Love Behind the Gates of Ivory - Chapter 1
Title : Love Behind the Gates of Ivory - Chapter 1/12
Author: pandorasimp
Rating: PG
Pairing: Archie/Ruby
Story Summary: An Archie/Ruby romance from Heart of Darkness to the Finale. WIP
Chapter Word count: 1385
Ruby leaned against the workstation at the back of the diner. With her elbow on the counter and her chin propped up by her hand, she mindlessly poked the burgers she prepped for tomorrow’s shift with a fork. Over and over she’d push the meat down, watch the blood pool up, stop and watch it absorb back in.
It was Saturday night and normally she’d be out having some fun but since her experience with Emma in the woods, she just didn’t feel like socializing. A situation that surprised no one more than her grandmother, judging from the look of shock on her face when Ruby offered to work the closing shift. It was followed by a beaming smile of pride as she assumed it was Ruby’s way of stepping up and taking on more responsibilities.
Ruby wasn’t sure that was the reason but it gave her an excuse to not be out drinking that didn’t bring up a bunch of questions she didn’t feel like answering. Besides, she found out pretty quickly that all the men who were supposedly so into her, really didn’t care much about her issues. They’d ask her if she wanted to talk, but if she did, she soon noticed they weren’t paying attention to anything she was saying.
She stretched and looked at the time, shocked to see it was already 11:00. She didn’t think she zoned out that long. She slowly set about cleaning up and making sure everything was shut down. She was just locking up outside when a figure caught the corner of her eye. She looked up and saw it was Archie walking down the street, looking back and forth.
“Archie?”
“Oh …hi Ruby.” he responded, barely looking at her.
"Is everything alright?”
“Um yes, yes,” he nodded and shook his head, “I mean no. I had a late night session with a client and Pongo got out somehow. I’ve been looking for him for an hour with no luck. I’m getting worried."
Ruby could tell just by looking at him that he wasn’t getting worried, he’d been worried for a while. Granny always said you could tell a lot from a person by the way they treat animals and the concern he showed for his dog was touching.
“Well I can help you find him.”
“Oh that’s okay Ruby I wouldn’t want to keep you from your plans.”
“I just left my plans for tonight.” she said, gesturing back to the diner. She hesitated and added, “Besides, I’ve recently discovered I’m pretty good at finding things.”
He stopped looking around and faced Ruby for the first time.
“I heard about that. I’m sorry you had to..”
She cut him off, “Not important right now. Let’s just find Pongo.”
Ruby stood and closed her eyes. She didn’t know how, but she never really looked for anything, she felt for them instead. It was one of the things that had been freaking her out lately. A few seconds passed and she opened her eyes to a curious Archie staring at her.
“This way.” she told him.
She walked quickly down the street, past the shops to the rows of houses with Archie following her.
A couple blocks in she turned right.
“Ruby don’t you think we should go slower to look?” Archie asked, trying to catch his breath.
She didn’t respond until she stopped at an alley.
“He’s down here,” she said and continued walking.
Sure enough, five houses down was Pongo, his nose pressed against a backyard fence.
“Pongo!” Archie called, still a little winded.
Pongo went over to his owner who was looking stunned at Ruby.
”That was amazing. H..how did you do that?”
“I don’t know.” Ruby shrugged, hoping he wouldn’t push the issue. She looked over the fence where Pongo was, “But I do know why Pongo was here. Look.”
Archie finished getting on Pongo’s leash and went over to the fence. Sitting on the other side was another Dalmatian.”
“He just wanted to be with his friend,” Ruby laughed.
“Well that doesn’t excuse him running off. I suppose I could go visit the owner, maybe arrange for a play date.” He bent down to Pongo, ”But we go together next time.”
The dog licked Archie face, oblivious to the worry he caused.
Archie stood up, “Thank you Ruby. I don’t know how you did it but thanks for helping me.”
”You’re welcome,” she replied and focused on the ground. "Like I said, I’ve realized I have a talent for finding things."
“You know if you ever needed to talk about what hap - ”
“Thanks but I don’t think it’s so bad that I need professional help.” she winced, realizing her words sounded a lot harsher than intended. “Sorry Archie, I didn’t mean..”
He waved his hand. “No need to apologize. I apologize for intruding.”
Ruby could tell by the way he was slouching, her words hurt. Still feeling bad, she gave him a meek smile.
“What I would appreciate is if you walked me home?”
Archie straighten up and smiled back.
“Of course. I would love to.”
They walked quietly for several minutes before Ruby broke the silence.
“Do you normally have clients this late?”
“Sometimes, but this was unscheduled. Most people work day jobs so I try to work around their schedule. Plus, I’ve always been more of a night person.”
Ruby stopped, surprised.
“Really?”
"Really. Most people are surprised by that, although I don’t know why."
Ruby eyed him for a moment making sure to be more careful with her words.
"I think because people associate night time as being dark and dangerous, and you’re not quite that type," she said with a wink.
Archie thought for a second before he started walking again. “No I guess I’m not, but I’m still more a night person. I actually normally walk Pongo this time of night when all the streets are quiet.”
“Yeah I’m the same way. Not with the dog walking, just being a night person.”
“That doesn’t surprise me at all,” he chuckled.
Ruby was grateful that as they walked Archie never mentioned anything about Kathryn or Mary Margaret. She really didn't want to talk about it and it seemed like the only thing everyone in town could talk about. He asked how Granny was and how business was. Basically, he stuck to stuck to small talk as if he knew Ruby wasn’t in the mood for talking about what happened.
Eventually they made it to her front steps.
She turned and faced Archie, "Thanks for walking me home.”
“Thank you for helping me find Pongo. Are you working tomorrow?”
“Yeah but later, unless someone is a no show, but I’m hoping later.”
“Well then I’ll likely see you later tomorrow.”
Ruby starting walking up the steps
“Oh Ruby?”
She turned around but Archie seemed frozen.
“Yes?”
“Um…what I said earlier about you ever needing to talk about what happened. I didn’t mean professionally. Even if you just wanted to talk to a friend, my door is always open.”
Ruby crossed her arms, tilted her head and studied Archie for moment before smiling.
“Only if you want to, no expectations I just…”
“Thank you Archie. You know I’ve had a lot guys say the same thing to me, but you’re the first one who I believe actually means it.”
He looked at her confused. “Well I do mean it.”
She laughed, “I know and I appreciate it.”
Still looking a little confused, Archie gave her a nod, “Have a good night Ruby.”
“You too.” she replied and entered the house.
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- - - She’s running through the woods. She’s running fast. Trees are whipping by her. She needs to make it to a clearing up a head. Her friends are there
She reaches the clearing. It’s covered in blood. Limbs are scattered everywhere. She tries to scream but can’t. She wants to turn around and run away but she can’t. She goes forward and trips. She falls to the ground. She looks up and is staring at Mary Margaret's head, her dead eyes still open.. She scrambles up and looks around. All her friends are there. All torn apart. She did this. She looks down at her hands. Blood pours from both of them. - - -
She wakes up screaming.
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Chapter 2