FIC: Love Behind the Gates of Ivory Chapter 2
Title : Love Behind the Gates of Ivory - Chapter 2/12
Author: pandorasimp
Rating: PG
Pairing: Archie/Ruby
Story Summary:An Archie/Ruby romance from Heart of Darkness to the Finale. WIP
Chapter Word count: 1377
Chapter 1 here
Archie stopped outside Granny’s diner on his way home from his nightly walk with Pongo. He knew it wasn’t likely but he hoped he’d catch Ruby working late. It’s was three days since Pongo’s excursion and she hadn’t been to work since. Although Granny had assured him she was just feeling a little under the weather, he was still a little worried.
It was silly since he had no reason, or right for that matter, to be concerned but he’s had far more inappropriate thoughts of Ruby ever since he could remember.
It wasn’t just the obvious, any man with whose heart was still beating would find her attractive, but she also had an air of joy around that he found intoxicating and contagious. For lack of a better word, she bubbled and those around her couldn’t help but bubble just a little but as well.
Despite proddings from Marco and now from David, he never could act on those feeling. Ruby liked men who were dark and dangerous and as she had even told him - he’s not quite that type. Every scenario he imagined and he imagined plenty, always ended in his mind with rejection and a lasting awkwardness between them.
He considered for a moment just stopping by the Inn but it was late and if she really wasn’t feeling well then she was hopefully resting.
“Well boy, I guess we will have to wait and see if she comes in tomorrow,” he told his sole companion and made his way back home.
As he approached he noticed someone sitting on his doorstep. As he got closer he noticed it was Ruby.
Ruby was on his doorstep.
He blinked a couple times in case he was imagining, but there she was. She stood up as he approached.
“Hey Archie. Is that offer of a sympathetic ear still open?”
She didn’t look well. Her eyes were bloodshot and underneath were the dark circles of someone who desperately needed a good night’s sleep.
“Absolutely. Come on in.”
------------
He led her to his living room.
“Have a seat” he said and gestured to his couch. It was the same one he had at his office. In fact most of the furniture in his home were the same as his office although he couldn’t remember ever buying anything.
"Can I offer you some tea? I think I have hot chocolate." He rubbed the back of his head and looked around as if the hot chocolate was somewhere in the room.
“Tea would be great.” Ruby replied and tried to smile but didn’t quite succeed.
“Tea it is. I’ll just be a moment.”
He calmly walked to his kitchen and started racing as soon as he was out of site. His kitchen was a disaster. He searched for a couple clean cups, then gave up and washed two. He looked for a sugar bowl and creamer. Everybody had those, surely he must have them somewhere. He had a teapot. Didn’t those things come in a set? He had plenty at the office, and a nice serving tray but he never had anyone over here. Finally he gave up when the kettle whistled. Put some sugar in a bowl and pour the cream in a measuring cup. Why he had one of those and not a decent cream container he had no idea. He didn’t bake.
“Can I help?” Ruby asked when he brought out the teapot and cups.
“No, no I just have one more trip.” He rushed back and get the rest, making a mental note that he had to give the entire place a good clean.
“Sorry.” he said when he had everything laid out. “Most of my things for being a good host is at my office.”
He started to sit down in the chair next to the couch.
“It’s fine Archie, but could you please sit on the couch with me? I’m here as a friend not a patient and it feels too professional with you sitting over there. “
”Sorry. Old habits.“ He sat down in the opposite corner of the couch from Ruby. It felt awkward to not be in his chair and he hoped it didn't show. He turned to face Ruby who was curled up in the other corner with her feet tucked under her. Her hands fiddled with her her red lock of hair. She didn’t say anything and Archie was about to break the silence when she asked.
“So if someone tells you something and you think it makes them dangerous, do you have to report them?”
Archie sat back confused and concerned.
"Well, normally yes,” he saw Ruby slump, “but as you said, you’re here as a friend, so I don’t have to follow any code of conduct right now."
She nodded, still fidgeting with her hair.
“Ruby, what happened? Is everything okay?”
Ruby shook her head.
“It’s just I’ve been having these dreams.”
She proceeded to tell him all about her nightmares, about the blood, the body parts, how she knew in her dreams she had killed all her friends. Not just killed, ripped them to shreds.
When she finally finished she was in tears.
“What's wrong with me? I don’t want to hurt anyone. Am I some kind of closet psycho? One day I’ll snap and massacre the whole town?”
As bad as Archie felt for Ruby he was also relieved. This wasn’t anything serious, although right now he knew Ruby felt it was.
He smiled at her.
“Ruby you are in no way a closet psycho.”
“But why would I dream these horrible things?”
“Well there are two reasons. First you found a human heart in the woods and it bothered you a lot right?”
She nodded
“Second, you consider Mary Margaret a friend right?”
She nodded.
“She took me in when I left Granny’s.”
“Well the heart you found was Kathryn’s and it was that evidence that got Mary Margaret arrested. Your dreaming you killed you friends because your subconscious feels guilty that you found the evidence that enable Mary Margaret to be locked up. When you combine that with the gruesomeness of finding a human heart, it actually makes sense that that guilt would manifest itself in the disturbing way it has.”
So I’m not crazy?”
Archie chuckled, “Not at all. Actually the fact that you’re so concerned about this just shows you the type who cares about not hurting peo-“
It took him a moment to register that Ruby had flung herself around him and had her arms around his neck. She was hugging him
“Oh thank you! You have no idea how worried I was.”
Archie’s eyes were wide. Stunned at first, he was unsure how to respond.
Slowly he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.
“You’re welcome.” he replied almost as a question.
She pulled away and wiped at her eyes.
“You know I was actually staring to think I might have black out like you see crazy people do in the movies and that I killed Kathryn and framed Mary Margaret.”
“What? No! You’re not a killer Ruby” He replied, still processing the fact that he had Ruby in his arms seconds before.
“I know it sounds stupid but I haven’t gotten much sleep the past few days, I’ve been scared to sleep and then my imagination started going. I’m just really relieved I’m not going to hurt anyone.”
“No you’re not going to hurt anyone. Now I’m not sure this will stop the nightmares but hopefully now that you understand where they come from they won’t be as scary.”
“I hope so too,” she smiled and got up, ”I should probably get going and try to get some sleep. I think Granny’s patience is wearing thin with me not showing up to work.”
“Of course.” Archie got up and walked ruby to the door.
“I hope you get some rest.”
“Thanks again Archie. I owe you big time.”
He waved his hand “You owe me nothing. I’m always happy to help a friend.”
She gave him a big grin and walked out.
Archie stood there smiling and staring at the door for a few moments before heading to his kitchen to clean.
Author: pandorasimp
Rating: PG
Pairing: Archie/Ruby
Story Summary:An Archie/Ruby romance from Heart of Darkness to the Finale. WIP
Chapter Word count: 1377
Chapter 1 here
Archie stopped outside Granny’s diner on his way home from his nightly walk with Pongo. He knew it wasn’t likely but he hoped he’d catch Ruby working late. It’s was three days since Pongo’s excursion and she hadn’t been to work since. Although Granny had assured him she was just feeling a little under the weather, he was still a little worried.
It was silly since he had no reason, or right for that matter, to be concerned but he’s had far more inappropriate thoughts of Ruby ever since he could remember.
It wasn’t just the obvious, any man with whose heart was still beating would find her attractive, but she also had an air of joy around that he found intoxicating and contagious. For lack of a better word, she bubbled and those around her couldn’t help but bubble just a little but as well.
Despite proddings from Marco and now from David, he never could act on those feeling. Ruby liked men who were dark and dangerous and as she had even told him - he’s not quite that type. Every scenario he imagined and he imagined plenty, always ended in his mind with rejection and a lasting awkwardness between them.
He considered for a moment just stopping by the Inn but it was late and if she really wasn’t feeling well then she was hopefully resting.
“Well boy, I guess we will have to wait and see if she comes in tomorrow,” he told his sole companion and made his way back home.
As he approached he noticed someone sitting on his doorstep. As he got closer he noticed it was Ruby.
Ruby was on his doorstep.
He blinked a couple times in case he was imagining, but there she was. She stood up as he approached.
“Hey Archie. Is that offer of a sympathetic ear still open?”
She didn’t look well. Her eyes were bloodshot and underneath were the dark circles of someone who desperately needed a good night’s sleep.
“Absolutely. Come on in.”
------------
He led her to his living room.
“Have a seat” he said and gestured to his couch. It was the same one he had at his office. In fact most of the furniture in his home were the same as his office although he couldn’t remember ever buying anything.
"Can I offer you some tea? I think I have hot chocolate." He rubbed the back of his head and looked around as if the hot chocolate was somewhere in the room.
“Tea would be great.” Ruby replied and tried to smile but didn’t quite succeed.
“Tea it is. I’ll just be a moment.”
He calmly walked to his kitchen and started racing as soon as he was out of site. His kitchen was a disaster. He searched for a couple clean cups, then gave up and washed two. He looked for a sugar bowl and creamer. Everybody had those, surely he must have them somewhere. He had a teapot. Didn’t those things come in a set? He had plenty at the office, and a nice serving tray but he never had anyone over here. Finally he gave up when the kettle whistled. Put some sugar in a bowl and pour the cream in a measuring cup. Why he had one of those and not a decent cream container he had no idea. He didn’t bake.
“Can I help?” Ruby asked when he brought out the teapot and cups.
“No, no I just have one more trip.” He rushed back and get the rest, making a mental note that he had to give the entire place a good clean.
“Sorry.” he said when he had everything laid out. “Most of my things for being a good host is at my office.”
He started to sit down in the chair next to the couch.
“It’s fine Archie, but could you please sit on the couch with me? I’m here as a friend not a patient and it feels too professional with you sitting over there. “
”Sorry. Old habits.“ He sat down in the opposite corner of the couch from Ruby. It felt awkward to not be in his chair and he hoped it didn't show. He turned to face Ruby who was curled up in the other corner with her feet tucked under her. Her hands fiddled with her her red lock of hair. She didn’t say anything and Archie was about to break the silence when she asked.
“So if someone tells you something and you think it makes them dangerous, do you have to report them?”
Archie sat back confused and concerned.
"Well, normally yes,” he saw Ruby slump, “but as you said, you’re here as a friend, so I don’t have to follow any code of conduct right now."
She nodded, still fidgeting with her hair.
“Ruby, what happened? Is everything okay?”
Ruby shook her head.
“It’s just I’ve been having these dreams.”
She proceeded to tell him all about her nightmares, about the blood, the body parts, how she knew in her dreams she had killed all her friends. Not just killed, ripped them to shreds.
When she finally finished she was in tears.
“What's wrong with me? I don’t want to hurt anyone. Am I some kind of closet psycho? One day I’ll snap and massacre the whole town?”
As bad as Archie felt for Ruby he was also relieved. This wasn’t anything serious, although right now he knew Ruby felt it was.
He smiled at her.
“Ruby you are in no way a closet psycho.”
“But why would I dream these horrible things?”
“Well there are two reasons. First you found a human heart in the woods and it bothered you a lot right?”
She nodded
“Second, you consider Mary Margaret a friend right?”
She nodded.
“She took me in when I left Granny’s.”
“Well the heart you found was Kathryn’s and it was that evidence that got Mary Margaret arrested. Your dreaming you killed you friends because your subconscious feels guilty that you found the evidence that enable Mary Margaret to be locked up. When you combine that with the gruesomeness of finding a human heart, it actually makes sense that that guilt would manifest itself in the disturbing way it has.”
So I’m not crazy?”
Archie chuckled, “Not at all. Actually the fact that you’re so concerned about this just shows you the type who cares about not hurting peo-“
It took him a moment to register that Ruby had flung herself around him and had her arms around his neck. She was hugging him
“Oh thank you! You have no idea how worried I was.”
Archie’s eyes were wide. Stunned at first, he was unsure how to respond.
Slowly he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.
“You’re welcome.” he replied almost as a question.
She pulled away and wiped at her eyes.
“You know I was actually staring to think I might have black out like you see crazy people do in the movies and that I killed Kathryn and framed Mary Margaret.”
“What? No! You’re not a killer Ruby” He replied, still processing the fact that he had Ruby in his arms seconds before.
“I know it sounds stupid but I haven’t gotten much sleep the past few days, I’ve been scared to sleep and then my imagination started going. I’m just really relieved I’m not going to hurt anyone.”
“No you’re not going to hurt anyone. Now I’m not sure this will stop the nightmares but hopefully now that you understand where they come from they won’t be as scary.”
“I hope so too,” she smiled and got up, ”I should probably get going and try to get some sleep. I think Granny’s patience is wearing thin with me not showing up to work.”
“Of course.” Archie got up and walked ruby to the door.
“I hope you get some rest.”
“Thanks again Archie. I owe you big time.”
He waved his hand “You owe me nothing. I’m always happy to help a friend.”
She gave him a big grin and walked out.
Archie stood there smiling and staring at the door for a few moments before heading to his kitchen to clean.