Sky Full Of Stars: Ruby Redfort One Shots

Don't kill the pain

Hey guys. So this chapter is kinda like a break up type thing. I don't know, I just always imagined Hitch and Nine Lives going out at some point when they were younger. Be warned, this is gonna be a sad one.

As they stood there, they both knew what had to be done, but it didn't make it any easier. Hitch knew, by the tears streaming from both of their eyes and how Valerie seemed to shake, that he would have to be the one to say it. He took a deep breath.
"I think you know what I'm going to say," he sighed, trying to hold back the tears but failing.
Valerie nodded and sniffed, her eyes red.
"The Count wants you to kill me and Ward wants me to kill you but I know that I can't do that if I'm still so..." he paused, wiping a tear from his cheek. "If I'm still so in love with you Val,"
"I guess we both knew that this was coming," she sighed, holding his hand.
"Yeah, we did, didn't we? But I want you to know that I don't regret any of it. I never thought that I would ever fall in love," he smiled sadly and placed a hand on her cheek, his thumb flicking away another tear.
"But I did." He continued. "I really did Val, with you. And when I think back over it, all I see is the joy and the beauty that you've brought me,"
She smiled and placed her hand over the one resting on the side of her face.
"And I see how much of a pain in the ass you are," she joked, both of them laughing through the tears.
"Well, I hope that next time you fall for someone, that they will be the one to make you smile the way you've made me," he smiled, crying once more.
"There won't be a next time," she said firmly. "I will never love anyone the way that I love you,"
He smiled and kissed her for the last time.
"God, I pray that you do," he whispered.
They stayed still for a few moments, his chin resting on the top of her head as they hugged. After a while, Hitch knew what he had to do, but he couldn't.
"Could you turn around?" He asked.
"Why?" She replied, pulling away from him.
"I'm just not sure if I can leave you if I can see that you're upset," he whispered.
She smiled tragically and slowly turned around.
"I'll never stop loving you Val," he whispered and, just like that, he was gone.
She spun around to catch him but he had vanished into the darkness. She wiped the tears from her cheek and smiled up at the stars. She knew what they had done was right but still somehow she knew she would never shake the sadness from within her.

Some several years later:

After he had knocked Baby Face our for the second time in the previous five minutes, Hitch slumped to the floor beside her body and held her hand. He had known for a long time that one of them would have killed the other, but he had never imagined that it would be as painful as what he felt in that moment. He felt a small hand on his shoulder as Clancy Crew sat beside him.
"You pulled me together when I thought Rube was dead. I think it's my turn," he smiled.
Hitch didn't reply, he just stared into her lifeless eyes and let a tear fall from his.
"I think I can guess why your so down," continued Clancy. "But I also think that you've been preparing for this moment for a long time. And this pain you feel is ok. Don't kill that pain because if you do you will destroy whatever love that you feel for her is left. Don't let the darkness in our world take someone you love and the love you've felt for her at once."
Hitch looked up at this kid and smiled.
"How did you get to be so wise?" He asked.
"Ruby causes me lots of pain but it doesn't mean I love her any less," grinned Clancy. He left Hitch alone after that, not wanting to be there when good old Baby Face woke up. Hitch slowly moved the blood stained hair from his loved one's face and closed her eyes gently.
"I'll see you up there one on these days," he whispered as he stood up to leave. As he turned the corner to leave the museum he saw Ruby leap into an elderly woman's arms. Mrs Digby, he assumed. He smiled to himself and walked away. Yes, Clancy was right. He would not let tragedy and sorrow kill all the love in his heart, for in that moment, seeing little Ruby Redfort and all his agent friends outside the building, he knew that all the love he had belonged to those around him.