𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐲 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 ✩ 𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐝𝗼𝐧

🆃🅴🅽

𝐬𝗼𝐧𝐠: 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝗼𝐧𝐠, 𝐟𝗼𝗼 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
✩✩✩

Ruby and Tate sat on a set of swings in a run down play park.

It was some time past midnight, and the two couldn't care less.

They were happy, living in a blissful daze.

Ruby had nipped back to her house and stolen more drinks, and the two had gotten wasted at the park.

"I can believe ghosts are real..." Ruby said, gazing up at the sky.

"Neither can I, it's crazy." Tate replied.

Ruby laughed. "Oh my god Tate, don't say crazy! I swear it's like triggering, like, what if we're both insane? Shared hallucinations are totally a thing."

He laughed two, shaking his head. "That's bullshit. Shared hallucinations aren't real things. Ghosts on the other hand... my god..."

Ruby looked over at him in the dim light, realising how, despite everything, how that night was probably one of the best she'd ever had.

"So, what was that, like- a seance? Y'know, I summoned the dead or whatever?" She asked, leaning down and taking a sip out of the beer they were sharing, it was the last one.

"Yeah, I guess you could call it that," Tate smiled like a child, taking the bottle from Ruby's hands and taking a large swig.

"HEY! You're gonna finish it all you prick!" Ruby gasped, standing up and demanding to have the bottle.

Tate stood up, holding the bottle tighter. "Maybe I will, if you can't get it back?"

He took off through the park, Ruby sprinting after him.

He hadn't anticipated how fast she could run, and she soon caught up with him.

Ruby lunged for him, rugby tackling his waist and sending them both skidding along the grass; their clothes caked in mud.

The bottle flew from Tate's grip, the contents leaking out into the ground.

"Fuck, now mama natures gonna be all drunk!" Ruby laughed, pinning Tate to the ground. "And it's all your fault, Langdon."

Tate grabbed her by the shoulders and tossed her off him, pinning her to the ground instead.

"Oi, if you had just let me finish it then maybe she wouldn't be!" He protested.

Ruby stared up at him, grinning from ear to ear. "Ok, sorry, but please don't kill me- I wanna see the year 2000."

Tate, who would've tried to reassure her he wasn't going to kill her, just laughed and rolled off her, lying next to her in the grass.

"I want to see it too." Tate sighed, resting his hands on his chest.

Ruby shuffled closer to him. "There's so much up there... it's so pretty... do you think we're alone?"

"In this park? Yeah. But in the universe? I don't think so. They're probably crazy far away, but they're out there." Tate replied.

The stars twinkled above them, the moon a slim white crescent.

Distant galaxies shone down on them, casting an ethereal glow on the world around them.

Tate moved his hand to his side, gently touching Ruby's.

She flinched at the sudden physical touch, but took Tate's hand, their fingers intertwined.

Ruby held her breath with anxiety, unsure if he hadn't meant to touch her hand and was going to get weirded out and leave.

But he didn't leave. Tate rubbed his thumb against her index finger, and she relaxed.

"Despite almost getting our ear drums exploded by some batshit ghosts, I think this has been the best night of my life." Ruby whispered, voicing her thoughts.

Tate chuckled softly. "Mine too..."

"It's weird, I've only known you for a day- yet you feel like a better friend than any one I've ever had." Ruby said quietly.

"Yeah," He replied, a smile creeping across his lips. He looked over at Ruby as she stared into the heavens. "I really wanna kiss you right now..."

Ruby's heart leapt, and she looked at him in surprise.

He looked away, letting go of her hand and covering his face. "Shit. Why'd I say that? I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Ruby propped herself up with her shoulder, looking at him. "I want to kiss you too."

Tate slowly removed his hands from his face, looking at Ruby with slight surprise.

She smiled at him.

He sat up, gently putting a hand round her neck and bringing her closer to his face.

Tate hesitated for a moment, staring into her eyes.

Ruby held his neck and pulled him in, pressing her lips against his.

Bliss.

✩✩✩