Razzie slips into Rubio's shop with only the stars and moon as her witnesses.
"Rubio?" She softly calls out, walking into the forge. "Rubi, dear? I brought you food."
There is no verbal response. Her husband sits on his knees, staring into candlelight. The soot caked onto his body muddles the flame's reflection, even as he slowly turns up to look at her.
Razzie pauses. The defeated look he gives her sends a cold chill down her spine.
"... Rubio- what happened?" She asks, kneeling in front of him and setting the food aside.
The blacksmith stares up at his wife, knowing even her comfort now won't be able to quell the hollowness in his mind and body.
She reaches forward to hold his face, to which he lets his eyes close and head lean into her warm touch.
"... tomorrow night."
Razzie tilts her head. ".. what's tomorrow night?"
"When Fukayna's order is due."
The moment of silence doesn't hesitate to thicken as each word out of Razzie's mouth trembles.
"... but- but we were supposed to have more time-"
"He doesn't care. He wants them immediately... almost took them today."
Razzie recalls the hastily straightened piles of weapons by the entrance, her own face falling with defeat. "... which means..."
"The plan has to go in place tonight."
A sob mixed with a gag catches in Razzie's throat, a sound Rubio can only wince at. "No, that isn't fair, he can't do that- what about you.?! How will you complete the remaining weapons in time..?!" she cries.
".. I won't. But it doesn't matter."
"But it will!! What will he do to you if the commission is incomplete?!"
"I..." Rubio falters. Razzie freezes as she hears a ragged gasp choke it's way through his words.
"... I don't know."
"No... no, no, nononono-" Razzie stands, immediately starting to pace the soot-covered sandstone. "There has to be another way, just for one more day- or- or we could change the plan..! Stay together for the night and... I leave before Fukayna gets here, easy..!"
"It's no use, Razzie. We can't risk anyone seeing you."
"Why, though?! This isn't fair!!"
Dread and grief turn into a rage as Razzie continues to pace, yelling enough for anyone unlucky enough to pass and here to likely guess it is merely a lover's quarrel.
A furious laugh escapes her, tears already pouring down and soaking into the fabric of her sandy robes and face shawl. "Why did you make this plan, Rubio?! Why did you have to propose we separate?! FOR WHAT?! I can fight!! I can be of use!! I can- why must I run?! And why must I tonight?! It's not fair, not fair, not FAIR!!! Why?! Why, Rubio?!"
"...."
"ANSWER ME!!!" Razzie shrieks, whipping her head around to face him.
The blacksmith dares not look up at Razzie. He stares at the ground, torso jerking. His fingers lay like broken shards in front of him. He cries yet another sob, head lowering further in shame.
Instantly, Razzie's anger is drowned in guilt, as she hurries to kneel back in front of him. How could she scream for him wanting to keep her safe? How could she shriek for him following his plan exactly as he created it, like he always has? How could she yell at him like this during the most trying and harsh times of his life yet?
How could she?
"... I'm so sorry, Rubio, I shouldn't have yelled like that," she whispers, hesitantly placing a hand over his face and restraining herself from hugging him with the other. Some of the fur on her cheeks sparkle of wet gold and orange, flickering in sync with the candle.
Rubio shakes his head, placing his hand over hers- lifting his arm feels like trying to lift a boulder. "I understand," he replies. "It isn't fair, no. I agree."
Razzie looks down, only for a gentle knuckle to tilt her chin back up to her husband.
"I don't want to do this either," he continues. "But even more than that, I don't want you to be put into this situation. Fukayna shows less mercy than the men on the streets, and he has power. If anything went astray, it could jeopardize not just your life, but your body and control."
The thought of that makes Razzie want to hurl, knowing its truth only adding to the horror.
"Razzie, you must listen... if anything- truly anything- were to happen to you because I could not get you out of Egypt... I don't know what I'd do. You are the most important thing in my life. I can't risk you for anything."
"W... what about you...?" Razzie asks.
Rubio can only shrug, staring at his wife through desolate sapphire. "It's hypocritical, I know. But the Pharaoh needs me. Egypt needs me. Husam needs me."
He pulls out the note from earlier and hands it to Razzie, trying to ignore her horrified gag and cry at the gruesome sight.
"Oh my god...."
Rubio opens his mouth to speak again, but a quiet sob beats the words.
"I don't want to do this," he cries. Razzie pulls him into a hug.
"I'm sacrificing everything for this. None of my family knows. Not Sapphia, not Dia, no one. This plan... I'll be a fugitive to Fukayna if I escape the exchange alive. I won't be able to be at home. I won't have a single weapon. I won't have you. I am giving up everything for this... because if I do not, there will be more bodies floating down the Nile like the photo. I don't want to, though."
"No sane person would," Razzie replies, the smallest and weakest of chuckles rippling in her voice.
Rubio doesn't respond. And the two sit in silence for some time.
"... speaking of your family..." Razzie finally says, reaching into a pocket on her dress. "Your sister sent you something today."
Rubio tilts his head. "Who...?"
"Pearlyn." She pulls out a flat parcel wrapped in parchment paper and paint-stained twine. Rubio's name is written in red on the front. On the back, in pearlescent strokes, "Good luck!"
The exhaustion of the blacksmith is replaced momentarily by disbelief. That dream couldn't actually have worked... right...?
As slow as his trembling fingers can, he unties the twine and carefully unfolds the parchment, only to see his and Razzie's faces staring back at him. His favorite picture of all, laid perfectly in front of him... with a single difference catching his eye: the serious, stoic, stony frown upon the groom's face.
Razzie tilts her head at the photo. "... Rubi...? Why did Pearlyn send you our wedding photo...? And... why are you frowning...?"
"It's.. difficult to explain. Could you hand me the pen there?"
Razzie hands him the pen- a simple wooden stick with an ink-soaked tip- and carefully Rubio turns over the photo and starts to write a message. As he writes, it slowly dawns on Razzie what her husband is planning.
"... Rubi...?" she whispers, chin resting on his torso to peek at the note. "You're a genius."
"He will have to know somehow. You will return home, yes...? Can you take this with you and put it in its place...?"
Razzie nods, standing as Rubio carefully waves the photo to dry the ink before handing it to her. "Of course I can... will you take a break and eat something, then...? Just until I return so we can explain the plan to Explorgi...?"
Rubio thinks. "... I will try. Does that suffice...?"
"Yes, it does... thank you. Stay here... I'll... be right back."
Razzie offers a small smile as she leaves the forge, her footsteps disappearing out the shop. Rubio glances down at the food she brought, not even quite registering exactly what mediocre treat she bought from the night markets before forcing down a bite that would have probably come up if it could.
He's more than thankful she'll return, knowing she won't the next time she leaves. The plan and all its possibilities loop in his head, ongoing, repetitive, as repetitive and circular as blood flow through a heart he never had.
Rubio looks down at his fingers; the once pristine diamond points are now scratched and rough, the remnants dead fire dusting each and every one like nighttime clouds. He silently accepts the fact that, even with the Nile nearby, he probably won't be cleaning the soot off any time soon.
Something in Rubio feels organically ill. So many complex feelings and bittersweet emotions that if he could cry them all out at once, they would all be darkened by the mix of different colors and shades.
The blacksmith lets himself sway back and forth, controlling his body just enough to not topple over and fall to a heap on the ground. Somehow, the sensation swaying is nice.
He lets his eyes close, just for a moment while drifting aimlessly in place and letting his mind wander, a mental stroll he's rarely taken... the swaying could be like a breeze, a gentle Egyptian breeze sweeping away days of slaving over the fire... with no hard weapons and blades to be handled, only the soft sand plush as a pillow surrounding his fingers and feet... and Razzie's laugh echoing softly near him while she's dressed in her favorite outfit, his favorite outfit, with no one to hurt either of them, she's in reach, he could reach over and take her by the waist right now, kiss her lips and feel her fur against his body, a warmth rushing over them both with bodies tangled together...
And for a moment, in his mind, Rubio feels... human...
"Rubio.!!"
Razzie's exclamation jolts Rubio out of his daydream and back to the bitter reality of sitting on the forge floor, surrounded by over a thousand godforsaken weapons, as his wife and adventurer friend walk in to say goodbye for longer than any of them really knew. The two's eyes meet, and the slight sense of courage and hope built from before crashes back into defeated despair. Razzie doesn't even look like she has any more tears to cry, a bag of valuables and neccesities slung over her back
Explorgi glances around the forge, cowering at the sight of so many weapons, pointed in various which-ways from hasty storage. "... Mister Rubio...?" he asks as bravely as he can. "What's going on...?"
"... I'm sorry, Explorgi, I can't quite tell you, just... we're in danger. Someone is trying to hurt us," Rubio explains, kneeling in front of him.
The dogs ears perk up. "What?! That's not good at all, though!!" it says. "Why would they do that? Can I protect you? I have to!! You guys are my friends!!"
Razzie sets aside her bag and sits on a bench as Rubio nods. "That is why you are here, Explorgi... I have a very important task for you."
Explorgi tilts his head. "Yes?"
"Razzie is going to be leaving Egypt, for her safety. I need you to go with her and protect her. You two will protect each other, but I don't want either of you to get hurt. Understand?"
"But what about you? Are you coming with?"
Rubio shakes his head, biting back a cry. "I have things I need to do here so we can all be safe."
"But... will you be...?"
For a second, Razzie and Rubio's eyes meet once again. But almost as soon as their gazes lock, Razzie quickly hides her watering eyes, shielding them with her hair.
Rubio wishes the answer he wants to say was the truth.
"... eventually," he manages to say instead. Explorgi smiles softly, tail wagging a little.
"Please try to be safe... 'kay? And I'll protect Mrs. Razzie too, I promise!"
"Good boy."
Rubio gently reaches over and pats Explorgi over the head, who beams and wags his tail furiously before stepping aside.
With Explorgi out of the way, he stands and approaches his wife. Razzie stays faced away, all the way until they're merely inches apart. He takes the moment to admire how even now, dressed in the sand's colors to blend in and hide, she still looks beautiful. Although, the spark of joy and bubbliness that could make someone as tough and stoic as Rubio weak in the knees, that spark is missing, and without it Razzie simply seems... incomplete.
".... I wish I could say something to soften this blow." Rubio whispers.
"Nothing can."
"I know... but, look at me, Razzie...?"
She finally turns to face him, tears once again pouring down her face. The sight almost breaks Rubio, his own eyes stinging with tears that aren't physically there. There's nothing he wants more than to run away with her.
He reaches up and takes her cheek. A tear trickles over his thumb. His breath hitches.
"... It's going to be okay." The words feel like a wish.
Razzie matches Rubio's touch, reaching up to hold his face as well. Her fingers are so soft against his face, and he can't help but hold her hand there just to try and remember every miniscule detail of her touch and the moment as a whole. The quiet. The intimacy. The soft touches. He tries to ignore the dread and reason for this moment.
And the two stay holding each other, staring... for so, so, so very long.
Rubio leans down. Razzie stands upright. The two share a kiss broken only when they're both barely able to hold back their sobs, hands shaking against each others' faces.
Rubio's words are merely whispered into Razzie's mouth, as if trying to let her inhale the words so his voice will be with her forever. "Do you think you have everything you need...?"
"Yes. Yes, we have... everything."
"... not yet."
Confused and wiping tears futilely, Razzie lets her husband go as he walks to the carved-out room of the forge and returns carrying something in his arms- long, thin, wrapped in fabric only slightly darker than Razzie's dress, and secured with a leather strap.
"Take these with you. Use them if you must... but, under no circumstances, let anyone have these. No one. They're the last of their kind."
Razzie pulls back the fabric slightly, eyes widening as she sees what's concealed within the parcel.
"... r-really...? You're giving these to me...?"
"Only to keep them safe. Take them out of Egypt, where no tyrant can get his hands on them. Use them if you must. I primed them, just for this."
Razzie stares at the contents of the package just for a little before setting it aside and wrapping her arms around Rubio, her tears blackened by the soot on his torso. The hug is swiftly returned, followed by another mournful kiss.
"I love you so much, Rubio."
"I lo-love you too, Razzie. Be safe on... on your journey... okay...?"
She nods, unable to speak through tears. Rubio wipes each and every one away, almost wishing he had some for her to do the same just so he could feel her touch even more.
"We'll reunite soon. It will all be okay."
With another nod, Razzie steps back once.
And again.
And again, out of Rubio's reach.
She picks up her bag and the fabric bundle, holding it like a stiff plush as each step carries her further and further from him. Explorgi trots right past her and waits outside the shop, not wanting to witness more heartbreak than he wants.
Even after Razzie is out of the furnace, she and Rubio don't break their gazes, a slight breeze making the curtains sway and letting them have glimpses of the distance they're continuing to build...
... further...
... further...
... and further...
until Razzie is finally out of sight.
Rubio doesn't move just yet. He waits, listening to the faint sniffles and subtle rustle of fabric, followed by... silence. A void of presence.
Loneliness.
He falls to his knees, immediately wishing she would run back and hug him, insist that she's staying no matter what he says... but, for the better, he knows it won't happen.
... he lurches forward, leaning on his hands with a trembling body, sobbing into the silence. He feels like his heart is breaking, a crack searing through his chest...
... and when he opens his eyes, that's exactly what there is.
Rubio's vision fades in and out of focus as he looks further down at himself and the crack within the ruby. It's deep, and it's growing. He's powerless to stop it.
So he doesn't try.
He just sits on the floor of his once tidy and proud forge, now surrounded by weapons he feels nothing but disdain and pity for, trying to ignore the pain of heartbreak.
"... I-I-I-I lo-ve you, Razzie."
It's time to get back to work.
