Can we get the meeting of rosegarden in baby overlords au?
Unfortunately, I am busy with irl and art stuff atm. Also, I draw for others only on commission. Fortunately, for me, I have the ability to write.
T/W: Character death, a very dark scenario for a child to be in, implied crippling depression
Ruby stared out at the cliff, seeing the ocean waves beyond lap out peacefully on the sandy shores. The golden light washing over her and the dream-like clouds were a sharp contrast to the last time Ruby was here, dark and overcast, promising nothing good. And it delivered.
Ruby’s very mother died on this spot, trying to stop an evil all on her own. No back-up, no blessings from comrades, nothing to help but her weapon and her God-given eyes. All to protect humanity. It was … It was a good goal. One Ruby aspired to, like the heroes in her books. But … was it worth the way Summer died? Painfully and by herself? Well, almost.
Ruby held her hand as she died. Ruby just wanted to be with mommy and she watched mommy faced off against the Dark Man. Ruby shuddered to think of the Dark Man. A dark silhouette with spidery black veins sticking out against bone white skin. He made Ruby think of the night terrors that hid in the shadows, the terror that would actually creep out and eat you whole.
The dark clouds, the red of her mother’s blood spilling on the ground and the Dark Man towering over her was all Ruby could remember. She was still a child, ten years old now, but more of a child then. Only five, Yang had said.
And if Summer dying was like a bullet to the heart, then what happened afterwards was like slow poison. Her bright father losing his light, the constant check-ups from Raven growing longer and longer in between, and then … Then it was just Yang and Ruby all alone in Patch. Ruby loved her father, but his sadness just robbed him of any will he had. And Yang and Ruby had to carry on, having to survive in that house surrounded by trees and grimm, all by themselves, with nobody to help them.
Nobody should have to be alone like Ruby and Yang were. Nobody should be struck with sorrow like her father. And nobody should die like her mother did.
Pain and suffering were nothing but unsightly stains in this beautiful world. It deserved better than that.
Steps. Ruby turned around quickly, ready to run. The woods were no place for little girls, Ruby knew that well from wandering off the path for travellers. But this wasn’t the season for grimm to be roaming around. So what–
The boy stood timid and unsure, nervously darting his hands. Alarm bells went off in Ruby’s head. Something wasn’t right with this boy. But he looked so scared … Ignoring her instinctual apprehension, Ruby slowly approached the boy.
Features became more apparent as Ruby neared. Her initial alarm turned to discomfort as she saw more and more of the boy. Under his aged and worn shirt, bandages covered his hands and neck, even one eye. The dark colour of his hair almost seemed to be fading away,leaving it unevenly black and white. The boy’s uneasiness grew with each step Ruby took, rubbing his bandaged hands togetherly and mumbling under his breath.
“A-Are you …” Ruby stammered. “Are you okay? Are you lost?”
The boy murmured something, too low for Ruby to hear.
“W-What? Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you–”
“I said have you seen a cane?!” The boy snapped. Ruby flinched, not expecting such a loud tone to come from someone so small. The boy cringed. “I–I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’msorryi’msorryi’msorry. He’s gonna be mad if I don’t find it. I–” A tear bubbled up in the boy’s one eye, but instead of it being clear and translucent, it was inky and black. Ruby took a careful step back.
The boy shook violently and he rubbed his face harshly with his hands. “I’m trying! Stop yelling at me!”
“I’m not yelling at you,” Ruby said softly. She didn’t know what to do. She looked around nervously, vaguely hoping Yang was here. The boy scared Ruby. He made her feel so small and uncertain despite being worse off than Ruby was. The boy was crying now, little sobs and hiccups spilling out of him.
When someone is upset, Ruby’s mother had said. You should try and help them. It means more than you think.
Ruby fumbled around, getting her work rag out from where she stuffed it into the hem of her shorts and held it hesitantly out towards the boy. “H-Here.”
The boy dragged his hands from his eyes and stared at the rag uncertainty. “T-Thank you.” The boy accepted it, bringing it to his face in slow movements. Ruby tried to ignore the black splotches staining the cloth when the boy was done.
“I-If you want,” Ruby tried to sound comforting, “I can help you find your cane. I know the woods.”
“You’d do that?” The small hope in his voice broke Ruby’s tiny heart.
And then the boy smiled, cracked lips timidly spreading out. Ruby’s heart soared, being able to fade away at least some of the darkness plaguing the boy. She’d do more. She’d made the boy happy. The happiest boy in the world if she could. And she could start by helping him find his cane.
