean it up by herself." Hedy shrugged.

"Ugh. I'm going to go use the water hose outside." she gestured to Ruby, "Hey kid. Wanna help?"

Ruby was looking at the bathroom with an odd expression.

"Uh sure. But should I take the goop bomb out of the shower first?" she asked innocently. "Oh and I've got soap that gets it out of your hair faster."

She held the soap out to Rena.

Rena opened her mouth to respond but right on cue there was an explosion and a furious scream from the other side of the house.

Hedy couldn't take it anymore and burst out laughing.

Now Sarah knew that pain she had laughed at Hedy for back in the day.

Ruby snickered madly and grabbed Rena's arm.

"Think the hose is your better option." she admitted.

By the time they got the bathroom and roommates clean it was growing dark outside. Ruby shoved her things into her bag awkwardly with one arm.

"Well I'd better head out." she was still grinning at the furious Sarah.

"See you tonight." Hedy said.

She was just going to have to deal with the memories like she always did.

"Wouldn't it be better if you stayed and let Hedy drive you?" Sarah asked as she sharply combed out her hair, still glaring at Ruby from the corner of her eye.

She really did have a date that night apparently. She had a nice dress on and everything.

Ruby visibly flinched at that suggestion and her tone was a little shakier than usual as she answered.

"Nah. I don't do...vehicles." she shrugged, this time uncomfortable and didn't look at them. "I'll be fine. The walks only like two hours and I've walked at night before. If anyone tries something I'll just taser them."

"Here." Hedy said handing Ruby her phone again. "Just in case."

She nodded, a slightly distant look in her eyes. With that the teenager headed out the door, throwing her usual smirk and a remark about finding the remaining traps over her shoulder.

They waited a moment until they were sure she was gone before turning on Hedy.

"Why did you let her keep some of those pranks up? I'm afraid to get in my bed now." Rena scowled and crossed her arms.

Hedy smiled softly and took a minute to reply.

"She puts pranks up in places where she wants to feel safe. Where she wants a piece of home. I didn't have the heart to take that away. In the end she's still a kid after all."

Author Notes

Hope you enjoyed :) And thanks to Corona Pax for her help in writing this chapter.