Tubio awoke in his old bed, which he found odd considering... Oh. On his chest lay a weight, opening his eyes, Ruby lying naked with him. Blowing softly into his neck, smiling. Tubio remained as still as possible, thinking back on yesterday's evening. And the longer the evening went on, the more he realized that their relationship had gone beyond the level of friends. Of all the girls, he'd had to sleep with a cold-blooded killer. Then he thought about it. It wasn't so bad, after all, she was beautiful, funny... Tubio felt that Cyclops and Ruby could have been two entirely different people and it wouldn't have surprised him. She was sweet, patient and sassy. Then he remembered that she had decapitated a man in front of him... Oh.
Two blue eyes looked at him. Ruby looked at him with her lips parted, a second passed before she stole a kiss, whispering a hello. Tubio shook his head slightly.
-I'm so weak.
To which she giggled.
-I know you are.
Before kissing him again and resting her head on his chest.
-That was... wow...
-Mm... if you're a good boy, we can do it again.
-Me? always.
He felt her smile as their breathing aligned with each other.
-Now that you can walk. What are you going to do?
-Live. I've spent so much time as Cyclops, I don't even know where to start.
-You'll get there, I know it.
-Don't underestimate my ability to screw up.
-Well, I have to say that last night went pretty well.
Ruby propped herself up on her elbows, looking Tubio straight in the eye.
-What happened wasn't a screw up.
-That's not what I meant.
-I know, but I want us to be clear. Tubio, since I've been here, I've felt more alive and secure than since I was a child. Do you know how many people have attacked me? From the list of people you gave me who survived, I don't even count one hand those I could consider distant friends. Everyone I loved has died. And you, stupid as you are, save my life, you took me to your home, you feed me, you house me. You offer to pay for my treatment and my chrome. Do you realize that? Who fucking do that?
Tubio didn't know what to say. He'd done what he thought was right, not let her die after the ambush, then healed her so she wouldn't be thrown into the street...
-I don't know what to say. I just did what I thought was best.
-You know what was best for Gaton? Teaching me how to kill. To trust no one. To hate, to know that the world is out there, that he is cruel and will come for me. You know my last memory of my first night out with friends after my adoption?
Tubio let her speak, Ruby had raised her voice, not necessarily against him.
-There was this boy my age, he had everything going for him: a nice family, normal parents. It was after I'd had my operations and went to live with Gaton. He was so cute and sweet, he wanted to throw a party and invited me, but when I went there I was laughed at. That evening, as I was coming home, his uncle kidnapped me. To sell me to scavengers. I was saved while on the operating table. After that, I never heard from the boy again, and Gaton forbade me to go out for years without someone.
-I'm sorry about that.
-You know I paint my implants, so people can't see my chrome? That I can't make friends without thinking about what could happen to me or them? That I'm afraid people will see me as prey? I can’t even find the courage to show my face or my hair? I can’t stop thinking that I'll end up on one of those tables again? Do you know what I am? I'm a fucking hermit hiding in a shitty apartment only going out to buy groceries, drink or find a guy for the night. Waiting to be called in to kill people.
Ruby had tears in her eyes.
-So when are you telling me that you, who did everything you could for me, treated me like a person, that it was a mistake. No. I don't want to joke about it.
This time the tears were flowing and Tubio was quick to console her.
-Hey, hey, sorry, I never would have guessed. You fit in so well with the Crimson Spear, you're so, so... You. Every time we talk you don't seem afraid, you're confident, strong, sure of yourself. Hell, you've got the whole club shaking at the Steel Arm.
-That's not me, I never wanted to become Cyclops. I hate it. I'm just good at it, too good.
-You don't have to be Cyclops anymore… You know, you can be my netrunner. Like you do now, but guiding me. I'll give you information and vice versa. We'll choose our missions and, if possible, avoid bloodshed.
-You're so naive. You think missions like you describe are all over the street? No, if you do this, sooner or later you'll have to get your hands dirty or starve.
-... For you I will.
-Don't… don’t promise me things like that. No one should kill for someone else. I did it, and I came back even emptier.
Ruby let her head fall back onto Tubio's belly to hide her face sniffing. There was silence as Tubio tried to find something to say.
-... I love your smile.
-...
-I love hearing you talking during the day.
-...
-I love your laugh.
-... You're sweet.
-You are beautiful.
-You're thoughtful.
-You’re smart.
-Will you stay with me? I am a monster you know?
-Yes, until you don't need me anymore.
Ruby kept silent, hugging him tighter.
-Fuck!
-What?
She looked up.
-I think I love you, silly.
Tubio smirked as she raised her head.
-What a lucky guy.
-Shut up.
She smiled and they kissed.
-So, what's first?
-Mm…Round 2?
As the two flirted, cries echoed through the house. Stopping the two, they looked at each other.
-Your father-in-law?
-Nah, he's probably rotting by now.
-We can ignore it.
Tubio ignored Ruby and started to get up. Ruby her, started swearing.
-This better be important.
Pulling the sheet around her, she began to gather up her underwear as the door opened. With a reflex, her chrome fist slammed into a face. The latter screamed in pain before falling into the corridor. Ruby, both shocked and surprised, stepped aside to hide her modesty and close the door. A voice came from the other side and Elizabeth.
-Ivan Lianovak! Who do you think you are!
-I think she broke my nose!
******
-Ouch ouch, gently, Mme Moreau.
Saying nothing, Elizabeth pulled Ivan along by his ear as if he were still a child. bringing him back into the hall. In the tattoo parlor, Elizabeth saw a vision she'd never thought possible. Almost every child in the Lianovak family. Lev in an outfit she hadn't seen in a long time, his green tank top with a skull and crossbones on the back. Solena, who had visited her more than once since her son's "death", Talia, her son's "ex-girlfriend", and Ivan with a bloody nose from trying to get into Ruby's room.
-After all these years, you still think this is your home? When was the last time you came to see Tonio? Mm? And you decided to come in without knocking. You're not twelve anymore. As for the rest of you, don't be too ashamed to come now.
-Madame Moreau...
Lev tried to speak, but was interrupted without hesitation.
-No, Madame Rivière. I'm taking back my maiden name, so you might as well get used to it.
-Madame Rivière, we're sorry to come so late, but we were quite ashamed of what happened.
-That didn't stop Solena from coming. At least she apologized for mi hijo.
-We're sorry.
Elizabeth looked at them. Ivan with a handkerchief over his nose. Solena said nothing, their conversations had already taken place. Lev looked serious and Talia sobbed with her head down. She had a rough idea of the facts, but she knew her son wasn't at fault. She turned to Lev.
-The day my son left with Doug, normally he would have been working at the club. Why was he not?
Solena wanted to explain but Elizabeth stopped her.
-I want to hear it from him. If ever I was not given the good story. Although with the way things are going I think I've got it right.
Lev looked at the ground.
-I... I told him not to come to work. That he didn't have to come anymore.
-And why?
-Because of something that happened with Talia.
-Between you and my son, I know for years he's only had eyes for you. Talia, tell me, what happened?
Talia stopped sobbing for a moment, before looking up. Her face was thin, her hair barely groomed, her eyes puffy from crying. She was clearly not well.
-I... I know that… I…
She tried to speak, but couldn't bring herself to speak and started to cry again, after a few seconds Solena took her in her arms and explained for her.
-It's been months now. Almost a year. A group had tried to join us. The girls were fun and the guys were charming. Nothing seemed strange. Until the girls in the group who'd joined us started talking bad about Tubio. It was nothing at first, but it spread to all our close friends. But of all of them, he was the most touched. His looks, his habits, his hobbies. Meanwhile, the guys were making friends with Lev and Ivan while trying to flirt with us. They too began to talk about Tubio too, as he seemed untrustworthy. There were several incidents: they accused Tubio of stealing money, insulting and beating up girls... Most were defensible, even some unfounded. But the atmosphere between us went from bad to worse, with Tubio becoming more and more aggressive, and us being totally blind to what was happening to him and to us. Then there was this story. Tubio had apparently raped one of the girls in the group. A party where we all had been, we all saw him drunk, or drugged. Afterwards, we wondered. The next day, she told everyone that he had forced himself on her...
Elizabeth stifled a laugh, Solena stopped to comfort Talia, who cried again. Lev spoke up.
-The images were more than convincing, the place, the people. Talia had been approached by one of the guys, a guy called John. And he and Tubio had clashed over Talia.
-Talia and Tubio had never taken the leap and that attracted the guy.
-Yes Ivan… Tubio had found them invasive, manipulative and opportunistic and just like them, he couldn't stop talking down to them. Talia tried to defend them, but every time they pushed Tubio to be further humiliated. Creating more and more serious situations and lies. At one point, Talia humiliated Tubio in public in front of everyone. She... didn't mean what she said.
-But she said it.
-It was the following week that the party took place. The timing was perfect, a guy in love going after another girl after being rejected. After that night. They beat him up, even though without proof, they knew he hadn't done anything, they beat him into unconsciousness and... we didn't do anything.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Elizabeth took her face in her hands massaging her forehead.
-Continue.
-There was no way of knowing.
-Go on, I said.
-After that Talia started “going out” with John and to avoid any trouble, I asked Tubio not to work at the club for a few days.
-Mm...
-Talia and Tubio had never taken the leap and that attracted the guy.
-YES Ivan…I may have been categorical. After that these guys started looking for Tubio, beating him up every time he wanted to talk to us or justify himself. After that, he "died".
-What happened next?
-Auntie...
Solena spoke up, more off than usual, before being interrupted.
-... They were found to be on drugs.
-IVAN!
-Why, it's true! You almost lost your jobs.
-At work... Talia and I were found to be positive for drugs in a routine test.
-Does Alexei know?
-No, of course not.
-The four of you were drugged and you didn't say anything? Wait till your father hears about this.
-We think he knows... After Tubio died, we realized we were drugged, we eliminated the possibilities one by one and had to face up to the fact that it was them. So we told Vernon...
-I'm calling your father.
-No, please, Auntie!
-Ah! It's Auntie now. You're lucky that... Mi hijo?
Tubio decided to get inside at that point, as he'd already heard enough from behind the door. On his way in, he looked around the room. Solena in her favorite biker jacket, Ivan in the same outfit from last night, Lev in a casual outfit, Talia covered from head to toe in a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans. All were silent when he returned, except Ivan.
-Where'd you sleep?
-Shut up, Ivan.
Talia got up and walked towards him, missing her chic dress and stilettos. Here it was sneakers as she always did.
-Antonio, I'm sorry. For everything.
-Why? Why didn't you believe me? Of all the people who wanted to protect you, I think I was in a good position, no? All the years we've spent together, our moments, our words, our dates. And then you meet a man and poof, you forget and move on to another.
-Tonio...
-”We are not a couple, you're not a man for me, you're here chasing me like a dog in heat, but the moment I say no you abandon all semblance and go look elsewhere.” Your words, not mine.
-I was...
-Drugged? I heard. How long were we “officially" together? Months, years.You never gave me the slightest sign of affection in return, unless I asked for it like a beggar. Not a hug, not a kiss, not an I love you, you never had a plan with me. I was acquired, a possession to be used, the affection you gave it to me like a sugar, so that I'd continue to follow you like the good dog I was. You were right, I was a dog, your dog, not your boyfriend or even a friend. I was nothing to you. How far you went with him in weeks. You think I didn't see you with him after my beating? Did you go to the pier with him too? You kissed him that I know, as you didn't forbid him to kiss you in public unlike me. You let him fondle your breasts too? Or Did you just fuck the day I died...
Talia slapped him. Realizing in the moment what she'd just done, she caught her own hand covering her mouth. Tubio remained indifferent, his cheek turning red.
-That guy saw you as a piece of meat. I tried to warn you and was humiliated for it. I'd have taken any beating, for each of you, if someone had attacked you all. But no, the only fucking person who believed me was Pavel... So, you, who've been so stuffed in the head that you thought you're were your father, the next step is to kill him, you know? You, who doesn't open your mouth when you really need to, you weren't saying anything while three of them were beating me to the ground. You, who's never had anything but insults to say to my face for years, when you told me not to come to the parties for my own good, did you expect me to believe in your good faith? And finally you... for you I've been insulted, humiliated, beaten, robbed. I've given you my thoughts, my body, my time and my love. But it never seemed to be enough for you. For all these reasons and others I haven't mentioned, I don't want to, can't talk to you all. I’m done…You've had weeks to clear things up with me when I came back. But you cowards never showed. You had to coerce Pavel to convince me to come to the club. You realize?
Talia shook her head violently, pleading her case. Being careful not to touch him.
-Please listen to me, I can explain everything.
As Talia pleaded her case, Elizabeth had already called Alexei.
-It's me, if you remember. Get your ass back to my place if you don't want me to destroy your café.
Meanwhile, Talia was trying to get Tubio's attention, pulling her hair franticly in front of her, then Elizabeth saw something. She grabbed Talia's hand.
- What did you do after you were drugged?
Lev replied.
-Nothing, Vernon took us to the doctor, tested us and then quarantined us for forced weaning. When we got out, the group was gone, so I asked Vernon. He told me that if I ever saw John again, and ONLY John. I had to report to him immediately. After that, we had plenty of time to think about what had happened.
The room fell back into silence as Talia was held captive by Elizabeth's hand. She turned frantically to Tubio to continue speaking. A knock on the door. Elizabeth opened it to let Alexei in. There was no greeting, and Tubio seemed to see Alexei slightly out of breath. He hadn't come running? He was surprised to see his childrens here and they were terrified to see him. Elizabeth pointed to Alexei's inside door. They both entered while the children waited in silence. The door closed. Less than a minute later. Alexei opened the door again, one of his cheek as red as Tubio's.
-Talia, my love, will you come in?
Once again, the door closed and the others looked at each other, not knowing what was happening. A second time he stepped out.
-Solena, go with Eliza and do as she tells you.
Solena passed in front of him and he closed the door behind her. He turned to his sons.
-Get undressed.
-What?
-No questions.
Ivan and Lev looked at each other before undressing, before Ivan asked a question.
-Is underwear okay?
Alexei rolled his eyes and nodded. Tubio watched the scene with a strange sensation. He'd seen things at the Maelstrom, funny and bad. But a father ordering his sons to disrobe was a first. Once in his underwear, Lev asked.
-And now what?
-Turn around.
They turned around as confused as Tubio. When it was all over, Tubio couldn't stop talking.
-What the hell?
-I needed to check.
-Check what?
-Talia is high on Purple Cloud.
The shock passed through the three.
-What?
-Elizabeth, saw a spot when you were chatting... Her whole back is covered in purple. That means she took a huge dose recently.
-And you made them undress without telling them because...?
-Tubio, this case isn't your business.
-Excuse me?
Ivan interrupting people is one thing. That he interrupts his father is another. Alexei turned to him ready to burst as his eyebrows furrowed. But Ivan went off on him in a long monologue, angry was not the word to describe him.
-After everything that's happened. He of all people deserves an explanation. It's because of you we let him get mistreated. So the fact that he knows about it is, I feel, the least we can do. You're the reason we made friends with that bunch. Even though we knew they were assholes. You're the one who told us, order us not to intervene. In the end we lost our friends, we got drugged and we'll have to live every day thinking we should have done something. Shit, it took Tubio dying for you to tell us we could throw these living wastes away. I know why Talia took the drugs, it's because she knows... She knows that Tubio will never be hers again, all because of your stupid bullshit test that destroyed all ties with him, ruined his reputation, made him lose his job and almost got him killed! No one would ever want anything to do with us again. I know, because I wouldn't be. Do you really think Talia is happy about what you made her do? Or that she'll regret it for the rest of her life.
Alexei went from anger to surprise and shock. A confused Tubio looked at Lev, who lowered his eyes, then at their father. Asking the question.
-Is it true?
Then, for the first time since Tubio can remember, Alexei didn't retort. There was a pause and Alexei left without a word. At about the same time, Elizabeth and the girls came out to join them. With Solena pointing at their clothes.
-Get dressed. Talia needs treatment, we're going home.
Elizabeth had Talia in her arms, guiding her towards the exit.
-If anything goes wrong, call me anytime. Me, Solena or whoever. Do you understand? The moment you feel the desire. Take care of yourself.
At the door she still turned to Tubio, who answered the silent question.
-In extreme cases.
It was enough to bring a smile to her face. Solena passed in front of him, looking at him for a moment. Tubio could no longer see the anger and hostility that characterized her. She was sad, genuinely sad.
-I'm sorry, for everything.
-Like I told her. In extreme cases.
-Thank you, Toto.
Solena and Talia went out with Elizabeth, leaving the boys finishing off and Tubio. Ivan hesitated before asking the question.
-So, the girl in your room?
-Ivan... Get out.
The two followed the rest and Tubio found himself alone in the house. He went inside and sat down at the table. A noise came from behind him and Ruby entered. She saw him sad and pensive. Wearing a gray hoodie and simple shorts, she walked towards him barefoot. Moving closer, she put her hand on his shoulder.
-Are you ok?
-No, I don't know what to think.
-What happened?
-It seems to me that all the shit that happened to me was just a test apparently...
Ruby stood there, telling him to keep talking. He talked about everything. How he'd become an outcast in his group of friends, how he'd become the person to avoid and beat. He explained that he was contemplating suicide when Talia humiliated him. That fighting match of Pavel was the only thing he felt strong enough to do. He already thought he'd died that night, so offering his life to Gaton wasn't a glorious act for his family, just a way out because he saw no way out.
Ruby remained silent, gently caressing his head. When he finished, she took his head in her arms. He let her do it, taking her by the waist and holding her. He listened to her heart beat slowly as she continued to caress his head.
-Is he that terrifying, their father? Because as I understand it, this Alexei is responsible for what happened to you.
-You have no idea. At the start of the gang war with the Cloud gang. He had wanted to be neutral. But as the situation deteriorated. He went back on his word and massively supported one side. The reprisals were terrible for him and his family. The last real fight took place in front of his house. A fire broke out and his family was trapped under the flames. His wife Yellena and his childrens. Miraculously, only the mother died, the children suffering from severe burns and smoke poisoning. After that... He became a monster. The children were entrusted to my mother because she was Yellena's best friend. It was her idea to give them tattoos to cover the burn marks. Mr Lianovak... he went on a murderous hunt. Killing, skinning, torturing and throwing every Purple Cloud member he could find through the central hole. But he didn't stop with them. Wives, children, husbands, old men, former associates, near or far. It's said that the trauma team only passed through once a day so they only had to make one return trip. All day long, a pile of corpses piled up in the middle of H2's ground floor main square. When they weren't turning to mush. Once his rage had burned out, he got his children back, but it was Yellena who took care of the love. He, gave the corrections. Not to mention that it took him years to overcome the loss of his wife and the bottle.
-The NCPD didn't intervene?
-They were happy for the gangs to kill each other. They did it a little during the war, but after all the deaths. They didn't want the area to become a lawless zone like Pacifica so they were saving their strength to clean up what was left after, and if the vengeance of some could restore calm, it was a small price to pay. That's why when the last gang leaders of the Purple Cloud were captured or killed. They weren't interested in the fate of the other members. The heads and labs were destroyed, that's all that mattered.
-Have you seen it?
-No, my mother had taken us all to a shelter a few floors down. I was far too young to understand what was going on.
-And here I thought the Maelstrom was special.
-No, since I was a child, Alexei Lianovak has been one of the many monsters that parents tell their childrens about to make them behave. It took years before he stopped drinking and beating his childrens, and that's how his childrens became so close to me, we were close when their mother was alive, but we bonded after that. They used to hide out at my mother's house to avoid his wrath. I think my mother's the only one since Aunt Yellena who's dared to stand up to him…What did I do to make him do that?
-It's not your fault, you know?
-I don't know anymore. Why?
-Let go, stop thinking, you can always hate them or forgive them, when the time comes, when you're ready. But not right now. Ok?
He nodded, remaining nestled against her.
-Otherwise I can kill them too.
Tubio looked up, Ruby shrugged and smiled mockingly.
-I'm only joking.
Then pulled him back into her embrace.
-What's that Purple Cloud, was it so important?
-See the glitter?
-Ulysses and Waver's drug? Yes.
-It's the ancestor of that, only more powerful.
-You know you're talking about a drug that creates physical damage if you stop taking it.
-Before the Glitter, which tastes like candy, there was the cold breath, then the bite, and before that... Anyway, you see where I'm going with this. The purple cloud is the source of a huge quantity of drugs. The fact that Talia has purple spots on her back means she's taken a huge dose of the original. In two weeks' time, if she doesn't comply with medical prescriptions, she'll collapse, have paralysis plus all the joys of a hard drug addiction.
-She...
-No more... I don't want to think about it anymore.
-Where did she get that?
-... That's a good question. But it's beyond my knowledge. Like you said, I already have too much to think about with them. So I leave it to them to work it out.
-Mm...
Ruby smiled and continued to stroke his hair. Before turning his face towards her.
-In that case, why don't you think of me?
Tubio and Ruby looked at each other before going in for a kiss. Tubio's eyes lit up at the reception of a holo. Ruby raised her head and huffed, exasperated at being interrupted yet again. She separated from him before going to the kitchen.
-Pavel? Now's not really the time.
-Yeah? No, because I just found out Talia took some Purple Cloud!
-I already know.
-What? How do you know?
As Tubio silently replied, Ruby made herself a cup of water and drank it in one gulp. Looking at Tubio, she began to play with her zipper. Up and down. But every time she went down, he couldn't see any bra.
-You'll excuse me, but I've got to go, I've got a lot to think about.
He hung up on Pavel before getting up and walking over to Ruby, who was already smiling. But as they began to make their way back to the bedroom. The doorbell rang.
-Fuck! I'm really going to kill someone. You know, the first thing we're gonna do is go somewhere else to fuck around without being interrupted... I don't mean like that... I meant...
-Yeah... I believe you...
Tubio held back a laugh, unable to stop himself from smiling. Ruby blushed hard. She didn't want him to see her as that kind of girl, but...she realized after that she'd done everything she could to get into this situation.
-Go ahead…
Tubio took her in his arms.
-I'm not going anywhere, you know. Like I said. Until you don't need me anymore.
The doorbell rang again.
-Go before I really kill someone.
-I'll be quick.
-I hope you will...
Ruby headed back to her room as the knock on the door sounded. Wasting no time He crossed the living room and the hall, to stand in front of the door. Which he opened. A pistol appeared under his nose. A beautiful young woman in jeans, a top and a jacket revealing her lower abdomen. She had long, beautiful blond hair with green eyes and a cowboy hat on her head. Tubio remained calm, his eyes riveted on the pistol and grenade in the girl's other hand.
-Hi, I'm here to talk.
image [https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1178789115622326365/1210602049675329586/Felicia_Medart.jpg?ex=66101204&is=65fd9d04&hm=ec0f01db6e262340bbf31f5192685ace5c2c10f7bfbe1895d726808976633e1c&=&format=webp&width=365&height=597]