[Ruby tried to stay calm. It was hard, but somehow easy at the same time. Her brain wasn't letting her sit and process it, not yet, even though it'd eventually resurface. She needed to stay functional until she could get out of this situation with Hubert. She was determined.
Hubert's a good shot for someone that hasn't got any experience with a gun, though, Ruby notes, as she watches him take out a couple of the guards—but then he misses, enough to where he gets hurt.
Oh no.
Oh no, now is not the time for that kind of disassociation that she can feel coming on. A loved one getting severely hurt is more than enough to cause her to start shutting down her feelings for the moment, and to feel like she's barely in control of her own body.
She presses her hands against Hubert's shoulder, trying to not panic.]
Hubert! Let me, I'll take care of it, I—
[She doesn't know how to use a gun, but she wants to protect him.]
I'll figure it out! Please! We need to figure out your shoulder—put pressure on it to try to keep it from bleeding too much!?
[She assumes that's how it's handled, at least, even as she pleads for him to hand over the gun.]
[Hubert groaned from the burn of the bullet, and with Ruby running over to him, trying to put pressure on the wound. He shook his head back and forth, trying to push her back against the wall of the cavern, his free hand at her shoulder to keep her there.]
No! No- it's alright, I will be alright. Do not move.
[Because he heard that guard getting closer to their corner, his rifle raised up, "Is that you Hubert? You were so good with your mouth earlier, such a good Sub, ain'tcha? Why don't you come on out?"
The guard fired off some warning bullets, hitting the cavern wall around them, to which Hubert pressed his body to hers against the wall like a shield. He clicked his tongue at the man's words, not wanting Ruby to know what he had to do down here, how he was tortured, and that was one of the things that stung his pride.]
That snake... he will die.
[And Hubert raised the pistol up, moved away from Ruby to kneel and dip around the corner, surprising the guard with his new angle and shot upwards, hitting him right in the face, his brains splattering the cave behind him.
And then his body fell to the ground, and Hubert had successfully killed three more guards. He was breathing heavily from the wound, standing up straight to gesture for Ruby to come.]
The coast is clear, we must hurry out of here! Then we will tend to wounds, alright?!
[She's not surprised the gun doesn't end up in her hands, but she's too busy panicking to care. It's easy enough to press her back up against the cavern wall, even as she tries to take care of his shoulder to the best of her ability... which isn't much, she was never the medically trained one of the twins. Her brother would know what to do, but she isn't her brother.
She registers the words the guard says to Hubert, but she's too consumed with worry to dwell on them for the moment... and Hubert pressing her and himself against the wall because of warning bullets is more than enough to distract her and keep her from dwelling. It's a relief when Hubert manages to get the third guard, getting his revenge, and they can move.]
I—Okay! Let's go!
[She doesn't like not tending to his wound, but she knows that it's the smartest decision to get out, before anyone else could show up that's willing to torture them.
The coast is, indeed, clear. They manage to escape into the peaceful caverns just outside of Duplicity, and the way to the elevator in the Up is clear, too, thanks to the gangs letting the natives and LIErs back into the city.]
[Hubert had been in pain but he concealed it, easily, holding his shoulder as they traveled, as they were both now in the elevator to his apartment. He was leaning against a wall, blood coating the elevator where he stood, and he looked to her and nodded, as the doors now opened.]
I am alright.
[Hubert would never tell anyone how he was actually doing, instead he still wanted his injuries and his wounds to be secondary, because he was concerned for her.]
How are your injuries? Your face...
[He reached out to her with a bloody hand, touching her cheek, looking at her black eye, her bruises.]
I am certain... Dorothea can remove it, and heal me.
[Hubert was panting now, sweat beading at his forehead from the pain, but he was still shoving it down, trying to make it seem not as bad.
Still, he wanted to ask her about what felt worse, but then the elevator dinged open.
The two of them went inside, and sure enough, they were both fret over by Ferdinand and Dorothea. It had been long hours of healing them, of Dorothea removing the bullet, of Ferdinand making a soup for both of them to ingest.
Once it was done, once healed and they ate, Hubert took her to the shower. He turned on the faucet and pulled her into the water, and now they just held each other as the water ran down, skin to grimy skin, the water turning red from all the blood at the bottom of the shower.]
After this, we will crawl to bed... and rest, in darkness. And silence.
[Ruby slept through a good portion of the healing once she didn't have to be the only one to fret over Hubert. It wasn't a good sleep, though. It was fitful and uncomfortable, any sharp sound causing her to jump awake. She didn't eat much of the soup, either, if only because too much hurt her stomach from how little she's eaten the past few days.
And in the chaos, she'd been sure to text both Kalim and Lilia that she was fine. She was surviving and getting healed and was going to get some sleep, though the pair had promised to show up to check on them soon.
Ruby can't deny how good the warm water feels, though, especially now that it's not bearing down on bruised skin.]
I feel like I've almost forgotten what darkness and silence is like.
[She doesn't stay in his embrace for long, though—she wants to get the grime off of her, and scrub extra hard at her stomach and pelvis and—any place that guard's dick had touched her, to try to get that grimy feeling off of her. She'll scrub at her skin till it's a raw red, too, unless stopped.]
[Hubert's movements were still slow, he did not sleep at all and will not yet, and thus his eyes were bloodshot and red. He watched as she moved away to clean herself, and he was doing much the same.
Actually, he had a toothbrush in there with him, and he was definitely turning to put the paste on and beginning to brush out his mouth, from what he had to do to those guards, too. He spat out his toothpaste, then turned to her and saw how red and raw her stomach and pelvis was, and how she scrubbed between her legs.
Hubert put his toothbrush down, now coming over to grasp at her hands, to pull them away from her skin.]
You are clean, now. No remnants remain. Do not scrub yourself until you bleed, please.
[A beat]
I was made to suck off those men for food... I understand how awful, this must feel, for you.
[She pauses when he grabs her hands, pressing herself against him instead and pulling him into a hug when he says what happened. Something that she'd heard, and questioned, but hadn't had a chance to address yet in the flurry of escape and healing.]
... I was wondering about that.
[Ruby says, before looking up at Hubert.]
I'm sorry. I—... I wish it didn't happen to you. You deserve better than any of that. We... we shouldn't have been there. I don't even know why they wanted us. I hate it, so, so much.
[Hubert hugged her back, holding her to his body, feeling her against his touch. He was grateful she was so kind to him, loved him, and he nodded along to her words.]
They wanted us to torment us, to research how we would react. I believe it was all a sick experiment to see how we would handle being in such a twisted environment.
It's... cruel. I hate it. Just—it... nothing ever had to be that way. The guard that tried to rape me didn't even care about contracts, though. That's how I avoided a lot, even if they didn't give me a ton of food because of it.
[She tugs him down for a gentle, chaste kiss though. Nothing expectant. Just love.]
You deserve better than what happened to you, Hubert.
[Hubert listened to her, thinking of his own problems not being problems, trying to push them to the back of his mind.
Though her words and her affection was appreciated, he kissed her back, weakly, his hand cupping her face, thumb brushing over her cheek.]
I had vowed to kill them for what they had done. Those men that forced me, and the man that forced you. I succeeded... and now we must simply heal- emotionally.
[Though not simple, at all. Hubert pressed his wet face against hers, thanks to the shower that was heating them both up.]
[She kisses back, her grip on him tightening for a moment.]
I'm gonna stay as long as they'll let me, okay? [They being LIEs, of course, not Ferdinand and Dorothea.] I'm not leaving that easily. I need... to make sure you're okay, too. And don't say you're fine, I know you're not.
[But, he gets another kiss.]
At least those guys that made you do that stuff are dead.
[Hubert kissed her back, melting into the kiss every time, forgetting about the shower for the moment and just focusing on her. On them.
He was literally about to protest to what she was saying, to inform her not to think about him- that he was fine, until she already told him he wasn't.]
... how do you know me so well, already?
[But he appreciated it, more than he could express.]
I am simply... beyond relieved, that we lived, that we escaped, and that I was able to save you.
If you left me, died on me, I might possibly have been inconsolable.
My brother's the sour, brooding type. I've got practice.
[She admits, but it's easy to just melt into his embrace, and listen to him talk, even as the water pours down on them.]
... I'm happy you saved me. I don't... want to think about what else could've happened past... y'know. If no one had managed to get to me. But I'm not going to die, Hubert.
[She reaches up, placing a hand on his wet cheek, letting her thumb rub circles there.]
I'm pretty sure I would've been inconsolable if something happened to you.
[How could he be so lucky as to have someone like Ruby? Someone who knew when he was hurting, when he didn't have to even say anything and she knew.
All he did now was lean forward to kiss her, gently, kissing at her tender lips over and over again. He then pulled away, forehead still against her own.]
Then, let us be grateful we did not have to mourn one another. I will simply love you harder, from here on out.
[And thus, their shower would be finished and over with, both clean, and Hubert had taken her to bed. He had not even bothered getting dressed, choosing to stay naked, and he crawled into bed with her, and once he had his arms wrapped around her small form.
He went to sleep, almost instantly in the dark of the room he shared with Ferdinand.]
[And for a bit, she does sleep an actual sleep, her limbs tangled up with Hubert's as she presses herself against him.
But then the dreams start, morphing into nightmares, her sleep quickly becoming fitful before she thrashes in panic, trying to roll away from Hubert and coming perilously close to the edge of the bed... and all but screaming his name.]
[Hubert had a restless sleep also falling in and out of slumber but also waking up, not feeling relaxed enough to sleep, his own light slumber meant he heard Ruby, calling out and pushing him away.
He stirred and woke immediately, grabbing for her before she fell off the bed and took her naked body to hold it against his own-]
[She snaps awake and pushes back, but it only takes her a second to realize that it's Hubert next to her. Her brain needs to catch up and break out of the panic it's inflicted on itself.
But when she realizes that it's Hubert next to her, that he's the one holding her, she instantly bursts into tears.]
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Hubert's a good shot for someone that hasn't got any experience with a gun, though, Ruby notes, as she watches him take out a couple of the guards—but then he misses, enough to where he gets hurt.
Oh no.
Oh no, now is not the time for that kind of disassociation that she can feel coming on. A loved one getting severely hurt is more than enough to cause her to start shutting down her feelings for the moment, and to feel like she's barely in control of her own body.
She presses her hands against Hubert's shoulder, trying to not panic.]
Hubert! Let me, I'll take care of it, I—
[She doesn't know how to use a gun, but she wants to protect him.]
I'll figure it out! Please! We need to figure out your shoulder—put pressure on it to try to keep it from bleeding too much!?
[She assumes that's how it's handled, at least, even as she pleads for him to hand over the gun.]
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No! No- it's alright, I will be alright. Do not move.
[Because he heard that guard getting closer to their corner, his rifle raised up, "Is that you Hubert? You were so good with your mouth earlier, such a good Sub, ain'tcha? Why don't you come on out?"
The guard fired off some warning bullets, hitting the cavern wall around them, to which Hubert pressed his body to hers against the wall like a shield. He clicked his tongue at the man's words, not wanting Ruby to know what he had to do down here, how he was tortured, and that was one of the things that stung his pride.]
That snake... he will die.
[And Hubert raised the pistol up, moved away from Ruby to kneel and dip around the corner, surprising the guard with his new angle and shot upwards, hitting him right in the face, his brains splattering the cave behind him.
And then his body fell to the ground, and Hubert had successfully killed three more guards. He was breathing heavily from the wound, standing up straight to gesture for Ruby to come.]
The coast is clear, we must hurry out of here! Then we will tend to wounds, alright?!
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She registers the words the guard says to Hubert, but she's too consumed with worry to dwell on them for the moment... and Hubert pressing her and himself against the wall because of warning bullets is more than enough to distract her and keep her from dwelling. It's a relief when Hubert manages to get the third guard, getting his revenge, and they can move.]
I—Okay! Let's go!
[She doesn't like not tending to his wound, but she knows that it's the smartest decision to get out, before anyone else could show up that's willing to torture them.
The coast is, indeed, clear. They manage to escape into the peaceful caverns just outside of Duplicity, and the way to the elevator in the Up is clear, too, thanks to the gangs letting the natives and LIErs back into the city.]
We're... we're almost home, how are you doing??
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I am alright.
[Hubert would never tell anyone how he was actually doing, instead he still wanted his injuries and his wounds to be secondary, because he was concerned for her.]
How are your injuries? Your face...
[He reached out to her with a bloody hand, touching her cheek, looking at her black eye, her bruises.]
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[But she flinches back from his touch with a hiss of pain even though he'd been trying to be gentle.]
It'll heal. It just hurts, that's all. I've felt worse.
[She still remembers pain from her past life, how brain surgery had damaged her face and how much the entire procedure had hurt.]
You're definitely hurt worse, though.
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[Hubert was panting now, sweat beading at his forehead from the pain, but he was still shoving it down, trying to make it seem not as bad.
Still, he wanted to ask her about what felt worse, but then the elevator dinged open.
The two of them went inside, and sure enough, they were both fret over by Ferdinand and Dorothea. It had been long hours of healing them, of Dorothea removing the bullet, of Ferdinand making a soup for both of them to ingest.
Once it was done, once healed and they ate, Hubert took her to the shower. He turned on the faucet and pulled her into the water, and now they just held each other as the water ran down, skin to grimy skin, the water turning red from all the blood at the bottom of the shower.]
After this, we will crawl to bed... and rest, in darkness. And silence.
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And in the chaos, she'd been sure to text both Kalim and Lilia that she was fine. She was surviving and getting healed and was going to get some sleep, though the pair had promised to show up to check on them soon.
Ruby can't deny how good the warm water feels, though, especially now that it's not bearing down on bruised skin.]
I feel like I've almost forgotten what darkness and silence is like.
[She doesn't stay in his embrace for long, though—she wants to get the grime off of her, and scrub extra hard at her stomach and pelvis and—any place that guard's dick had touched her, to try to get that grimy feeling off of her. She'll scrub at her skin till it's a raw red, too, unless stopped.]
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Actually, he had a toothbrush in there with him, and he was definitely turning to put the paste on and beginning to brush out his mouth, from what he had to do to those guards, too. He spat out his toothpaste, then turned to her and saw how red and raw her stomach and pelvis was, and how she scrubbed between her legs.
Hubert put his toothbrush down, now coming over to grasp at her hands, to pull them away from her skin.]
You are clean, now. No remnants remain. Do not scrub yourself until you bleed, please.
[A beat]
I was made to suck off those men for food... I understand how awful, this must feel, for you.
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... I was wondering about that.
[Ruby says, before looking up at Hubert.]
I'm sorry. I—... I wish it didn't happen to you. You deserve better than any of that. We... we shouldn't have been there. I don't even know why they wanted us. I hate it, so, so much.
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They wanted us to torment us, to research how we would react. I believe it was all a sick experiment to see how we would handle being in such a twisted environment.
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[She tugs him down for a gentle, chaste kiss though. Nothing expectant. Just love.]
You deserve better than what happened to you, Hubert.
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Though her words and her affection was appreciated, he kissed her back, weakly, his hand cupping her face, thumb brushing over her cheek.]
I had vowed to kill them for what they had done. Those men that forced me, and the man that forced you. I succeeded... and now we must simply heal- emotionally.
[Though not simple, at all. Hubert pressed his wet face against hers, thanks to the shower that was heating them both up.]
Stay with me. [He said, kissing her again.]
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[She kisses back, her grip on him tightening for a moment.]
I'm gonna stay as long as they'll let me, okay? [They being LIEs, of course, not Ferdinand and Dorothea.] I'm not leaving that easily. I need... to make sure you're okay, too. And don't say you're fine, I know you're not.
[But, he gets another kiss.]
At least those guys that made you do that stuff are dead.
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He was literally about to protest to what she was saying, to inform her not to think about him- that he was fine, until she already told him he wasn't.]
... how do you know me so well, already?
[But he appreciated it, more than he could express.]
I am simply... beyond relieved, that we lived, that we escaped, and that I was able to save you.
If you left me, died on me, I might possibly have been inconsolable.
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[She admits, but it's easy to just melt into his embrace, and listen to him talk, even as the water pours down on them.]
... I'm happy you saved me. I don't... want to think about what else could've happened past... y'know. If no one had managed to get to me. But I'm not going to die, Hubert.
[She reaches up, placing a hand on his wet cheek, letting her thumb rub circles there.]
I'm pretty sure I would've been inconsolable if something happened to you.
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All he did now was lean forward to kiss her, gently, kissing at her tender lips over and over again. He then pulled away, forehead still against her own.]
Then, let us be grateful we did not have to mourn one another. I will simply love you harder, from here on out.
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Is that even possible?
[But after a moment, and with a ton of reluctance:] '
We should get dry and go to bed. I'm tired... and I know you are, too.
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Yes.... we should.
[And thus, their shower would be finished and over with, both clean, and Hubert had taken her to bed. He had not even bothered getting dressed, choosing to stay naked, and he crawled into bed with her, and once he had his arms wrapped around her small form.
He went to sleep, almost instantly in the dark of the room he shared with Ferdinand.]
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But then the dreams start, morphing into nightmares, her sleep quickly becoming fitful before she thrashes in panic, trying to roll away from Hubert and coming perilously close to the edge of the bed... and all but screaming his name.]
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He stirred and woke immediately, grabbing for her before she fell off the bed and took her naked body to hold it against his own-]
Ruby, wake up, it is a bad dream.
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But when she realizes that it's Hubert next to her, that he's the one holding her, she instantly bursts into tears.]
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And he said nothing, merely held her in the dark as she cried, for however long she would need comfort, he was here.]
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... I... I had a dream that you died... when you got shot.
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[He did not know what else to say, all he wanted to do was hold her until she calmed down, entirely. He just hugged her tighter.]
But it was just a dream. See? I am alive, I am here, holding you.
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[She clings to him, desperately.]
You're not allowed to die.
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THE END