A Day in the City! A Helping Hand!
(A/N - Salutations everyone! I hope you all been well and I just got a new job which has kept me away so I'm sorry, well that and Kingdom Hearts 3! I'm so ready! I hope that you will enjoy my kind of short chapter for today and thank you for giving my story the time of day. Any advice or questions you have I'll give any answers that aren't too spoilery! Here we go!)
Ruby smiled softly and giggled as she pet Zwei and watched him eat his breakfast happily, making her own stomach call for food. She checked the fridge and cabinets for nourishment but noticed that her father must have forgotten to get more food. She shook her head a bit before checking his letter and reading it as she poured herself a glass of milk.
Hey sweetie, I'm sorry to leave you without saying anything again but they really needed me for something big that is happening and I'll be back in a few days. I trust you to be a good girl, you always have been. Especially since… anyway, I left you some money here to get food for you and Zwei. Oh, and I heard that your Uncle will be visiting soon so try and keep him under control and keep him away from matches this time. You know how to reach me if anything goes wrong and I love you!
Ruby laughed at the thought of her Uncle as the last time he was here he managed to light himself on fire. Her mind soon wandered as she thought of how hard her father worked for her but deep down she knew why he worked even when he didn't need to. She finished her drink and took the money, putting a collar on Zwei so they could go get some breakfast together. After locking up her house, they headed towards town. The path had cherry blossom scattered around by nature's winds. While roses were Ruby's favorite flower, cherry blossoms were a close second. She caught a pedal in her hand and twirled it as she thought about the other world and if she might be able to find new kinds of flowers.
Getting into town, the people were here and there some obviously with purpose and others looking to mostly be browsing to waste time or their excess of cash. The shops around were varied, to say the least, something Ruby always appreciated as she was never one to plan out what she wanted and usually only to go with her gut instinct. From comics and movies to food and housewares the local shops were the best around if not a bit expensive.
Ruby looked around and thought hard about what they should get for food when something caught her eyes nearby. A young blond girl wearing an overly large black hoodie that had the simple image of a smiling rabbit face was sitting on the ground and seemed to be waiting for someone. No one paid the young girl any mind as she sat patiently and played with the long sleeves she possessed. Ruby went over to see if the girl needed any help, smiling and ducking down her her height more or less.
"Hiya! You okay down here? Are you alone?" Ruby asked, causing the girl to look up, her blue eyes twinkled with confusion and innocence.
"Hmm? Me? Nope! I'm here with my big brother but I think he got lost while trying to find the restroom, he isn't the best when it comes to directions and remembering where things are. That is why he gave me his hoodie so he could find me easier but as you could see, his genius plan didn't really work." The little girl giggled and shook her head. Ruby looked around and down at Zwei as he played with the girl. She smiled softly and sighed a bit.
"Okay then, come on. I'll walk with you around here and help find him."
"Hmmm I'm usually not meant to go with strangers but not many are stranger than my brother and you don't come off as a kidnapping type. Okay, I'll go with you! My brother's name is Jaune and the name's Joy. Joy Arc!" The girl proudly announced and pointed to herself.
"Ruby Rose." Ruby giggled at the girl's announcement and took Joy's hand gently, letting her walk Zwei while they walked around and quickly found the restroom. After getting help from a passing by male, they found that the restroom was empty. "So if I were a boy where would I go if I lost my way from here?" Ruby pondered her question before slamming her fist in her hand and smiled. Joy and Zwei looked up at her expectantly and tilted their heads as she quickly spun in a circle, resembling a red tornado.
"Umm, Ruby?" Joy asked as Ruby's spinning stopped and she started walking down a direction, towards the games.
"L-let's try this way!" Joy shared a look with Zwei and the two followed the hooded girl. "So what is your brother like anyway Joy?"
Joy thought about her answer before smiling. "He's… silly, weird, fun, nice, a bit dense, and easy to trick. My twin and I fooled him once by running from place to place and acting like we were teleporting. He's a bit of an artist, always making little comics books."
"So he's an artist huh? I wish I could draw, I'm more a singing type of girl but only when I'm alone. I'm not so good with people."
"Oooh! What about me Ruby? Would you sing with me?" Ruby looked down at the hopeful expression on Joy's face and felt all her defenses shatter. "Pweeeeease!"
"Uuuuuuggggghhhhh fine if you visit me at my house then we can play a song together."
"Pinky promise?" Ruby wrapped her pinky around Joy's and the two shared a smile. Joy looked around them and called out in excitement as she ran towards a tall blond boy who was facing away from them. Ruby caught sight of someone he was talking to before the man vanished into a car, he was a man dressed in all black with a strange logo on the arm of his sleeve. "Jaune! Where were you!? You left me alone!"
Jaune turned at the shout of his name and rushed to Joy, happily hugging her and checking her for injuries. "I'm so sorry Joy! I got lost and tried to win you a toy at the game stands to make up for it but lost my money."
"Jaaaaune you know mommy says that these games are all rigged hmph." Jaune smiled and laughed while holding the pouting girl close. Ruby stood there smiling softly with Zwei rubbing against her leg. Jaune soon looked up and met Ruby's eyes, blue meeting sliver until the silver saw a case was in Jaune's hands. One that was emblazoned with golden arcs. "So you were the one that helped out my sister? Thank you, Miss uhh?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry! I'm Ruby, Ruby Rose and this little guy is Zwei." Jaune smiled and petted the dog.
"I'm Jaune, Jaune Arc. It's nice to meet you and thanks again for helping out my little sis, I know she can be a handful."
"You're one to talk bro!" Joy began to weakly punch Jaune's leg while he rubbed his head and laughed.
"Well I'd offer to buy you some food or something but I'm kinda broke. Oh, I have this!" Jaune pulled out a wrapped up comic from his back pocket and held it out to Ruby. "I'm sorry about not having money but I hope you like Camp Camp, it's all I can offer…"
"I don't need anyt- did you say Camp Camp?" She took the comic and made a happy squeak as she saw that it was the newest issue. "How did you get this?! This issue isn't out at my comic store yet!" Jaune rubbed his head while she looked through the comic.
"Well my older sister is one of the people who work on the comic and she sneaks me some new issues sometimes but keep that a secret." Ruby nodded and the two smiled at each other before Joy yawned and Jaune picked her up. "Looks like it's time for you to go to bed."
"I… I will allow this… till next time Ruby! Good night, sweet dreams." Joy yawned and cuddled into her brother."
"Heh, okay then. I'll see you again Jaune and maybe we can hang out next time?"
"Sure Rubes, stay cool. We just moved to town and looks like this place seems like fun. Maybe next time you can give me a tour of the town."
"Jaaaauneeee ussss" Joy groaned and turned in his arms.
"Right, I meant us." Ruby laughed at the siblings and their family feud, agreeing to give them a tour next time they met. Giving each other their numbers, the first time either got a number from a friend, they waved and separated. As Ruby walked with Zwei, she questioned the case Jaune held when they found him and the man he was talking to. Could it have been the same man she saw on the train?
"I don't know Zwei since there were other players of that game I guess more headsets were given out but are we being chosen or random? Maybe Jaune knows more." Zwei's barking turned her attention back to her original purpose for coming out, they were in front of the grocery store. Ruby's stomach called out and she rushed inside, coming out with a fair amount of food to last several days. The walk home was unsuspenseful and dull as the sun began to set. The tired two entered the house and Ruby started making spaghetti, taking the time to start reading her new comic.
"Ahh, crazy kids and their adventures." She finished the spaghetti and happily ate while turning the tv on, going to the news where it said some big shot's daughter would soon be coming to town for a concert. "Bore!" Ruby changed the channel to a comedy show about two teams. After lots of pasta and laughs, night fell and Zwei and Ruby shared a yawn. She lifted Zwei into her arms and turned everything off before heading to bed, leaving the dishes for tomorrow's Ruby. As she laid down to sleep her eyes caught sight of the headset nearby and she sighed, debating with herself before slipping them on...