Son of the Branwen

Chapter 85: Midnight

Hawk stormed out of the bedroom in a fit of anger, walking down the hall as Ruby quickly followed after him.

Ruby: "Hawk, wait up! We need to talk."

Hawk: "What's to talk about? You reprimanded my decision to visit my own mother."

Ruby: "It's not that Hawk. It's the fact that you lied to us to visit her."

Ruby grabbed Hawk's shoulder and spun him around, the two staring at each other.

Ruby: "I want to know why you thought it was necessary to lie to us. Your friends and family."

Hawk: "Because I knew you'd never let me. And now that I have, I can try to locate Yang again. But I need some down time Ruby. That last one put such a strain on me."

Hawk turned to walk away again, but Ruby jumped in front of him. She gave a stern glare up at him, while her eyes also began to water up.

Ruby: "Stop! Stop trying to dismiss this! How can you still care about her?! After everything she's done! She... she was responsible for my mom's death!"

Hawk felt a sharp pain in his chest, and glanced away from Ruby's gaze.

Hawk: "Ruby... do you realize how long I've lived my life without a mother's love?"

Ruby: "I-"

Hawk: "I know you lost Summer... we all did. And she was the closest thing to a mother I could have had during my childhood."

Hawk took a deep breath, before meeting Ruby's gaze again.

Hawk: "So excuse me if my real mother suddenly comes back into my life... and that I don't want to ever lose that again."

Hawk pushed past Ruby, but she stopped him by grabbing his arm. She was trying to keep herself from crying as she hugged him

Ruby: "Listen to me Hawk. I can understand what your feeling, but Salem is-"

Hawk: "I KNOW!!"

Ruby jumped backwards, letting go of Hawk as his eyes burned orange while glaring down at her. In that moment, Ruby suddenly felt something that she never felt before. A fear of Hawk.

Hawk: "I KNOW WHAT SHE HAS DONE!! I KNOW WHAT SHE'S DOING!! DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE I DON'T!!"

Hawk grabbed Ruby's shoulders, staring at her as his voice broke, as tears from his frustration started to run down his face.

Hawk: "But I love her, and she me. Before you even try to convince me it's a trick, I'm telling you it's true. The way she speaks to me, her unwavering support, it's all real!"

Ruby stayed silent as Hawk spoke, before she sighed and hugged Hawk tighter than last time. This time, Hawk returned the hug, resting his head on her shoulder.

Hawk: "Ruby, please don't lose faith in me. Not after everything we've been through. You can't imaging how it feels to constantly go against her like I'm doing right now."

Ruby: "I'm sorry Hawk... I'm just... scared about what's happening. I promise, I'll never lose faith in you."

They let go of each other, but Hawk kept his head down and turned on his heel to start walking away.