Stone Cold

In all honesty, Isaac was surprised that he had been invited out by Violet, to spend time with her group of friends. People who likely knew of the things he had done to her. But, it was beginning to come to light that the male couldn’t say no to her. Besides, why would he? Isaac would jump at the chance to spend time with the blonde, even if it meant potentially being judged by the group of friends she held. Though, he doubted that she would keep the company of such people. He sat beside Violet, keeping himself quiet for now, allowing the other members of the group speak between themselves, not wanting to draw any attention to himself.

They had been sat for perhaps five or ten minutes before he heard a waitress approaching them, from behind him. A shudder passed over his entire being as he heard the voice, followed by the cold touch of her hand on the back of his neck. Turning, he peered up at her with parted lips. Ruby. The very girl whom he had left a few days prior. Isaac knew that she would likely be bitter following his choice to leave the darkness behind, and he saw right through the sweet and friendly expression she held. Though, he knew that he couldn’t let Violet’s friends know of his former alignment with Ruby. “Ruby? I didn’t know you worked here.” If he had, he would have asked that they went elsewhere. “It’s good to see you,” he said, offering her a stiff smile. Eyes flicked over toward Violet, softening as he met her gaze. He didn’t like this one bit, he knew Ruby, and he knew that she wouldn’t willingly agree to wait on them without an ulterior motive. Though, part of him hoped that she cared about him enough to leave them be. Perhaps he thought too highly of the woman.

Jean tilted his head in thought for a moment before shaking his head. “I don’t think I’ve seen it.” He said with a frown. His gaze met the brunette’s at her question and he nodded his head. “Yes – she’s a lot better at finding things. You would have been better off with her answering the door.” He said, bringing a hand to the back of his neck as he laughed lightly. “She’d have it in seconds.” In comparison, anyway. The blond shut the door behind her and walked into the living room, encouraging the witch to follow. “Oh, well, you’re free to look around.” He smiled widely. “I’m glad you came by.” He admitted after a moment. “I wanted to say thank you – I was going to come and find you, but…” He trailed off, figuring it best not to tell her that he didn’t exactly want to leave the house at the current point in time. Of course, he also didn’t know where she lived, so maybe she would assume that.

“Maybe I misplaced it elsewhere.” She suggested nonchalantly. A small amused smile tugged at her lips as she shook her head. “I very much doubt it-- that I would have been better at her answering the door, that is.” Ruby clarified with a tight smile as she followed him into the living room. Giving him a nod she walked over to the sofa moving a few cushions before placing them back. She checked behind the sofa and some other typical places before turning to him shrugging. “Looks like it’s not here.” She stated with a sigh. “Oh, well.” The brunette shrugged her eyes falling back over at the door. She should leave before his sister arrived. “You are?” She asked slightly surprised before nodding as he went on to clarify. “No need to thank me. I couldn’t exactly leave you there could I?” Though on any other occasion she may have. “I doubt you could have found me even if you wanted.” Her mouth curled up into a smirk at the thought.

“Straight to the murder option? Damn Ruby, you don’t change, do you?” Lyra offers the brunette a smirk.

“I wasn’t aware that I needed to. Anyway, I can’t help that I have murder on my mind.” She gave a nonchalant shrug. 

Ruby had tried numerous amount of things to distract herself from Isaac but nothing seemed to work which only left her with one more option -- ridding herself of the issue. She considered just walking up to them both and killing them on the spot but that seemed to easy. No. She wanted them to suffer like she was. It was the reason she had chosen a slow-acting poison, something that would go slowly unnoticed until it was too late to do anything about it. The brunette had decided to leave Isaac alive, not because she couldn’t kill him - no, he wasn’t as special as he thought - she just wanted him to have to watch his little blonde mudblood fade away leaving him alone in the world again and if he thought he could come crawling back to her he had another thing coming. She was done with him, even if her heart wasn’t. It wasn’t hard to find out their plans, she’d overheard the blonde having a conversation with a friend about wanting to go out for a meal with a bunch of friends. The mudblood was complaining that everywhere was fully booked. That was easy enough to sort, all she had to do was cancel one of the reservations at the restaurant she worked at. So with an overly fake smile plastered across her face, she interjected into the blonde’s conversation saying that a booking had just be cancelled and she could reserve it for her. To be honest, Isaac being there too wasn’t planned that was just a bonus. She was almost positive his little blonde didn’t realise her connection with Isaac, she could have some fun with that, it would be fun to see him squirm. 

The night rolled around quicker than she thought it would. She’d brought enough poison to put in all of their food, well, everyone minus Isaac. No, she wanted him to see what would happen to every friend he made. If she had her way he’d never have another friend again. 

A brow raised as he heard the door to his apartment open, and saw the brunette enter. “Drastic things are never good when it comes to you, what do you need?” Jayden asked as he pushed himself up from the sofa and moved toward her, head tipped to the side ever so slightly as a smirk crossed his lips.

“Exactly. I fear that I might slaughter the whole town if I don’t calm down.” She stated, walking over to the male. “I need you to distract me and to keep me busy,” Ruby instructed placing her arms around the male’s neck.

Ruby pushed the male’s door open letting herself in, “I need a distraction before I do something drastic.” 

“It’s not even Valentine’s Day yet and I have seen far too many repulsive public displays of affection.” Lyra groaned, eyes rolling.

“The next couple that I see shoving their repulsive relationship in my face I’m going to murder.” 

Isaac had had enough, all he wanted was to be free of this damn cause. He wanted to leave it all behind. His best friend was dead, and he had failed in avenging him, there was nothing more to it. All he could do now was give up and get out, well, that was all he wanted to do. Whether Ruby would let him get out, without a threat of harming Violet, was another thing. His jaw tensed as she spoke, head cocking to the side ever so slightly as he narrowed his eyes. He didn’t want to snap, and he definitely wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of making him. “You wouldn’t kill me, you don’t have it in you. If you wanted to kill me, you would have done so a long time ago.” Isaac sighed softly, a hand coasting back through his dark hair once more. He then rubbed his forehead, another deep sigh passing his lips as she continued to speak. The word she used to describe Violet made his jaw tense once again. It was such a vile word, one he used to use, but one he never once used to describe Violet. “But that’s the thing, I wouldn’t get over it. I would never forgive you, and I would never forget. I’m sorry Ruby, I really am. But I can’t be the person you want me to be anymore, and I’m not going to remain your captive anymore. I’ve had enough.”  Isaac then shook his head and stood up from the table, grabbing his jacket from its position wrapped over the back of his chair. As Ruby continued to speak, the male put on his jacket. “I don’t care about the war, I don’t care about a winning or losing side. I don’t care about the dark lord. I don’t care about any of it. I won’t fight for him, I won’t fight for anyone. Not anymore.” Isaac shrugged his shoulders. Perhaps removing himself from the fight entirely was the weak thing to do, but in that moment all he wanted was to get away from the darkness that radiated from the beings around him.

“I wouldn’t bet on it.” She warned him, her brown eyes glimmering darkly. “I didn’t want to kill you then, but the more I’m thinking about it the more appealing it’s sounding,” Ruby replied thinking about the way it would benefit her. He had seemed to be a weakness for her and her grandparents had always taught her to get rid of her weaknesses. She saw his jaw tense in either anger or disgust. Oh, how she wished he carried the same loyalty to her. What was so special about this blonde girl anyway? She’d have to go see. Maybe if she cut her she’d bleed gold, now that would be special. As she listened to male’s words she knew she’d lost him for good this time. Nothing she did was going to change his mind which only left one thing. Vengeance. She watched as he stood up, putting his jacket on. “You’re making a big mistake Isaac. I can’t help you anymore. I gave you your chance. What happens next is on you.” Ruby warned him as she looked him in the eye.

Isaac listened to the woman speak, his lips pressing firmly together as he clenched one of his fists. He knew she was trying to get to him, that she was trying to make him snap. “It’s sweet that you think you could kill me, or that you think you could even get close to her without me knowing. How else do you think I’ve been so calmly sitting here and sipping coffee with you? You wouldn’t hurt her or me. You care too much. You care too much about me. You know that if you hurt her, I would never forgive you, and I know that bothers you.” Isaac spoke. Truthfully, he had no idea how Violet was, where she was, or whether she was safe. He had no way of knowing, he had to seclude himself from her entirely just to keep her safe, from Ruby at least. “I care about her, which is why I need to make sure that she is safe, why I need to be the one to protect her. If you were truly my friend, then you would support that, and support me. Not banish me from seeing her.” Isaac spoke, brows drawing together as he lowered his gaze to his lap. Perhaps he was showing a little too much weakness in that moment.

Ruby had let her anger get the better of her, and noticing the male’s anger bubble only encouraged her. She gave him smirk giving a sardonic chuckle. “Oh hunny, I could easily kill you -- especially since you don’t believe in violence anymore. Gritting her teeth she glared at the male, he was right of course but she didn’t want him to know that. “You’re not the person I want you to be anyway so why not just kill you saves you making me hate you instead. Or maybe if I kill the mudblood it’ll give you the kick you need. You’d get over it anyway. Sure, you’d be angry and upset for a while but she’s just a girl, nothing special- easily replaceable.” He’d replaced her so easily what would make the blonde different? Though the truth was Ruby wasn’t so sure she could bring herself permanently damaging her relationship with Isaac. It would pain her to see him upset. “Ergh. For Merlin’s sake Isaac. Get a grip! Can’t you see that I’m doing this for you! I don’t want you to be on the losing side, I can’t let you get yourself killed for some mudblood. When the dark lord rises they’re all going to die anyway, I don’t want you to be amongst them!” She shouted pulling at her hair in frustration. Why was he being so blind? How could he not realise she was just trying to keep him safe. 

Isaac rolled his eyes in response to her comment. “Really? You’d do that?” He scoffed, licking his lips as he then folded his arms over his chest, cocking a brow. “You’re that desperate for a friend? Is it not enough that you forced me to come back here with you? You’re now threatening to take away my free will too? What use am I to the cause anyway if I won’t hurt anyone, if I won’t do the things you want me to do. You may as well just sit back and watch me leave, because the person I am now, has no interest in being here.” Isaac finished, lips forming a thin line. 

Ruby recoiled as if she’d just been burnt. Coming from anyone else the comment wouldn’t have bothered her but she always let her guard down by the male which meant his remark cut deep. It didn’t help that he was so close to the bone. Jaw set, she looked ahead, her eyes unreadable. She wasn’t going to let him know that he’d hurt her. “Maybe I should just kill you-- better yet why not kill the bitch that made you think you were better than all of us. Finish the job you started.” Her voice was steady, nonchalant even. “I don’t even know why you think she’s your her friend anyway. You practically killed her. What’s to stop you snapping again? She must be dumb and you’re crazier than I thought for thinking you could even be friends with the mudblood -- if you cared about her you’d leave her alone.” The brunette sounded like she was concerned for the blonde but in reality, she was just trying to get what she wanted.

Isaac knew he shouldn’t have said anything. Perhaps if he had just gone along with what Ruby had suggested, she wouldn’t have known that he was having doubts. The trouble was, that he was. Every single thing she wanted them to do, he doubted. He didn’t want to do any of the things he used to get off on doing. All he could think about was the pain that he had inflicted on Violet, and the way he had ruined her life, left her for dead. A deep sigh passed his lips, brows drawing together as he then peered over toward Ruby. “We agreed that I was coming back, but I didn’t say that he was coming back.” He spoke, referring to his alternate self. “I’m sorry Ruby, I just- I’m not that person anymore..” Another sigh passed.

The brunette was used to getting what she wanted which was why the male’s words left a bitter taste in her mouth. All that she wanted was her friend back, was that too much to ask for? She didn’t think so. “I could always make him come back,” Ruby replied hesitantly as she peered up at the male through her hair as if testing the waters to see what the male’s reaction would be to her threat.

A light chuckle fell from the blond’s lips and his hand came up to reposition the cap on his head. “I’ve never been good at that stuff.” He admitted with an apologetic smile. Jean tilted his head to the side in thought before looking back into the home and frowning only slightly. “I haven’t seen a jacket.” He said when he turned back to the brunette. “But Elodie might have cleaned it up.” He hadn’t been physically or well, perhaps not even properly emotionally, present for the couple of days following the attack. “You can come in,” he said, opening the door more and stepping to the side. “I’m sure you would be much better finding it that me, despite the joke.” He laughed, refering to the idea that Hufflepuffs are very good finders. His gaze met hers again. “And it definitely isnt the one you have on?” He asked, mostly joking. Not that Jean would have remembered if it was the one she was wearing or not. He was forgetful in the best of times and that night did not qualify for that category.

Ruby gave a small smirk as she shook her head at the male’s comment. Her mind went back trying to think what jacket she wore that night. “It’s, erm, it’s a black zip-up jacket.” She replied expanding on what he was looking for. “Elodie... That’s the sister, right?” The Slytherin asked as if to divert the conversation knowing full well his sister hadn’t cleaned it up. Biting down on her lower lip, the brunette hesitated, trying to decide whether it was wise to enter before finally stepping inside. She forced a smile at his joke. This was wrong, she shouldn’t even be there. Damn him. She cleared her throat before pointing towards the living room. “If it’s going to be anywhere it would be in here.” She stated knowing that was the only room she had been in last time. Ruby shook her head as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “No, it wasn’t my leather one. It was like a zip-up hoodie.” 

“Nice to see you’re so happy to see me.” Evan said, a smirk of his own finding its way to his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s touching.” 

“I’m not sure I’d use the word happy, I mean, I'm only acknowledging your existence because no one else is here and my brain is going to bleed from boredom.” She teased tilting her head as she caught the male’s gaze with an amused smirk.

Isaac shook his head with a slight smile. “No, no.. It’s okay - I’ll get some.” He then stood up from his seat and moved across the room, grabbing the pot of sugar and pouring some more into his drink. Smiling to himself as he took a sip, he then returned to the table he shared with Ruby. As the brunette spoke of old times, Isaac found his gaze falling to his lap, brows drawing together. He knew that she wanted him to be that person again, but he felt differently now. “I don’t want to hurt anyone, Rubes..” He sighed softly, peering back over the table toward her. 

Ruby just smiled in reply as the male got up to fetch the sugar. Looking down at her steaming mug she sighed softly, she found herself feeling quite torn herself. She could do with going to see her parents, that usually helped get her mind back on track if only she knew how to do that for Isaac. Her eyes peered up at him as he made his way back over. The smile on her face didn’t last long after hearing his words. “What, why? I don’t understand. You used to love causing trouble, what’s changed?” She asked her mind immediately flicking to the blonde mudblood he had been hanging around with. As she found herself blaming his change on her she started to think of the blonde muggleborn that had earned a different reaction from her too. Though she told herself that was different. Unlike Isaac she hadn’t let him change her views, just because she found herself not hating one of them didn’t mean she’d denounce her beliefs and stop hurting people.”I thought we agreed you were coming back. It was safer for you and blondie, remember?”

Hearing a knock at the door, Jean hopped up off the sofa, thankful that there was no longer a sharp pain that moved through his torso, something he had always forgotten about until having to pretend like it didn’t hurt like hell. Now he could move without limitations – or well, not many, anyway. It was an improvement, needless to say. Opening the door wide, he was almost shocked to see the brunette standing in front of him – he had given her so many incorrect directions that night that it was a miracle she had found it here again. Nevertheless, a smile immediately found its way to his still bruised, but obviously healing, face. “Ruby.” He began, his tone one of pleasant surprise. He tilted his head to the side slightly. “You look lost.” He said, taking in her expression and perhaps misreading it. “Was it my bad directions?”

The brunette found herself almost that wishing no one was in, it was a stupid idea turning up randomly on his doorstep but just as she turned on her heel about to walk away she heard the click of a door opening and sure enough there stood the blond wizard. “Hey.” She greeted rather awkwardly. “Not quite, though they were terrible” A small smirk tugged at her lips. “I was... wondering if erm-- If I’d left my jacket here when I dropped you off that night? I couldn’t remember if I’d taken it off when getting you settled on the sofa... I’ve misplaced it you see.” Ruby wasn’t quite sure she was fabricating this story, it was a stupid excuse and anyone could have probably seen through it but she didn’t want to stand there and admit that she wanted to know that he was okay. He was a muggleborn- a filthy mudblood, someone she was supposed to hate.

“Nothing too specific really. Maybe that my coffee needs more sugar..” Isaac laughed softly, his words an obvious diversion from the real subject of his thoughts. Violet. It was strange to miss someone that he wasn’t necessarily that close to but, he had just began to get the girl to trust him, when he had been forced away. The blonde seemed to somehow have a handle to his sanity, which remained entirely stable when she was around so - without her he was pretty fragile. Sighing deeply, his tongue then passed over his bottom lip. “I just feel like we can be doing more, y’know? I’m sick of sitting on the sidelines.” Isaac shrugged.

The brunette gave a light laugh though she didn’t truly believe his words. “Want me to grab you some?” She asked with a smile. Ruby found herself smiling happily at his next statement. That’s what she wanted to hear, the old Isaac that wanted to cause trouble and help the cause. “I totally agree. I’ve been so bored just laying low. We should do something while we wait for more orders. Just something to cause a little trouble, y’know have some fun -- like old times.”