Rosemary… rosemary, where is it? Frustration bubbled in his chest as Adam walked through the garden on the side of Ruby's house. It was planted in neat rows and was well maintained, though the pruning wasn't the cleanest. Much of it was for her business, but some was for her own use.
The morning summer sun shined down overhead, bathing everything in a warm white light that stung his sensitive eyes. Cicadas buzzed and chirped in the trees and songbirds played their peaceful melodies. The nostalgic scent of the sea filled the air, bringing him back to his childhood, while the fresh herbs around him brought his mind to the recipes his human roommate had prepared every day since his unexpected arrival at her home.
"She says she can find her plants by smell alone, I'm certain she's exaggerating. Everything is so well organized, it's just that her system makes no damn sense." He let out an irate huff through his nose, but still… he felt his cheek muscles tense with a reluctant smirk.
Without thinking, the terrorist extended his hand and let his fingers brush against a bush of thyme. Fragrant oils soaked into his skin, staining it with their distinct scent. I bet it smells stronger to her.
Brushing off the thought, he proceeded down the aisles of green, the rows of tilled soil and bushes of herbs and fresh vegetables on either side of him. He learned that his housemate had been tending to this garden for years and was her favorite hobby outside her work in the plant nursery. To his surprise, she seemed embarrassed when she first showed it to him.
I don't think I'll ever understand that human. He shook his head, before a familiar looking plant caught his eye. There it is. What order did she use to plant these? It's amazing she finds anything like this.
Slowly, he bent down, his knee landing in the soft soil as he brought a pair of sheers to the branches. A dull ache radiated from his chest, but it was a distant echo of the devastating would that almost took his life almost two months ago. His body was recovering quickly and his aura was fully restored to capacity.
With a quick snip, he severed the branches, the sharp blade cutting effortlessly through the plant's tissues. The few bundles of herbs he cut off landed in the palm of his open hand and from the cuts, the distinct scent wafted out, spilling into the air.
Adam lingered for a long moment, glancing around him until he was satisfied that he was alone. Then… he softly closed his eyes. With the world around him blocked out of sight, he was forced to take in reality through his other senses. It was dark, and for a moment, he felt lost. It didn't surprise him that his first thought was to his human companion, imagining her standing beside him, also in an absence of light.
Soon, his remaining senses took over, flooding his brain with details usually forced to the background. The summer breeze pulled humid air from the east and drew the scent of the sea with it, but also the smell of the surrounding forests and the distant, faint hint of someone else' cooking upwind. Along with the birds and the bugs, he could also hear small animals scurrying in the undergrowth. Far away, the loud horn of a ship on the ocean reached him as no more than a faint blip of noise.
Still, I'm far from being able to navigate the world like this. If I tried to walk back to the house, I'm sure I'd end up in a bush. His eyes opened and he recoiled at the influx of overwhelming light. Squinting against the sun, the bull faunus stood, his legs shaking just slightly at the exertion, his body having grown weaker over his recovery.
With herbs in hand, he made his way back into the house. Despite the hot day, Ruby didn't have air conditioning and seldom turned the fans on. Instead she opted to open the windows such that it promoted natural air flow through the house. Adam could only imagine the sound of an AC or fans would interfere with her ability to navigate, though she didn't have much of a problem in the grocery store.
He kicked off his dirt covered boots at the entrance to avoid tracking a mess through his host's house. It's strange, I think this is the longest I've stayed in one place since I was a teenager, I've become annoyingly familiar with this house. I doubt I could make my way around without sight, even after months of living here. I wonder how long it took her to get used to it?
Absently, he lay the sprigs of rosemary down on the kitchen counter, making note of how much cooler the stone felt against his fingers, something his eyes wouldn't have been able to tell him. I'll give her this; the attention that human places on her functioning senses has given me a useful perspective. If I had been more attentive and attune with my other senses, maybe that ambush wouldn't have caught me off guard, and I would have been able to kill the Schnee and all those human, SDC scum. At the very least, I could have prevented the loss of life and freedom of my compatriots.
Bitterness clung to his throat and chest, a powerful sensation that made his jaw clench and his fist ball up on the counter next to the freshly cut aromatics. He felt his heart beat faster, flashes of that fight playing through his mind as he bared his teeth. What am I even doing here? I should be out there, taking the fight to the humans who've taken everything from me. What's wrong with me… and what's with that human girl?
click
A light sound disturbed the peace and quiet of the home, and the chaotic turmoil of Adam's mind. He turned his eyes to the door instinctively, and in the back of his mind, he tried to recall if Ruby turned her unseeing eyes to sounds, feeling a strange sensation of amusement when he realized that she too couldn't resist the impulse despite her blindness.
Without thinking, his body relaxed and he walked towards the front door. To his surprise, he could hear the scratching of a key against the lock, a few annoyed taps until and the distinctive sound of rattling metal until it finally slid into the slot, and the door unlocked. I guess she doesn't have everything down perfectly yet.
"Adam?" Was the first tentative word Ruby spoke upon entering the house, her blank eyes looking at nothing in particular but her head tilted slightly so her ears faced into the house.
"You're back." He tried to sound cold and indifferent, but an award hint of warmth tinged his attempt as he approached his housemate.
"Yep, and I got the goods." At his voice, she immediately perked up, a bright and playful smile lighting up her face as she held up a few shopping bags.
"Did you have trouble finding your key just now?" Adam smirked, enjoying the near instant blush of rosy red that glowed on the human's cheeks.
"Uuhg, you heard that?" Ruby cringed, but a playful smile betrayed her feelings. "I really need to make a system for my keys, I just don't want to carry multiple key rings, that sounds so annoying."
"Have you considered wrapping tape of different textures around your keys so you know which is which?" Adam just threw out the first thing that popped into his head.
"I-" Immediately, her silver eyes grew wide and her smile softened ever so slightly. "That's… a great idea! Why didn't I think of that!? Adam, you're a genius!"
"Anyway," He looked away, completely taken aback by her reaction and also by the warmth spreading through his own cheeks. "Did you manage to get everything on your list?"
"I did indeed. I also took care of some business, I got a bulk order for a pretty big upcoming local event, they want me to do flower arrangements for it. This is a big deal, I've been wanting to do this for years and-"
Ruby took an excited step forward… and immediately felt her foot hit something on the floor.
"Aah!" Ruby yelped. She felt her balance completely fail her as her ankle rolled from stepping on something uneven and squishy. She braced herself as she felt the air rush around her body and her arms reached out to catch her. Still, from experience, she knew it would hurt. All she could do was clench her jaw and prepare for impact with the floor.
"Ruby!"
Was all she heard, loud and clear, before something wrapped around her and suddenly, though she wasn't completely upright she knew she wasn't falling anymore. Her heart was pounding and her breaths were labored. Gently and effortlessly, she felt her body being reoriented and even once she was back on her feet, whatever held her didn't let go.
"A- Adam?" She barely spoke in a whimper, her hand reaching out until she felt a strong, muscular arm that held her. She could feel his pulse under his skin, his heart was beating as fast as her own.
"What was that?" Adam huffed, feeling the ache in his side flare up from the moment he caught Ruby's falling weight in his arms. The mad dash he made didn't help, the most explosive movement he had done since receiving his injuries. But this is a good sign that my recovery is nearly complete.
"I- I don't know, something was on the floor." She didn't try to investigate, instead her mind was a chaotic flurry of thoughts and feelings she couldn't quite untangle after her close brush with gravity.
"What could have- oh…" Adam trailed off as his looked to the entrance… and to his dirty boots that lay right in the walking path.
"What is it?" She asked in a hushed tone, her voice so soft and distant she wasn't even sure she said anything.
"Damn it," Adam's voice held a harsh edge of rage as he retracted his hands from Ruby, satisfied that she was able to stand on her own. "I left my boots by the door, I wasn't thinking."
"It's okay, that's just what happens sometimes. I'm actually surprised this didn't happen sooner." She tried to laugh it off but she could tell by Adam's voice that he felt really bad about it.
"I should have been more aware of my surroundings." He growled, stomping over to his shoes before placing them neatly out of the way.
"Don't worry about it, please." Her tone softened, but still, she couldn't help but have a tender smile. It's been a long time since anyone's caught me from falling. I've gotten so used to catching myself… it felt nice, is that selfish?
"Mistakes have consequences, they can't be brushed away with an apology. Especially when someone could have gotten hurt." Anger simmered in his blood, but something else, something he couldn't quite place, tempered his fury.
"Do you know how many times I've fallen in this house?" Ruby sighed, walking away from Adam and to the living room just beyond the entrance. Without hesitation, she threw her bags on a small table and sat herself down on the couch.
"No." He huffed bitterly.
"Me either," A hollow breath of laughter escaped her lungs, but her grin had faded to a wistful smile that barely held any light to it. Adam found himself thinking it hardly suited her. "I- I made sure to move here alone. Yang and Dad insisted on staying with me while I got used to the place, I had to let them, at least for a little while, I was just making them worry more. This place wasn't exactly friendly to my needs and needed a bit of work but I managed. I was especially cautious while my family was with me but once they left I relaxed and… well, mistakes happen. I'd fall, I'd catch myself and I'd dust myself off and learn."
"You manage it well." Adam growled, sitting himself on the cushy chair next to the couch, as he had done since he was able to move around on his own. He didn't realize until now, but it had become something of a habit for them to sit down in their respective places when they had any kind of deep conversation. I don't think I've talked with anyone about… anything, as much as I talk with her.
"Thanks, I hope I make it look easy… after all, that's what I want. I don't want to worry anyone. If I look like I have it all together, no one will have to worry about me." She sighed, slipping off her own shoes and bringing her knees to her chest while tucking her dress under her legs.
"You really think that little of yourself?" Even Adam recoiled at the embitterment and annoyance that came out of his mouth, the words materializing before his brain could reel them in.
"What do you mean?" Ruby shrunk back, Adam's tone hitting her even harder than his words. He was angry, that was nothing new, but the direction of his anger was at her… and for her at the same time.
"Forget it." He hissed, letting out a frustrated sigh. 'Why am I letting this human get to me like this?'
"I-"
Before Ruby could get another word out, she heard her companion stand and trudge away from her, into the bedroom he'd been sleeping in since he was strong enough to move.
There, curled up in a little ball on the couch, Ruby felt something she had known for so long but now felt so alien to her; quiet.
The wind rustled the trees outside and the songs of nature played over the air. She could hear the sea not far from her home, waves lapping against the shore and the sound of her own breathing and the beat of her heart. Still, in that soundscape, Ruby couldn't help but feel so small and alone. I think I've gotten a bit too used to him.
With a bittersweet exhale she closed her eyes and held herself just a little tighter. Drawing in a slow, steadying inhale through her nose, she tried to fill the gap of silence with her other senses.
"Why do I smell rosemary?"
"So we'll need eighty red roses, twenty-six marigolds, twenty-six hydrangeas of varying colors, twenty-six lavender, twenty lilies, forty tulips and an assortment of native flower species." Ruby muttered over the checklist she was given, she used her phone to save audio notes and she had listened to the order enough times to have it dedicated to memory.
The nursery was attached to her house and was covered by a clear roof to let sunshine in for the plants, though the clear paneling was replaced with metal to give shade behind the counter. The sides of the structure were bordered by a breathable mesh that kept bugs out but let the wind in. The small structure led to a modest greenhouse off the side of her home.
"That's quite a list." Adam looked around at their inventory, the flowers and young trees and herbs and vegetables that surrounded them. He'd become familiar with Ruby's business and had started helping out as his body allowed. I have this work to thank for my recovery, it's been keeping my body strong and Ruby never gave me anything I wasn't ready for. Still, she can be pushy when she knows it's something I can handle, I don't know if she just likes telling me what to do or if she thinks it will help me recover. Possibly both.
"It's every flower we have of those kinds and then some." She sighed. "We only have a few weeks before the event. Some more will be ready by then, the rose bushes out back have a buds formed and the ones that bloom should fill out our quota on roses. Hydrangeas will be a problem, I have bushes full of them but I might have to tap into my personal plants out front. They're just as good but it's not ideal. Lilies we have enough of, marigolds I might have to import to make the order work, same goes for the others. I have an abundance of wildflowers, I pride myself on my native plants but this is going to be a lot."
"This order might be too much for you." Adam said bluntly, knowing her stock pretty well.
"Yeah… I think I got excited and bit off more than I could chew. I might have to tell them to hire another florist to fill in the gaps." A cold dejection permeated her voice and was even more obvious on her face.
"Is this your first job of this scale?" He leaned against a wall, watching her fret. He could practically see Ruby's thoughts scrambling for a solution.
"Yeah," Ruby admitted with a sigh. "I don't actually get much business. I- I don't think I told you this but my dad actually helps me out a lot… with money I mean. I've been trying to be independent with this business but most months I'm barely breaking even. It's so frustrating. When I saw how big this job was I think I got a little too excited. I should have thought things through before saying yes."
"There's nothing wrong with a tactical retreat. Running head first into a situation you can't win isn't noble, it's just suicide." Adam reiterated a harsh lesson learned through years of fighting the strongest forces in the world; the SDC, Human supremacy and the Atlas Military that protects both their interests.
"You're right… I just, I was really hoping I could make this work," With a gentle release of breath, the tension left her body and she reached out her hand, feeling for the wall before leaning up against it… right beside Adam.
"Is there no option to use an outside vendor to get the rest of the flowers you need?" A strange frustration built up a tepid heat in his chest. It was unlike his normal anger, rather, he felt useless to do anything about the situation Ruby found herself in, and also frustrated as to why he even cared.
"I- I have a vendor who could get me the flowers, it's just… I worked hard developing this nursery so I could be my own supplier. I thought I would be ready for whatever job came my way." Without thinking, Ruby raised her thumb to her mouth and started biting at her cuticle, a quirk of her frustration that Adam had made not of over the time they had been together.
"So this is about pride then." He just watched her, seeing the expression on her face shift from one feeling to another. She made no attempt to hide anything, he didn't even know if she could. He watched her shoulders raise and her arms cross over her belly before she lowered her head and her shoulders slumped in resignation.
"I am being prideful, it's stupid, I don't even know why." A solemn admission, all she could do was press her back a little harder against the wall, feeling strangely vulnerable in that moment.
"Taking pride in what you do isn't a bad thing, you work hard. Just don't let pride make you misjudge your situation or your potential. If you're too prideful, you'll miss out on ways you can grow, but if you have no pride, you'll miss out on what you've already achieved and have no ambition to do more." He felt the weight of experience ring in his own words, lessons he learned not only from his time in combat… but also lessons I've learned living with her. I suppose being humbled isn't such a bad thing.
The world between them fell quiet and Ruby's eyes shut softly and her mind wandered to what she could hear, what she could feel and smell. She felt like something inside her had shifted at his words, though she couldn't tell what. Feelings sparked and faded in her chest and a warm glow permeated through her blood and before she knew it, she felt a smile pulling at her lips.
"You're not like anyone I've ever met, you know that?" The words left her mouth before she had time to process them and she visibly tensed as they hit her ears.
Ruby's heart began beating faster and faster as no response came and blood rushed to her cheeks. She knew he was still beside her, she could hear his breathing and she didn't know why but she got the feeling he was looking at her. All she could do was turn her head sheepishly away, looking down at a blank nothing while her silver eyes shimmered like liquid metal.
"Likewise." Adam muttered, barely under his breath. All along he had watched her reaction with a neutral expression, but he found it nonetheless amusing to see the girl's very obvious displays of emotion, it was refreshing, somehow. It feels like a different world when we talk. I don't know how she does it but-
"Someone's coming." Ruby immediately shook her head and drew in a steadying breath, getting her wild emotions under control as she stepped up to the counter in front of them.
Adam felt instantly on edge, his body tensed with anticipation and his mind burning through every scenario. On instinct, he reached for his side, but no sword was to be found. Frustratedly, all he could do was look out to the scene before him, wondering what Ruby could have heard that he didn't.
Finally, he heard the sounds of shoes scuffing against dirt moments before someone came into view. It was a young man, a teenager by the looks of him. Scrawny and lanky but carried the confidence of a bored youth as he strolled into the shop. His expression took on a hint of worry when his eyes locked with Adam's and he seemed to hesitate for a moment at the entrance.
"Hello, how can I help you?" Ruby smiled her best business smile; not too sweet and entirely professional. She was eager to help and happy to have a potential customer.
"I uh, I um… was looking to get my girlfriend a bouquet for our one year anniversary, something nice." He fumbled through his words and his confidence was dissolving fast.
"Well, I'm certain we can find the perfect arrangement for her. Do you have any idea what her favorite flowers are? Maybe her favorite colors?" Ruby tentatively reached her hand out for the counter, using it as a guide to navigate around it until she was safely on the other side.
From the wall at the back of the shop, Adam just watched the scene play out with his arms folded over his chest, trying not to look too menacing. Still, he couldn't help but let his mind wander to worst case scenarios. A huntsman? A police sting? A soldier from Atlas? A mercenary for the SDC? All possibilities.
"She likes yellow, don't know about her favorite flowers, never asked. This was kinda a last minute idea." He shrugged.
"Well, there's plenty of good choices for yellow; merigold, dandelion, sunflower, yellow roses, pansies. Though I might also suggest complementary colors. I'm told purple goes well with yellow, though you're welcome to pick out whatever colors you like best." Ruby guided the young man around the shop, pointing out her flowers and the pre-made arrangements she had on display, each carefully and meticulously positioned so she could find anything at any time accurately.
"So, is it true that you're blind?" The boy said disinterestedly as he looked at a radom collection of flowers.
Adam watched Ruby's reaction closely, unsure how she would react to such a blunt question but very interested to see how it would play out.
"That's correct, but I've got a nose for flowers and I can tell them all apart easily so don't worry about the quality of the arrangement. In fact, I've been told the scent profile of my arrangements give them an added depth of character. If you want, I can definitely select the best flowers based on scent while still sticking with the yellow color theme." Color words were a strange concept to her, she'd heard them described before. Yellow is happy and bright, blue is cool and soothing, green is natural and calming. None of that really means much to me, but I think it's cute how people associate colors with feelings, but I do the same with sounds and scents and textures.
"Cool cool, yeah, whatever you want." The boy seemed more interested in his question than her answer. Still, Ruby brushed off the response and continued to help him.
Adam kept an eye on the boy, the feeling of something being off not leaving him in peace and the only thing that calmed it was watching intently. He knew something wasn't right, but he couldn't be sure what. Still, Ruby went through the paces of arranging an honestly beautiful bouquet, though the colors weren't perfectly complementary, with varying shades, he could imagine the textures and scents they gave off were like a professionally choreographed orchestra of sensation.
Before long, Ruby and the boy made their way back to the counter. Once again, Ruby had to use the edge of the table to find her way behind it where Adam was waiting. She intentionally turned her head to where she remembered him being, feeling strangely comforted still hearing his breathing right where she left him.
"Alright, that'll be thirty-eight Lien." Ruby chimed happily, ringing up the order on her register, the buttons of which were in braille.
"Sure thing," The boy pulled a fist full of change from his pocket and held his hand out over the counter, watching the shop owner with an amused smirk. "Right here."
"Oh, of course," Ruby shrank back a little, feeling immediate unease as she tried to figure out where 'here' was.
Click
The sound of her clicker went off and she tried to use the echo to hear where his hand was. To her credit, she came extremely close.
"Little bit off." He said, his hand hovering just a couple inches away from hers but refused to move to meet her.
Click
Once more she used her echolocation and this time, she narrowed in perfectly on where his hand was. Still, the shop owner looked incredibly uncomfortable as she held out her hand for the money. The boy just waited for a long, awkward moment before dropping the cash in her hand, intentionally letting one of the bills miss her palm and land on the counter.
With a look of resigned disappointment, she felt for where she heard the bill fall, patting around the counter until she found it. Adam watched the whole thing place out, seething fury building up in his chest… especially once he counted the money in his head.
"Hey!" Adam growled, parting himself from the wall as he took a bold step forward, making the boy shrink in fear while he grabbed his flowers.
"Excuse me." Ruby spoke cheerfully and calmly as she walked once again around the counter. Her hand, for a moment, touched Adam's arm, lingering just long enough to get the point across.
Fine, I'll watch you handle it. He thought bitterly to himself, his anger having no choice but to be stifled while he waited for his human companion to intervene on her own behalf.
"You seem to have given me the wrong amount. I know you wouldn't intentionally try to deceive a blind woman in her own shop, right, Kyle?" Adam saw the boy flinch at the utterance of his name.
"What do you mean, that's not my-"
"Your mother comes by here every year to buy flowers, she brought you in once a couple years ago, I don't forget voices easily. Especially since you and I had a brief conversation then. How would your mother feel if I told her about your behavior here?" Ruby's hands rested on her hips as she talked down to the boy who had the most poorly subdued look of shame Adam had ever seen.
"I- um… well that's all the money I brought so could we just-"
"That's fine, I'm willing to look past it if you help around the shop. Don't worry, I know how valuable time and labor are so it shouldn't take long for you to make up the difference." She had already made up her mind the moment he tried to short-change her.
"What do you mean? Like, moving stuff?" He looked like he wanted to run, but she knew who he was.
"Exactly. I can't see and I don't want to risk damaging anything and my associate here is recovering from an injury so he's not able to do heavy lifting, doctor's orders. So if you move a few things, we'll call it even and I won't tell your mom about what you've been up to." She had such a confident grin, it was checkmate and they all knew it. She could hear it in his voice from the moment she said his name, he didn't want this getting back to his family.
"… fine, I'll move your stupid shit." He grumbled, kicking the floor with the toe of his shoe.
"Perfect, I'll show you what needs to be done." With that, Ruby gestured for him and he followed without a fuss.
The owner showed him around the nursery and greenhouse and without further complaint, the boy got to work. A few heavy potted trees were the first on the list and one by one he brought them out and set them exactly where Ruby wanted them. Next were bags of organic fertilizer that he moved into her shed, and lastly were tools that Ruby could have definitely carried on her own but compelled him to do anyway. Adam couldn't deny that watching the whole thing play out was entertaining.
Finally, after half an hour of labor, they were done and the boy was soaked in sweat and looked tired already.
"Thanks for all your help, some of those things had been waiting for months to be taken care of, you really were a huge help." Ruby beamed with a grateful smile.
"Whatever, I'm done now right?" He growled under his breath.
"Almost," The boy shuttered at the single word as Ruby opened the cash register and pulled out a few bills. "The work you did was worth more than the difference you owed me so here, you earned this."
At that, both Adam and Kyle shared a surprised look.
"Are you serious?" He raised his eyebrow, hesitantly reaching his hand out to the money.
"Completely serious, you did good work. Maybe you should channel your energy into something constructive instead of bullying people you think you can take advantage of." On that more serious note, she held out her hand, missing his by a short distance and this time, he met her where she was at and carefully took the money from her hand.
"I- I'm sorry." Kyle shrunk back, his head low with shame as he gave one more apologetic glance at the store owner… before turning and leaving.
"He's a good kid, mistakes shouldn't define someone." She mumbled to herself as she leaned over her counter.
"You were too easy on him." Adam grunted, still feeling unresolved anger on her behalf That Ruby seemed unwilling to feel herself.
"Maybe, but I feel good about the decision." She shrugged it off and a small smile brightened her visage.
"You look far too happy for someone who almost got stolen from." He took a step back and again leaned against the wall of the house with his arms crossed over his chest.
A small huff of laughter escaped her lungs as she closed the cash register and took a slow, long inhale of the fragrant air around her. She heard her companion's body bump against the side of the house and could hear his breathing. Slowly she turned around and made her way to the wall, once more taking up her spot beside him.
"I'm not happy because of what Kyle did." She said simply, her hands fidgeting with themselves as she looked at nothing, but kept her ear facing her housemate.
"Why then?" He knew he was being prompted, but he went along with it anyway.
"You were going to say something when you saw what he was doing. You didn't though, you trusted me to handle it on my own." She smiled just a little brighter.
"So?" For reasons he couldn't understand, he wasn't able to bring himself to look at the girl beside him, feeling a restlessness in his chest.
Suddenly, that restlessness was burned away by a sensation he couldn't quite place as a soft weight came to rest against his body. A wave of warmth washed over him as he looked to his side… to find Ruby leaning against him with a contented, thankful smile and a rosy glow to her cheeks.
"Thank you, Adam. It meant a lot to me." Ruby's eyes closed softly as her cheek rested against his upper arm. She could feel his tense muscles and his rapidly beating heart, sensations that were so new to her.
"I- it was nothing." He just stared at her, his body unable to relax as he focused on keeping them both upright as she had placed a good amount of her weight on him. She trusts me too much.
"It wasn't nothing to me." A little laugh escaped her. It's been a long time since anyone stood up for me and even longer since anyone let me stand up for myself. I pushed Yang and Dad away because I didn't want to burden them, but I think I miss someone caring for me, even if I can take care of things on my own. He didn't try to stop me from dealing with the problem, he trusted me to handle it. It felt nice. I feel nice.
Adam wasn't sure how much time passed as they stood there together. He couldn't move… he didn't want to move. Something in that distorted span of time that lasted moments or hours, made him want it not to end so soon. Without thinking, Adam's eyes softly closed, and he focused not on the sounds of nature or the scents of the flowers, but on the feeling of weight against him and the warmth of her body.
A ripple surged across the surface of foamy water, a slight movement from the body partly submerged in its depths. Steam wafted up from the tub, saturating the air with moisture and carrying the scent of herbs and soaps that drifted aimlessly across the small pool.
Ruby relaxed, feeling the tension in her muscles melt away as the heat from the water soaked through her skin and into her bones, drawing a contented smile to her lips. The sensation of heat and the pressure and weight of the water wrapping around every millimeter of her body left her feeling so comfortable.
Her hand played with a mound of bubbles nearby, feeling them distort and pop and engulf her fingers. Ruby took a long, deep breath, letting the floral scents permeate her mind as she hummed a happy little song to herself, filling the quiet that surrounded her, muddled only by the vent fan above her.
Every ripple in the water, every sway of its weight and eb and flow if its tiny tide was a deep experience. In her delighted boredom, she studied the way it flowed when she leaned to her side, feeling it flowing around her and then bounced off the ceramic walls of the tub. She had learned about waves as she was homeschooled, but nothing quite beat experiencing how alike sound waves and water waves were. They bounce, they distort, the interfere, they converge, water experiences the world a lot like I do.
"Hmmm…" A soft sound rumbled from her throat as she slid deeper into the water, only leaving her face exposed. She could feel her hair floating on the surface, splayed out and dragged by the currents made by her movements.
Her eyes closed softly and she imbibed the warmth that wrapped around her, like the most tender hug. That thought however, drew a heat from within her chest, one more intense than the warmth of the bath as she shrank back into a little ball.
Did I go too far? Her feet swayed underneath the water and she absently swished some bubbles around with her hand. I don't know what I was thinking, I'm never like this. I barely talk to people, I always feel awkward. Everyone's always gone out of their way to take care of me because I'm blind. I think it's made it hard for me to feel normal around people.
"And then… there's him." Those words left her lips a blissful smile as blood flowed under her tinted cheeks. I don't know why but for some reason, I feel so normal around him. I guess I just let that get to my head. I- I don't know what I'm thinking or feeling about him but-
"Does it even matter?" She muttered to herself, her shining grin cooling to a wistful look as she cupped a palm full of bubbles up into her hand, feeling them jiggle as the air cooled them and her skin rapidly. He's healing so fast, I suppose he probably won't stick around for much longer. It's good… I was worried about him but he's going to be okay. I bet his friends and family are worried about him. If he leaves, I think that will be it for us.
"Why am I thinking like this?" Frustration built up in her heart as she carefully spilled the bubbles back into the water. Honestly, I don't know much about him. I don't know how he got hurt, I don't know what he does for work, I don't know if he has a family or who his best friend is.
"But- I know other things about him." She brought her knees to her chest, and sank down just a little further, feeling the water lap over her chin and brush against her lips. I know he loves oranges, I know he's not exactly a morning person, I know he's stubborn and anxious. I know underneath that attitude, he cares so deeply for things, maybe that's why it hurts him so much that he feels angry all the time. The faunus matter so much to him and I know he wants to help them, I wouldn't be surprised if by the way he talks, he's involved with the White Fang somehow.
She submerged herself just a little further, her lips covered up by the water as she let little bubbles flow out from her lungs.
I- I don't know what his past is, but I know enough about him to believe that he's good. He's been living with me for months. He's the first person to ever admit to underestimating me… he saw the real me, he saw me for how strong I am… and then-
"And then he made me question myself." She gave a soft huff of laughter as she brought her head back up out of the water. 'Do I really think that little of myself.' He said that… I know what he meant. It's wrong of me to be so fiercely independent just so I won't feel like I'm a burden to people who care about me, it's gotten to the point I ended up isolating myself from them.
"Adam… you saw right through me." With that, Ruby summoned up all her will and stood herself up from the bath, feeling the water rolling off her bare skin and hearing it splash down to the pool at her feet.
She hated the sensation of cool air sucking away the warmth she had indulged in. Quickly, Ruby unplugged the drain and grabbed her towel. She grabbed hold of railing installed along the walls of the bath and the bathroom and guided herself out by following the lines, carefully stepping over the wall of tub before her feet came to rest on a soft, cushy mat.
Thoroughly patting herself dry, Ruby didn't wait long to put her clean clothes on, eager to fend off the cool air and get into something comfortable. To that end she slipped on her favorite nightwear. I'll just make something easy for dinner, maybe order something for delivery? I'm feeling a bit drained between prepping for the big event and shopping and taking care of my nursery.
Her clothes were astoundingly soft and comfortable, a birthday present from her sister. She had no idea how it looked, but the fabric was light and breathable, perfect for the summer heat and felt incredible against her skin.
I wonder how I look in it though… Yang says it looks cute on me… whatever that means. Everyone says Yang is beautiful so I'm sure she would know what looks good on someone. Still, I wonder what someone unbiased would think? Maybe I should ask…
"Okay Ruby, you're getting carried away." With a little laugh she shook her head and turned towards the door, minding the floor for wet spots before opening it up.
Suddenly, her mind was overwhelmed with a new sensation as cooler air flooded the bathroom from the rest of the house. A small inhale through her nose and Ruby's eyes closed to imbibe the scent. Something smells delicious! Is Adam cooking?
Following the scent, Ruby effortlessly navigated the halls and soon enough, the sound of oil sizzling and the vent of the kitchen stove filled the air. One more turn, counting her steps, and she was in the kitchen.
"Mmm, something smells good." Ruby cooed in a teasing tone.
"I thought you'd be in there longer." He grunted, apparently very focused on his work.
Adam held a spatula in one hand while the other was on the handle of the pan. His eyes were fixed on a slab of fresh fish that seared in hot oil while a medium gas flame burned just below it. All the time he had been cooking, it only made him more astonished that his housemate had been able to effortlessly cook so many complicated and delicious meals without burning the house down or hurting herself.
"You're using the salmon I bought earlier, I also smell fresh kale and some potatoes that you fried hmmm… oh, did you get fresh rosemary from the garden?! I knew I smelled that this morning. You had this planned all day huh?" She giggled, feeling a glow inside her chest as she sat herself down in her usual spot on the couch.
"You could have picked a better cut of fish, but it'll do," He muttered, still diligently cooking away. "You've cooked for me since the day I ended up here, I'm not so weak that I need you to wait on me. Besides, you seem tired."
"I'm not complaining," Ruby shrugged, closing her eyes and listening to the mess he was making in the kitchen. "Oh, and you might want to add a little sage to that, it'll really help even it out, and don't burn the garlic either."
"You're insufferable, you know that?" He let out something halfway between a huff of laughter and a grunt as he shook his head, turning down the heat so the garlic didn't burn.
"And yet you suffer me anyway, I'm starting to think you might actually enjoy my company." She teased, immediately feeling a pulse of anxiety grip her stomach. Was that too far?
Moments lapsed into seconds without a response and Ruby's gnawing anxiety only grew as she tensed up, trying to keep herself from curling into a ball on the couch. She just listened, hearing the spatula scrape against the stainless steel pan and the moving of plates and utensils around. Through the clamor of the kitchen, she could still just make out her housemate's breathing.
"Anyone could have found me on that beach," Adam's voice chimed up as the stove clicked off and the fan whirred down. She could hear his footsteps approaching her from the direction of the kitchen. "If it had to be a human, I could have done a lot worse than you."
"Heh, high praise coming from you, I'll take it." She giggled, feeling relief leaving her body slouched into the cushions. Despite his lackluster words, she felt a playful tone in them, a warmth she had seen in him more and more often as she got to know him.
Without another word, she heard the plate clank down on the table in front of her, that sat with the couch at its side and the cushy chair at its front. Every time they ate, she would take the couch and Adam would take the chair.
Ruby reached her hand out towards the plate… only to hear another sound chime. It was the distinctive sound of metal against metal coming from one side of where she heard the plate. It was loud and deliberate and immediately, Ruby knew what it was.
A grateful smile pulled at her lips as she reached out to the metallic sound and exactly as she expected, she felt the silverware waiting for her. As her fingers touched the silverware, the knuckles of her fingers brushed against the warm ceramic of the plate, everything was exactly where it needed to be. She listened closely, holding her fork until she heard Adam take his seat and lay down his plate.
As soon as she heard his fork hit his plate, she too went to dig in. The dish was fragrant and her mouth was watering from the scent. It was so fresh out of the pan she could still hear a light sizzle coming from it. A few false taps and she found her way around her plate, using the texture of whatever the fork prodded to tell her what was what. Slowly, she cut into the tender, flakey muscle of the fish, feeling the crispy exterior yield easily before her fork tore off a chunk. She could tell it was still juice and perfectly cooked. Bringing it closer to her face, the scent of lemon mingled with the stronger herbs and her stomach growled. Without any more delay… she took her bite.
"How is it?" Adam asked, trying to sound uncaring but she could hear the sincere interest underneath his tone.
"I- It's really good!" She hummed happily as she chewed, savoring the flavor as long as she could. It's really, really good…
"Then why do you look like you're about to cry?" Adam leaned forward, placing his fork down as he looked at the girl before him. She sat in a peculiar way, her legs up on the couch and the plate on the table. She wore a red and white nightgown that looked to be made of a fine, soft fabric and had a tie around the waist giving it the lower half the appearance of a skirt. Still, his attention was far from any of those details as he looked into her silver eyes that shimmered with pools on their surface and her cheeks a warm pink.
"I- what? Oh…" Ruby quickly rubbed her eyes, unable to notice the bleariness that would have been apparent could she see. "Sorry…"
"... I doubt this is about my cooking." He felt impatient, something inside him felt restless and uneasy as he watched her regain her composure.
"It is… but it isn't," She rested her hands in her lap and looked off at nothing, but her ear stayed angled towards her housemate. "It's just, this is the first time anyone has cooked for me since I was a teenager. Back then, Yang and Dad always did the cooking and Yang was in school and it made her run late a few times making sure I ate. I didn't want to cause her problems so I started learning how to do it on my own.
"Did your sister ever complain?" Adam cut right to the heart of the problem as he saw it.
"No but… would she? It was clearly causing her stress, I just thought I was doing the right thing." Ruby shrank back, remembering their conversation earlier that morning.
"If you constantly think you are an imposition, you'll waste your life and all your potential," Adam's words hardened as he watched Ruby's reaction, somehow, he just knew she was listening closely to him. "Apologizing for your existence is no way to live. You have to fight for your place in the world, that's the only thing I know for certain."
"Adam…" Her muscles relaxed and her voice came as little more than a whisper… until a fond smile brightened her face. He's right, hiding myself out in this house to keep from being anyone's problem… it was stupid.
"You should eat before it gets cold," Adam drew in a small breath and began to eat, glancing up once again to watch her take another tentative bite. "And that gown looks good on you, try not to make a mess."
"You say that like I'm a messy eater." Ruby huffed with a pout on her lips.
"You talk with your mouth full sometimes." Adam muttered bluntly while taking another bite.
"I- I do?" Ruby felt the heat of embarrassment burn its way from her belly to her chest to her cheeks.
"Yeah." He couldn't help but be amused by her reaction.
"Why didn't you tell me!?" Ruby whined before shoving another bite into her mouth and closing her lips tight as she chewed.
"It's not often and usually when you talk… you…"Adam hesitated, his eyes widening. Slowly… he looked around the room, then at his plate and then to the girl. What am I doing here? What am I saying? Why does she always make me say and do things I would never do? I- I think being here any longer would be a mistake, she's messing with my mind.
"What's wrong?" She tilted her head, looking off generally where she thought he was.
"When you talk, it's usually worth listening to." He finished, a bitter tinge to his words as he quickly tried to shove down the rest of his meal, a chaotic discomfort building in his heart and mind.
"I like listening to you talk too." As she did so many times before, Ruby pulled her knees to her chest as she wrapped her arms around her legs. The longer he stays… the more this place feels like home. I think I might have a problem.
"I- I'm going to go shower." Adam stood himself up, but still, he couldn't take his eyes off the girl. She looked so small, curled up like that. Part of him wanted to somehow let her see how she looked in that moment, from his perspective.
"W-wait!" Blurting out at a volume much louder than she intended, she successfully got his attention. "I- um… earlier, you told me I was being prideful and- you were right. I've decided, thanks to you, that I'll use another vendor. As long as I do my best with the arrangements, everyone at the event will be just a little happier, hopefully."
Adam paused for a moment, watching her still. She shifted and fidgeted in place, the way she tilted her head towards him and the way her breathing got quiet, he could tell she was listening intently for him. 'She's really bad at hiding what she's thinking and feeling. It's strangely refreshing.'
"Adam?" Ruby whispered, listening a little closer. She could still hear his breathing but from the sound of it, he was just standing there.
"I-," He began, words struggling to form from the bubbling swell of feelings and thoughts he couldn't quite grapple with. Without thinking, he took a step closer to her, though he couldn't be sure why. His hand moved on its own, raising up towards the human girl who looked lost and fretful in that moment. This human girl… is becoming a problem. I can't stay here, not with her.
"I-"
Knock-Knock-Knock
At the sudden and unexpected sound, both members of the household jumped, Adam's hand immediately retracting to his side and Ruby sitting up straight and composing herself before standing.
"I'll um… I'll get it." Ruby swallowed her complex feelings and bit down on all the things she wanted to say, and the disappointment of not hearing what Adam was about to tell her. With her feelings tucked down in her heart, she made her way effortlessly to her front door.
"Hello?" Ruby spoke up through the slab of wood and glass between her and the visitor.
"Ruuuubyyy, you gonna make me stand out here in the dark?" A woman's voice, overly cheerful and excited, called out. Adam saw his housemate immediately perk up.
Without hesitation, Ruby fumbled for the door knob, missing it once before pulling the door open, letting in a rush of summer night air.
"Yang!" She chirped exuberantly.
In the doorway stood a stunning woman, tall and muscular with brilliant golden blonde hair and lavender eyes.
"Hey, Sis, long time no see. I thought I'd drop by and…" Yang's exuberance calmed as her eyes fixated into the dimly lit room. There weren't many lights on, just one above the stove, but she could see the outline of a man standing awkwardly in Ruby's living/dining room, and the smell of delicious food washed over her.
"Yang?" Ruby tilted her head… until she felt a jolt run up her spine and her blood rushing to her cheeks and ears. "I- I um, I can explain!"
"Hold on hold on a minute," Without waiting for an invitation, Yang pushed passed her little sister and flicked on a light, filling the dim space with a warm day-ish glow. "Who are you and what is my little Sis up to?"
Adam felt his fight or flight response kick in immediately. A lifetime of training and fighting told him she wasn't someone to trifle with, her aura was strong and her body showed signs of battle. Still, that wasn't the only thing on his mind as he realized that she could see him and wouldn't be as uninterested in him as the strangers in town.
"Yang, stop antagonizing him!" Ruby softly shut the door behind her and made her way over to he sister, having counted the footsteps she heard Yang's boots make as she walked to avoid running into her.
"And who is 'him'?" Yang got closer, taking a good long look at the man dining with her little sister, her eyes lingering for a moment on the bull horns atop his head.
"Yang, meet Adam… he's um… my new employee?" Halfway through her lie she had given up, already knowing she sucked at lying and her sister could always tell. Not that great of a story anyway.
"Uh-huh, right… so, Mr. Employee, is a romantic dinner with my sister a perk of the job?" She leaned in a little closer to him. She had long since learned from her sister to take cues from more than her eyes. She could smell that he was the one who had cooked for them.
"Yes." Adam grunted, narrowing his eyes at the newcomer.
"Mmmmfpp." Ruby tried and failed to stifle a snort of laughter at Adam's response.
"Well, isn't that interesting. You even got Ruby to laugh, she takes herself so seriously." She took a step back, restoring Adam's personal space.
Adam didn't respond, his attention divided between the new threat and his housemate, who seemed more than amused at his predicament.
"So, how long have you known my sister?" She was sizing him up, already coming to some conclusions in her head.
"A couple months, we met by chance and I was in an unfortunate position. Ruby helped me get back on my feet." He glanced over to his human companion, feeling a strange spark of warm as he saw her still giggling quietly to herself.
"Interesting," Yang hummed, taking on last long look at him. "Well, I only see plates for two here and I'd hate to interrupt this… business engagement. I think I'll head out, I'll be back in town for a while so you'll be seeing me again."
"Aaw, you're leaving already?" Ruby pouted, but Adam could tell there was a slight edge of relief in her tone.
"Don't worry, I'll swing by tomorrow. Also, don't think I didn't hear that you got the gig for the Summer's End Festival, doing the arrangements is a big deal, I know you've wanted to do it for a while." She rested her hand affirmingly on her sister's shoulder.
"Th- thanks, yeah, I was really excited when the deal was brought to me. I'm still excited, just a little nervous." She lowered her head, just a little, listening for the sound of Adam's breathing in the background for some semblance of comfort.
"You'll do great and I'd be happy to lend a hand if you need." She retracted her hand and that energetic smile dulled, just for an instant.
"I think I'll be okay, but I'll call if I need the help." A familiar ache gnawed at Ruby's stomach, a bad habit that she kept repeating. I need to stop pushing her away, but I know she'll try to overreach, like she always does.
"Well, do you need any help cleaning up? I can help with the dishes or-"
"No, Adam and I can handle it… thanks though." Ruby sighed, feeling disappointment and resignation mingle in the back of her throat.
"Right, I know you can," Yang's glowing grin had all but waned as she took one more step back, physically distancing herself from her little sister. "Well, we're still on to dance at the festival right? It's our little tradition."
"Of course, I wouldn't miss it." She nodded, and gave her big sister the best reassuring smile she could muster.
"Awesome, I can't wait. Maybe I'll see you there too, Adam," Yang gave a friendly nod to the supposed employee, before turning on her heels and heading for the door. "See you all around!"
"Bye Sis, drive safe!" Ruby shouted and waved towards Yang's voice until the sound of the door closing told her to stop.
The room fell into near silence as the pair both listened for the sound of an engine they had missed engaged in their talks. Soon enough, they heard it and Adan saw the headlights illuminating the space outside. As quickly as she arrived, Yang was gone and the pair were once again to themselves.
"I- I'll go put the dishes up." With a soft sigh, Ruby turned and felt around the table, remembering where the plates always go she collected them with ease before she headed to the sink.
Still, Adam didn't move, his eyes firmly fixed on the door as his heart began to pound with a ferocious intensity. This is going to be a problem.
In the dark of a bedroom, late into the night, a computer screen illuminated lustrous blonde hair as tired lilac eyes poured over window after window, tab after tab. Her body was shaking and her heart was pounding.
"It's really him," Yang muttered to herself, feeling her body tense and her aura flare with her emotions, burning her eyes a deep crimson. "Adam Taurus, the terrorist and leader of the White Fang is alive… and he's gotten close to my sister."