Guten Tag! I am blown away by the support already
A taxi drives by the busy streets as it pulls you to the curb allowing the passenger door to open
Ruby Rose stepped out of the taxi, her red cape fluttering slightly in the gentle morning breeze. She adjusted her suitcase in one hand and gave the driver a bright smile.
"Thanks a ton!" she chirped, waving as the taxi drove off.
With a quick motion, she pulled out her headphones, slipping them on and scrolling through her playlist. The familiar riff of her favorite rock song filled her ears as she grinned, her excitement bubbling over. This was it—Vale! The city was alive with movement and noise, so different from the quiet compared to home
As she rolled her suitcase down the sidewalk, her thoughts drifted back to her dad. She'd hugged him tight before leaving
. "I wonder what Dad's doing right now, she mused. Probably fixing something around the house... I hope hes already taking good care of Zwei"
The thought made her giggle softly to herself.
Her stomac" growled loudly, cutting through her music and startling her out of her thoughts. She glanced down at her belly, placing a hand over it. "Oh, man… I really should've eaten before I left," she muttered.
Scanning her surroundings, Ruby spotted a small café just down the street. The tantalizing smell of baked goods and coffee wafted through the air, making her stomach rumble even louder. Her eyes lit up.
"Alright, stomach," she said with determination. "Next stop: food!"
She adjusted her headphones, grabbed her suitcase, and marched toward the café, her usual enthusiasm returning in full force.
Ruby paused on the sidewalk, setting her suitcase down and pulling out her scroll. She tapped through a few notifications until she found the start date for Beacon Academy. Her heart sank a little.
"Over a week? Ugh, I'm gonna lose my mind just waiting around," she mumbled, rocking on her heels. The excitement she'd felt earlier started to waver. What am I supposed to do in Vale for a whole week?
As if to answer her thoughts, the sweet aroma of sugar and chocolate wafted through the air, catching her attention. Ruby's eyes widened as she spotted a cozy little sweets shop just a few steps away. A grin spread across her face, her earlier worries forgotten.
"Okay, distraction acquired!" she declared, zooming toward the shop with her suitcase trailing behind her.
Just before bursting through the door, Ruby stopped herself and fished out her wallet. Flipping it open, she counted her lien and nodded. "Plenty. Definitely enough for… at least a few things," she reasoned, completely ignoring the fact she was already planning to buy more than a few.
Pushing the door open, Ruby stepped inside, her eyes lighting up as she took in the colorful display cases filled with candies, pastries, and all sorts of desserts. It was like stepping into a sugary paradise.
She immediately began scanning the shelves, her excitement building. "Ooh, cookies! And cupcakes! And—wait, are those chocolate-covered strawberries?!" she gasped, practically bouncing on her feet.
Her fingers hovered indecisively over a tray of macarons. "Okay, Ruby, focus," she whispered to herself. "Start with the essentials… and then maybe splurge a little."
She grabbed a basket and began loading it with her picks, her mind completely immersed in the joy of selecting sweets. This is the perfect way to kill time, she thought, her earlier anxieties melting away like sugar on her tongue.
Ruby's eyes widened as they landed on a brightly colored package tucked near the back of a display shelf. The words
"Limited Edition Chocolate Chip Cookies – Extra Chocolate-E"
Were emblazoned in bold letters. It was as though the universe itself had aligned just for her.
Her pupils practically turned to stars. "No way!" she whispered, her voice tinged with awe. Ruby lunged for the pack and clutched it to her chest like a prized treasure. "You're coming home with me," she said, adding it to her overflowing basket with an excited grin.
The shopkeeper, a jovial older man with a twinkle in his eye, watched her with amusement as she approached the counter. "That's quite the haul, missy. Big plans with friends, huh?" he teased, gesturing to the mountain of sweets she'd picked out.
Ruby froze mid-step, her cheeks turning bright red. "Uh, yeah! Totally! Friends. Lots of them. Can't wait," she stammered, avoiding his gaze as she fumbled for her wallet.
The shopkeeper chuckled knowingly, ringing up her items. "Don't worry, kid. My sweets are hard for anyone to resist. You're in good company."
Ruby let out a nervous laugh and quickly paid, shoving the change into her pocket. "Thanks! These are gonna be great! Bye!" she blurted before grabbing her bag and practically sprinting out of the store.
Once outside, she sighed in relief, her embarrassment fading as the scent of her goodies wafted up to her. She plopped down on a nearby bench, pulling out her scroll to check the map of Vale.
"Okay," she said, scrolling through the various shops and sights. "Beacon's not starting for a while, so… what should I check out first? Maybe the weapon store? Or the market? Oh! There's a park nearby too…" Her eyes flicked to her bag of sweets, and she grinned. "I'll figure it out on the way."
Tucking her scroll away, Ruby grabbed her suitcase and set off down the bustling streets of Vale, ready to explore and, perhaps, sneak in a cookie or two along the way.
As Ruby strolled through the bustling streets, her gaze darted from shop windows to street performers, her mind lost in the sights of Vale. Her enthusiasm got the better of her as she turned a corner too quickly and bumped into someone.
"Whoa! Sorry about that!" Ruby exclaimed, taking a step back to steady herself. She looked up and was greeted by the sight of a hooded figure, his face hidden beneath the shadow of his cloak.
Roxas stopped in his tracks, gazing down at her. Something about Ruby's vibrant presence—her short dark hair and innocent looking face—stirred a faint, unplaceable memory within him. It reminded him of someone, someone important, though the image in his mind remained frustratingly incomplete.
Ruby tilted her head, trying to catch a glimpse of his face. "Hey, are you okay? I didn't mean to bump into you. I just get… really distracted easily." Her curiosity soon took over as she studied his cloak. "That's such a cool cloak! Where'd you get it?"
Roxas hesitated for a moment before replying. "I've always had it." His voice was calm and even, yet there was a subtle weight to his words, as though he were speaking more to himself than to her.
Ruby's eyes lit up with fascination. "Always, huh? That's so awesome! Do you think I could get one like it?" She paused, imagining herself in a dramatic, flowing cloak. "I'd look so mysterious—like a superhero lurking in the shadows!"
Roxas found her energy peculiar but oddly refreshing. Unsure how to respond, he finally said, "It's… a gift."
Ruby pouted playfully. "A gift, huh? Man, lucky you. I'm totally jealous now." She folded her arms but then smiled again, unable to stay annoyed for long. "Still, it's really neat."
Roxas gave a small nod but remained silent. For some reason, Ruby's enthusiasm didn't irritate him—it intrigued him.
As the moment lingered, Ruby couldn't shake the strange pull she felt toward him. She couldn't understand why, but there was something about this hooded stranger that captured her interest.
Maybe it was his mysterious aura or the way he carried himself, like he didn't quite belong in the busy streets of Vale. Whatever it was, she found herself wanting to know more.
"Well," Ruby said, breaking the silence. "If you're not in a hurry or anything, maybe I can help you find something around here? You know, since I totally owe you for bumping into you."
Roxas glanced at her, weighing her words. After a moment, he responded softly, "I'm fine, but… thanks." Without another word, he stepped to the side, giving her a faint nod before continuing on his way.
Ruby watched him go, her curiosity only growing. As she turned back toward the map on her scroll, she found herself smiling. "Weird guy… but kinda cool. Wonder if I'll see him again."
And as Roxas disappeared into the crowd, he couldn't help but glance back briefly, feeling an inexplicable connection to the energetic girl in red.
As Ruby watched the hooded figure vanish further into the crowd, a sudden thought struck her. She spun around, calling out, "Hey, wait!"
The figure stopped and turned to face her once more, his movements calm and deliberate. His hood still cast his face in shadows, but there was a faint air of curiosity in the way he tilted his head.
Ruby jogged over, her red cloak fluttering behind her. "I just realized—I forgot to ask! Are you here to join Beacon Academy too?"
Roxas hesitated for a moment. He wasn't sure how to answer her question truthfully, so he merely shrugged, his silence giving nothing away.
Ruby, however, wasn't deterred by his lack of response. She grinned at him, her silver eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Well, if you are planning to join, I hope I see you there! It'd be awesome to have someone cool like you around."
Roxas gave her a faint nod before turning and continuing on his way.
Ruby watched him disappear again into the bustling streets of Vale, unable to stop herself from wondering. What did he look like under that hood? Her imagination began to wander as she resumed her walk.
She pictured him as Snake Eyes, her childhood superhero crush—his mysterious demeanor paired with a rugged yet noble appearance. A soft blush crept onto her cheeks at the thought.
Then her mind took a different turn, imagining him as a faunus, perhaps with sleek black hair and striking red eyes, like a human version of Shadow the Hedgehog. The idea made her giggle quietly, her face growing even warmer.
"What are you doing, Ruby?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head vigorously. "Stop it! You're acting crazy. You just met the guy!"
Determined to focus, Ruby straightened her posture and looked back at her scroll, searching for the next destination in the city. But no matter how much she tried to distract herself, the image of the hooded stranger lingered in her mind.
As Ruby followed the directions on her scroll toward the hotel, the bustling city of Vale provided plenty of distractions. Her stomach was full of sweets, her mood was high, and her anticipation for Beacon Academy grew with every step.
But her pace faltered when she passed by a shop with gleaming weapons displayed proudly in the window. Ruby's eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat. "A weapon shop? Here?!"
The hotel could wait. Without hesitation, she darted inside, her excitement bubbling over.
Inside, the store was a paradise for any weapon enthusiast. Guns of all shapes and sizes adorned the walls, alongside shelves of shiny modifications, sleek accessories, and specialized tools. Ruby's silver eyes darted from one display to the next, taking it all in as though she'd stepped into a museum of modern warfare.
And then she spotted a section dedicated to scopes. Her gaze fixed on the rows of intricate designs, each with features and capabilities she could only dream of. As she munched on a sweet from her stash, Ruby instinctively reached for Crescent Rose, pulling the collapsed weapon from her back.
She examined the battered and cracked scope atop her beloved scythe-sniper hybrid. "Aw, poor baby, I've been neglecting you, haven't I?" she whispered, her tone laced with guilt.
Her eyes flicked back to the display. She scanned the options carefully, weighing compatibility and design. Her fingers hovered over several scopes before finally landing on one that was sleek and futuristic, with enhanced zoom capabilities, night vision, and improved recoil resistance.
"This one…" Ruby whispered, holding it up to the light. "This is the one!"
Excitedly, she brought it to the counter. As the clerk rang up her purchase, he gave her an approving nod. "Good choice. That model's popular among professionals."
Ruby grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of her head. "Thanks! My Crescent Rose deserves the best."
With her new scope in hand, Ruby left the shop feeling like she had just upgraded a part of herself. As she resumed her journey to the hotel, she couldn't wait to install the scope later and see how much better Crescent Rose would perform.
"Beacon, here I come!" she cheered to herself, her enthusiasm renewed.
Ruby finally reached the hotel, her energy partially spent but her spirits still relatively high. The front desk clerk barely looked up from his magazine, tossing a set of keys across the counter at her with a lazy flick of his wrist.
"Room 207," he mumbled, not even bothering to make eye contact.
Ruby caught the keys mid-air, giving him a deadpan look as he dismissively waved her off. "Thanks for the… stellar service," she muttered sarcastically under her breath, but it didn't really bother her.
Once she got to her room, she unlocked the door and stepped inside. It was decent—not exactly a five-star suite, but cozy enough. She tossed her suitcase onto the bed and placed her bag of sweets on the desk before collapsing onto the bed with a dramatic sigh.
"Man, what a day," she said to herself, staring at the ceiling.
Her mind wandered back to everything she'd seen and done, but one thought lingered longer than the rest: Roxas.
The image of his mysterious hooded figure kept popping into her head, and she frowned slightly, unsure why she was so stuck on him. "Maybe I should've asked for his number or something?" she muttered. Her face immediately turned pink at the idea. "No, no, Ruby! Too forward! You don't even know him!"
She groaned and decided she needed a distraction. Sitting up, she remembered the new scope she had bought earlier. Her excitement returned as she grabbed Crescent Rose from her suitcase, the weapon's familiar weight immediately comforting her.
"Alright, let's do this," she said, rolling up her sleeves. She carefully removed the old, broken scope, then attached the sleek new one. It took some time to fine-tune the adjustments, but when she was done, she stood back and admired her work.
"Perfect!" she declared triumphantly, raising Crescent Rose like a trophy. Then, grinning mischievously, she held it like a sword and swung it dramatically. "Now, with my new scope, I'll use… chaos control on all my enemies!"
From behind the wall, a muffled, angry voice interrupted her enthusiasm. "Would you keep it down?! Some of us are trying to sleep!"
Ruby froze, the color draining from her face. Lowering Crescent Rose, she awkwardly called out, "Sorry! Won't happen again!"
She could hear the grumbled response fade as her neighbor returned to their sleep. Placing Crescent Rose back on the desk, Ruby sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck. "Way to go, Ruby. First day in Vale, and you're already annoying the locals."
Still, as she flopped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling again, her thoughts drifted back to Roxas. A small smile crept onto her face. "He probably wouldn't have cared if I was loud," she murmured.
With that thought lingering, she closed her eyes, her exhaustion finally catching up to her.
Ruby sat cross-legged on the hotel bed, Crescent Rose propped neatly against the wall and her suitcase finally out of the way. Free of the burden of lugging her belongings around, she popped on her headphones, her favorite rock playlist kicking in with a burst of energy.
She grinned, letting the music pump her up as she grabbed the bag of sweets she'd bought earlier. Fishing out one of the limited-edition chocolate chip cookies, she took a big bite, her eyes lighting up in delight. "So good," she mumbled between bites, crumbs tumbling onto her lap.
As the music drowned out the world around her, Ruby pulled out her scroll and started browsing for things to do in Vale. She brought up a local map and scanned through the list of attractions, shops, and points of interest.
"Oooh, weapon shops," she said aloud, scrolling past a list of locations she'd already mentally bookmarked. "Already hit one of those today, though."
Her finger flicked through more options: museums, parks, cafés, and even some events happening in the plaza. She tilted her head, thoughtful.
"Hmm… should I go check out the main square? Or maybe explore more shops?" she mused, biting into another cookie. "I could hit up one of those cool cafés. Maybe they've got one with a weapons theme! Or…"
Her eyes landed on a section about Vale's famous airship docks. Apparently, they were offering public tours today. Ruby's excitement spiked as she imagined seeing the ships up close, the gears and engines that powered them, and the spectacular view from the docks.
"Ohhh, that sounds awesome!" she exclaimed, already imagining the pictures she could take.
Grabbing her cloak and scroll, she decided to make a day of it. "Alright, Ruby, time to explore Vale properly. First stop: airship docks! Maybe I'll even run into someone cool again," she added with a small smile, thinking briefly of Roxas before shaking her head.
She turned off her playlist, grabbed a few more cookies to stuff into her pockets for the road, and dashed out of her room with her trademark energy, ready to tackle the day ahead.
Ruby sprinted through the streets of Vale, her destination set firmly on the airship docks. The thought of seeing those magnificent machines up close filled her with excitement. But as she rounded a corner, she skidded to a halt, her eyes widening in shock.
Across the street, a group of armed thugs was storming out of a jewelry store, their bags stuffed with loot and machine guns in hand. The sound of shouts and panicked screams filled the air as bystanders ran for cover. Ruby instinctively reached for Crescent Rose, but before she could make a move, a blur of motion caught her attention.
It was him—Roxas.
He emerged from the crowd, his hood still up but unmistakably him. With a flick of his wrist, two glowing key-shaped weapons materialized in his hands. Ruby's jaw dropped as she watched him leap into action.
The thugs opened fire, their bullets zipping toward Roxas, but he moved with an agility that seemed almost superhuman. Spinning, dodging, and deflecting, his keyblades blocked the onslaught effortlessly. The clash of metal against bullets echoed as he closed the distance. In a flurry of strikes, he disarmed one thug, knocked another unconscious, and sent the remaining ones scrambling.
By the time the chaos subsided, all the thugs were incapacitated, and the street was silent except for the murmurs of awe from the onlookers.
Ruby, stunned but thrilled, bolted toward Roxas as he turned to leave. "Hey! Wait!" she called out, waving frantically.
Roxas stopped and glanced back, his hood casting a shadow over his face.
"That. Was. So. COOL!" Ruby gushed, her silver eyes sparkling. "You just took out all those guys with your swords—wait, are those keys? That's amazing!"
Roxas gave a small smile, seemingly taken aback by her energy.
Ruby took a deep breath, calming herself enough to ask, "What's your name? I mean, you're awesome, and I don't even know what to call you!"
For a moment, Roxas hesitated, but something about Ruby's enthusiasm made him feel at ease. "It's Roxas," he said simply.
"Roxas…" Ruby repeated, her smile widening. "That's such a cool name! It totally suits you!"
He nodded, unsure how to respond, as Ruby continued. "So, what've you been up to since, like, a few hours ago when I bumped into you?"
"Just wandering the city," Roxas replied, his tone casual.
Ruby's mind raced with ideas, and then it hit her. "Hey! I was just on my way to the airship docks! They're giving tours, and I thought it'd be fun. Do you want to come with me?"
Her heart pounded as she braced herself for rejection, fully expecting him to turn her down.
But to her surprise, Roxas nodded. "Sure," he said.
Ruby froze, her eyes wide in shock. "Wait—really?!"
"Yeah," Roxas replied, his tone calm as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Ruby's face lit up, her excitement bubbling over. "Alright! Let's go, then!" she said, practically bouncing as she led the way.
As they walked together, Ruby couldn't help but sneak glances at him, her mind buzzing with curiosity and awe. She had a feeling this day was going to be unforgettable.
As Ruby and Roxas walked through the bustling streets of Vale, Ruby couldn't hold back her curiosity. Her words tumbled out in rapid succession, her energetic nature in full swing.
"So, how long have you been in Vale? Like, did you just get here today, or have you been wandering around for a while? And, oh! How did you learn to fight like that? I mean, your moves were awesome! Also, what's the deal with those swords? They're not like any weapon I've ever seen—and trust me, I've seen a lot of weapons. Are they dust-infused? Your cloak—is it dust-infused too?"
Roxas glanced at her, her enthusiasm bouncing off him like a gust of wind. He remained calm and answered each question in his usual straightforward way.
"I haven't been here very long," he began. "As for fighting… I'm self-taught. My keyblades—" he paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully, "—are a personal secret. And no, my cloak isn't dust-infused."
Ruby's eyes sparkled with fascination. "Wow, that's so cool! I mean, self-taught? You must've worked so hard! And those keyblades—they're so unique. I've never seen anything like them before."
Roxas simply nodded, his expression soft but unreadable.
Ruby hesitated before asking, "Hey, am I, uh, bothering you? I know I can be… a little much sometimes." She gave him an awkward smile, scratching the back of her head.
Roxas stopped walking for a moment, looking at her thoughtfully. "No, you're not bothering me," he said. "It's alright. I don't mind."
Ruby's smile widened. "Really? That's a relief!"
Then Roxas added, almost as an afterthought, "You're actually the second person to treat me this nicely."
Ruby tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Second person? What do you mean by that?"
Roxas's gaze drifted ahead, his voice taking on a distant tone. "Most people… tend to forget I exist."
Ruby stopped in her tracks, her brow furrowing. There was something in the way he said it—something heavy, like he carried the weight of that truth every day. But she wasn't about to let that slide.
"Well, you don't have to worry about me," she said firmly, her silver eyes meeting his. "I could never forget you, Roxas. You've already made an impression."
Roxas turned to her, his usual guarded expression shifting slightly, as if her words struck a chord. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, almost imperceptible.
"Thanks," he said quietly, and they continued their walk toward the airship docks, the air between them feeling a little lighter.
As Ruby and Roxas walked through the bustling streets of Vale, Ruby couldn't hold back her curiosity. Her words tumbled out in rapid succession, her energetic nature in full swing.
"So, how long have you been in Vale? Like, did you just get here today, or have you been wandering around for a while? And, oh! How did you learn to fight like that? I mean, your moves were awesome! Also, what's the deal with those swords? They're not like any weapon I've ever seen—and trust me, I've seen a lot of weapons. Are they dust-infused? Your cloak—is it dust-infused too?"
Roxas glanced at her, her enthusiasm bouncing off him like a gust of wind. He remained calm and answered each question in his usual straightforward way.
"I haven't been here very long," he began. "As for fighting… I'm self-taught. My keyblades—" he paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully, "—are a personal secret. And no, my cloak isn't dust-infused."
Ruby's eyes sparkled with fascination. "Wow, that's so cool! I mean, self-taught? You must've worked so hard! And those keyblades—they're so unique. I've never seen anything like them before."
Roxas simply nodded
Ruby hesitated before asking, "Hey, am I, uh, bothering you? I know I can be… a little much sometimes." She gave him an awkward smile, scratching the back of her head.
Roxas stopped walking for a moment, looking at her thoughtfully. "No, you're not bothering me," he said. "It's alright. I don't mind."
Ruby's smile widened. "Really? That's a relief!"
Then Roxas added, almost as an afterthought, "You're actually the second person to treat me this nicely."
Ruby tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Second person? What do you mean by that?"
Roxas's gaze drifted ahead, his voice taking on a distant tone. "Most people… tend to forget I exist."
Ruby stopped in her tracks, her brow furrowing. There was something in the way he said it—something heavy, like he carried the weight of that truth every day. But she wasn't about to let that slide.
"Well, you don't have to worry about me," she said firmly, her silver eyes meeting his. "I could never forget you, Roxas. You've already made an impression."
Roxas turned to her, his usual guarded expression shifting slightly, as if her words struck a chord. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, almost imperceptible.
"Thanks," he said quietly, and they continued their walk toward the airship docks, the air between them feeling a little lighter.
As Ruby and Roxas continued their walk toward the airship docks, Ruby's curiosity bubbled up again. She glanced at him, debating whether it would be too forward to ask if he could reveal his face. But before she could muster the courage, they arrived at the admissions area.
A staff member stood at the checkpoint, clipboard in hand, inspecting each person who entered. When Roxas approached, the staff member raised an eyebrow.
"Sir. Please pull back your hood for security reasons," the staff member said firmly.
Roxas hesitated briefly but complied, pulling back his hood to reveal his face.
"Alright you may go" said the staff letting them both in
His messy blonde hair framed his sharp features, and his striking blue eyes seemed to glimmer in the sunlight.
Ruby's heart skipped a beat. Whoa… he's cute! she thought, her cheeks warming as she stared a little too long.
Roxas noticed her gaze and tilted his head slightly. "Is something the matter?" he asked, his voice steady but curious.
Ruby snapped out of her thoughts, waving her hands frantically. "N-no! Nothing's wrong!" she said, her blush deepening. Trying to recover, she added with a sheepish grin, "It's just, um… I kinda wanted to see your face earlier, so this worked out."
Roxas blinked at her response, his lips twitching into a faint smile. There was something about Ruby—, her honesty—that he found refreshing.
As they joined the group for the tour, Ruby's excitement hit a new high. The sight of the airships made her practically bounce on her toes. She pointed at the various ships with wide-eyed wonder, rattling off details at lightning speed.
"That one there is an M-Class Transport! It's got these massive turbines that can withstand heavy turbulence, and its armor plating is reinforced with a special dust alloy! And that one—oh, that's the Nimbus MKII! It's got a cutting-edge propulsion system that lets it hover in place even during high winds! Isn't it awesome?"
Roxas, to her surprise, nodded along, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, it is. The engineering behind those turbines must be pretty impressive. And the dust alloy—they'd need to balance weight and durability, right?"
Ruby stopped mid-bounce, blinking at him in shock. "Wait—you actually understand all that?"
Roxas shrugged lightly. "Kind of. I've seen a lot of different types of tech… and ships, I guess."
Ruby beamed at him, feeling a strange mix of pride and excitement. "That's so cool! Most people just nod politely when I talk about this stuff, but you actually get it!"
Roxas gave her another faint smile. "You make it easy to understand."
Ruby's cheeks turned pink again, but this time she quickly looked away, hiding her face as they continued the tour. There was something about Roxas that made her want to keep talking—and she had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time they'd spend time together.
As Ruby and Roxas finished exploring the airship docks, Ruby continued rambling about the intricacies of the weapons mounted on the different ships. She gestured animatedly as she explained the functionality of dust-powered cannons and how turret placements optimized combat efficiency.
Roxas walked beside her, quietly absorbing her enthusiasm, occasionally nodding or offering a short comment. Though he didn't say much, Ruby's energy brought a subtle warmth to him, making the tour unexpectedly enjoyable.
When one of the airships roared to life and ascended into the sky, Ruby's eyes sparkled as she pointed at it. "Look at it go! Isn't that just the coolest thing? The way the engines ignite perfectly, and it glides so smoothly—it's like art in motion!"
Roxas glanced at the ship and then back at Ruby. "Yeah, it's impressive," he said. His gaze softened as a faint, fragmented memory flickered in his mind. He saw a girl standing with him in another place, sharing a peaceful moment while staring at the sky. Her face was hazy, but the sensation was clear—someone who made him feel understood, just as Ruby seemed to now.
Roxas smiled faintly. "Thanks for bringing me along, Ruby. This was… nice."
Ruby blinked, slightly surprised at his words but quickly grinned. "Of course! I'm glad you had fun. It's way better sharing this stuff with someone who gets it!"
As they reached the edge of the docks, Roxas gave her a small nod of farewell before turning to leave. Ruby watched as he walked away, his hood pulled back up as he disappeared into the bustling city streets.
She stood there for a moment, her hands tightening into small fists at her sides.
" Why didn't I tell him more about myself? She wondered. I could've mentioned Crescent Rose or how I'm starting at Beacon… He didn't seem like the kind of guy who'd mind."
Still, something about the way Roxas carried himself, his quiet strength mixed with a hint of mystery, made Ruby hope she'd see him again. She bit her lip, sighing softly.
"Maybe next time," she whispered, a small smile tugging at her lips as she turned and began her walk back toward the city, her thoughts still lingering on the boy with the blue eyes and twin swords.
Danke to those who reach this far once again, though. I cannot guarantee the next chapter will come as fast. So