#ruby fanfic

The hearing ends at four thirty-seven. (Not that you're counting or anything…) "Counselors" Judge Martinez says, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I have made my ruling" You don't look at Ruby– you don't. Opting to stare at your notes instead, jaw clenched as the judge grants her motion. Again. Across the aisle, Ruby is infuriatingly calm. No celebration, no smug grin– just that composed expression she always wears when she wins. Which somehow? Makes it all that much worse. "Anything further?" The judge asks.

"No, your Honor" The stupidly smug defense attorney says smoothly. You gather your files before court is even adjourned, ignoring her little proud hum.

By the time you make it back to your office, you're still irritated– not because you lost. You can handle losing. (Mostly…) I mean, it’s part of the job, being a prosecutor wasn’t exactly a highly successful profession.

It's Ruby. It's always Ruby. The way she notices every weakness in an argument before you've even finished making it, the way she seems to know exactly which buttons to push, the way she somehow occupies an embarrassing amount of your thoughts. You dump your briefcase beside your desk and glance automatically toward the window and there she is– across the street, third floor, corner office. Looking right back at you.

Narrow your eyes, you watch as Ruby lifts a sheet of paper, her large black letters pressed right against the window: STOP GLARING AT ME

Your jaw drops. Then, without any hesitation– you raise your middle finger. Across the street, Ruby throws her head back laughing. Laughing. You’re glaring at her, clearly frustrated and she’s actually laughing. Something inside you snaps.

Ten minutes later, you're marching through the lobby of her building. The receptionist barely glances up– apparently your visits have become expected. Wonderful, something less for you to deal with. You take the elevator to the third floor, storm down the hallway and walk directly into Ruby's office without knocking. She doesn't even look surprised– she's sitting behind her desk, suit jacket discarded over the back of her chair, sleeves rolled neatly to her elbows. Unfair.

"Y’know" She says, tapping a pen against her chin and turning around in her chair to face you. "That took longer than I expected, definitely lost bets with a lot of people"

"You're impossible"

"Good evening to you too" Ruby hums simply, clearly unbothered by your evergrowing annoyance.

You point accusingly toward the window. "What is wrong with you?"

The other woman glances over her shoulder, pointing at the window with her pen. "The note?"

"Yes, Ruby the note"

A pause, she shrugs. "I thought it was funny"

"Well you thought wrong"

"Hm" You hate the way she says that, you hate the way she tilts her head, you hate the way she always seems three steps ahead. Ruby studies you for a moment, that quiet intensity you always see in her face when in court. Then says: "You're really angry about a piece of paper?"

"I'm not angry about the paper" You huff defensively, still annoyed but feeling a bit thrown off guard now that she so boldly called you out.

"No?"

"No"

A slow smile appears on her face. "Oh"

Immediate regret about opening that office door. "Oh?" You repeat.

Ruby rises from her chair– not quite crowding you, but still leaving little to no space between the two of you. "Then what are you angry about?"

Nothing. Everything. Months of this. Months of courtroom arguments, sarcastic notes, stolen glances through office windows, months of pretending there isn't something simmering beneath every charged interaction. You cross your arms. "Do you do this with every opposing counselor?" The question leaves your mouth before you can stop it.

"Do what?"

"This" You gesture vaguely between the two of you. "The notes, the comments, the emotional warfare… Whatever the Hell this is"

“Well you’re a bit dramatic today” Ruby hums, that sharp tongued, teasing sarcasm shining through as bright as ever. But still, she takes a brief pause and gives you a slightly more serious answer. "You think I stare into every prosecutor's office at midnight?"

Heat rushes into your face, so you quickly try to brush it off with a scoff. "You're impossible"

"There it is again"

"Because you are being an ass"

She tilts her head in amused interest, still eyeing you up and down like a predator about to pounce. "And yet you came over here" You open your mouth, ready with another argument, another insult, another excuse– nothing comes out. Because she's right, infuriating– but right nonetheless. Ruby's smile softens around the edges. Not much, just enough to be noticeable. "See, that's what I thought"

"Oh, shut up"

"No"

You roll your eyes, half utterly desperate and half somewhat amused. "I am genuinely starting to understand why half the courthouse hates you"

"Only half?"

You groan, dragging a hand down your face. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" She hums with faux confusion.

"Turn every conversation into an argument" Ruby's laugh is quiet this time– less victorious, more fond. The realization hits you like a truck. Fond. God. That's somehow worse. You stare at her and she stares right back. For once? Neither of you says anything– no sarcastic comments, no objections, no clever comebacks… Just silence, the kind that's been building for months.

Ruby breaks it first, because of course she does. (Silence doesn’t agree with her) "You're staring again"

You shoot her a deadpan glare. "You’ve literally been staring into my office for the past three months"

"Four actually"

"That is not helping your case"

She’s quick to retort– that smart little shit. "I'm a defense attorney, I don't need a case"

The laugh escapes before you can stop it and Ruby's expression changes immediately. Like she's won something. "Oh, don't look so pleased with yourself" You quickly chime in.

"Too late"

You shake your head– unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable. And yet? You take a step closer. Ruby doesn't move, doesn't smirk, doesn't make a joke. For the first time since you've known her, she looks uncertain. Just for a second. It's enough. "You are the most irritating person I've ever met."

"I know" Her admission catches you off guard.

Ruby's gaze flickers briefly to your mouth before returning to your eyes. And suddenly every stolen glance through those stupid windows makes sense. Every note, every late night, every argument, every excuse to keep talking. "Oh"

Ruby huffs out a laugh. "Yeah, no shit"

"Oh" You repeat, the realization still slowly sinking in.

"That's about how I felt too"

Something warm blooms in your chest. You don't give yourself time to think about it– you lean in and Ruby meets you halfway. Mouths finally touching after months of going off at each other. Her lips are soft– somewhat that’s surprising. Sure, they were always pretty (like every other thing about her, infuriating much) but it’s probably the only thing about this woman that could be described as ‘soft’ in any way.

When you pull apart, she's smiling– not smug, not victorious. For once, she’s just smiling. It's almost unsettling. "There she is" She hums, smug as ever..

You narrow your eyes immediately. "Don't ruin this"

"I'm not ruining anything"

"You absolutely are"

Ruby reaches for the legal pad sitting on her desk. Before you can stop her, she scribbles something down and turns it around: STOP GLARING AT ME.

Stare at it– then at her, then back at the note. "Seriously?" This childish, infuriatingly adorable woman. Her grin widens, clearly enjoying getting a rise out of you.

You snatch the pen from her hand. Beneath it, you write: MAKE ME.

Your brothers were scurrying trying to get to the grave Dean had already dug up, least you could do was put the bones to rest before fighting for your life.

The last couple of days had been hectic enough as is.

All three of the Winchesters had driven over to Pontiac, Illinois after Bobby had given you guys a call about suspicious deaths. Sammy had done his fair share of research, as always, so they were sure things would go nice and smooth– he’d found out the identity of the spirit and where the poor woman was buried. Once you had all the information, Dean had started up Baby and sped off towards Saint Mary’s cemetery.

Once there, the eldest brother started digging up the grave, taking turns with Sam to not tire themselves out while you lounged by the car. The phone buzzed in your pocket, pulling it out you were met with the unsaved– yet not unfamiliar– contact of Ruby. You look up to check on your brothers, seeing they were still fully immersed on their task, you pick up.

“What do you want– y’know I’m working a case with Sam and Dean.” You practically hiss into the speaker.

“Whoah there,” her carefree chuckle cut through, “just wanted to say to be careful– heard through the grapevine that a couple demons are lounging around the area… they probably sniffed your Winchesterness.” She huffs amused.

“Firstly– not funny.” You deadpanned, “but thanks…” that last part is a bit reluctant, mumbled under your breath, but y’know she heard you by the smug little huff of breath that escapes her lips.

“Hey”, the voice of your brother makes you flinch as you pull the phone back into your jeans.

Great. Not suspicious at all.

Sam’s brow furrows in that, ‘something is up but I won’t push it’ way that only he has been able to master. “Everything alright?” he asks gently.

“Oh uhm… yeah, just a spam call.” You wince at your own excuse, there was no way you could be getting a spam call in a burner phone– way less you’d actually pick it up– but if Sammy noticed, he didn’t say anything.

After a few more minutes of digging, Dean finally hops back up, stretching and clapping his dirty hands in satisfaction. “Now we light her up n’ we hit the bar.” He said.

You might’ve said he’d jinxed it but honestly, giving your family’s luck– this was just what was expected.

Right on cue, Sam is tackled to the ground by a man– oh shit, black eyes, not a man– not a man! Ever the protective big brother, Dean runs over to help, though he is intercepted by another pair of demons. Seeing your older brother fly off into a tree you instinctively reach for the blade Ruby had given you, same one you always kept hidden from your brothers to avoid questions.

The fight is messy, demons keep on coming like a cosmic joke biting y’all in the ass for the number of demons you’ve been dropping lately.

It isn’t until you see Dean limp on the ground and Sam’s bloody face that you resort to the only option left– the demon blade digs into the throat of your attacker, crimson spilling everywhere as you bring your mouth to the open wound. Once the thirst was sated and the power is cursing through your veins, you stand up, hand reaching out into the air before you– effectively exorcising the demons out of their hosts’ bodies, sending them back to Hell.

Adrenaline is still pumping, chest heaving, the coppery taste of blood still invading your senses as you finally look up to meet your brothers’ faces.

You don’t know what was worse: the confusion, the betrayal or the utter disappointment in their expression. It was like they didn’t even recognize you.

The drive back to the motel was quiet– eerily so– not even the sounds of the radio echoing inside Baby.

When you finally get to the room, the door slams behind you– clearly the doing of a bewildered Dean, making you shrink into yourself at the noise.

“What the fuck was that.” Your brother’s voice was loud, hitting you like a slap when looking up at him. “Dean–” Sammy tries to cut in, not wanting the conflict but clearly worried himself. “Don’t.” The eldest, warns him in a barked out harshness that surprises even Sam.

“Mind telling us why the Hell you just went full vamp on that demon?” Dean asks, rubbing a hand over his jaw while gesturing wildly around the room. “Or maybe… oh, I don’t know– how you exorcised them with your fucking mind?” he adds with an aggressive tap on his temple to emphasize his point.

“I’ve just… Ruby–” You’ve barely gotten the words out when both your brothers bark out a simultaneous: “Ruby?!”

Once again, you can’t help but flinch at your brothers’ harshness– not that you blamed them, they’d just found out their little sister was going full Sith with a demon they both thought was dead– but still, you weren’t used to being on this side of his wrath.

“Let me get this straight,” your oldest brother says, a disbelieving laugh that sounded hollow, accompanying his words “you’ve been working with Ruby, and you just–” he gestures wildly “didn’t think to tell us?” The way he cringes when pronouncing her name, like it physically disgusted him; makes something filthy twist in your gut, though you’re unsure if it was shame or rage…

“She’s been helping me out!” you try to defend her though your case wasn’t looking great right now. “Ruby’s taught me how to channel my powers, I don’t have to kill the vessels to get rid of the demons now! – I’m helping people– no headaches no nothing!” Your pleas sound desperate, scratching for any ounce of approval they offer but not even Sam looks convinced.

The usually soft spoken and kind eyed brother that had your back, even when John flipped out, now looked at you with a hurt expression that made things ten times worse.

“That’s not– Jesus, kid” Dean runs his hands over his face in exasperation, “that’s so messed up.”

Sam looks over at you to check your reaction to Dean’s blunt honesty– but even he couldn’t deny the truth to it.

★ defense attorney ruby who whenever she wins a motion, immediately looks over to your office across the street, and only then celebrates– waiting to rub it in your face just to see your reaction to her win.

★ even after y’all start dating, you still look over to her office whenever you sit at your desk, every single time. It got to the point where you looked over there despite Ruby sitting right next to you. (obviously) she’s ridiculously smug about it: “y’know i’m here, right?” to which you simply reply a mumbled “habit” –your girlfriend gets even more smug about it, “good, means you wanted me before you got me”

★ defense attorney ruby who remembers every case she's ever beaten you on. not because she's keeping score (she absolutely is), but because she remembers exactly what argument you used and exactly how annoyed you looked when she countered it.

★ the only permanent note on her window is a full on chart labeled ‘WINS’ in which she documents y’all’s courtroom encounters– ruby: 17, pretty prosecutor: 12.

★ ruby who has an uncanny ability to tell when you're having a bad day– she never asks if you're okay, though. instead? she'll write a note across the street that says something like: YOU LOOK GRUMPY which somehow, in her language, means "are you alright?"

★ defense attorney ruby who absolutely weaponizes the fact that she makes you laugh. the first time she catches you trying to hide a smile, she looks so unbearably pleased with herself that you immediately regret it.

★ who remembers the exact date you first flipped her off through the office window and treats it like an anniversary. "happy four months" you’d look at her utterly confused and reply with a: "four months of what?" ruby grins proudly, like you just spoon fed her the perfect reply "since you realized you were obsessed with me"