#[ ruby ]

Valentine’s Day was a day that filled Frank with joy. How could he not be happy with a day to celebrate love? Especially his relationship with Ruby, he was clearly smitten over her. He loved her more and more each day. The words definitely spoken towards her. He hurried over to the door to get what he had ordered online. He knew there had been a few days she hadn’t felt well, but he had just assumed a stomach bug. 

Flowers and a stuffed bear should be clear for him. Frank was ready to make her a meal too, but he wasn’t sure how her appetite would be now. He waited patiently and giggled at the size of the teddy bear. “Hey love. Happy Valentine’s Day. I got you some roses, and this was supposed to be normal size bear but look at it.” He laughed loudly as he held onto the miniature stuffed animal. “How are you feeling?” He asked his face quickly turned from amusement to concern.

@rosesdieinaweek​

The long game they called it. A list of thirteen contracted names that he had to get rid of, and some of those luckily Ruby had eliminated for him without her knowledge. The hitch was he had to see this contract through or else his whole entire family would be slaughtered by his true employer. Frank had thought perhaps he could dilly dally the last name on the list, however his mother’s severed hand had been delivered to his personal home as a message. 

He stared at the back of her head. The weapon with the silencer in his pocket. Most of the office staff he had sent home under the guise of a nice bit of time off. This was inevitable that the forced contract that guided his hand would have her name on it. He had laid out the list with some of the names crossed out easily for her to see. To give her a little bit to process, before he stood in the doorframe behind her.

“I know.. how I said I didn’t want to be on that list of yours, but truth be told darling... you’re on mine.”

@rosesdieinaweek​​

Frank had seen Ruby a handful of times after the attempted coup at the capitol. Each time she still frightened him, but he had sworn there was a softness to her. It was apparent to probably every person on the planet except maybe himself and Ruby that he had developed quite a crush on her. He sent her a message, a paragraph of normal Frankisms but he had asked her to meet him at the park.  He wanted to ask her to the masquerade ball at the city hall, but wanted to do it in person. He stared up at the Christmas lights with a beaming grin.  

He turned swiftly and grew wide-eyed momentarily scared by her as she walked up closer to him. “Ruby! Glad you could make it. Isn’t the park decorated lovely? I was thinking I never properly thanked you for that night. I was thinking about you knitting the other night when I texted you, but I wanted to ask you..” his voice trailed out as he rambled on. “How are you?” He’d get to the point soon enough.

@rosesdieinaweek​​

A revolt while he was in office shouldn’t have been a surprise, especially with the city’s history of violence and gangs. He tried to focus on anything else besides the dead body inches away from him. One of the security guards of City Hall, and his ears hadn’t adjusted since after the gunshot. He couldn’t even hear their demands, and he opened his mouth to answer. “I...I don’t negotiate with terrorists.” The words fell through his lips and he closed his eyes ready for the end. Until he felt the body of the man nearest to him with the gun slump towards him. Frank’s eyes turned while his hands shook, only for him to realize Ruby was there. “I.. I don’t know what to do.”

H.....