Ruby
I was furious.
Not at world.
Furious at her.
Furious that Aveline was acting like a ghost of herself. Sad. Distant. Saying "nothing" when her silence screamed everything.
I hadn't sketched her in weeks. But today, I picked up the charcoal. Her face poured out of my hands—those eyes, wide and hollow.
Eyes that held unspoken dreams, old sorrows, and the kind of emptiness you can't name.
Then I saw her. Again.
Dancing.
She shouldn't be. Her ankle was swollen, toes bruised, bandaged. And yet—there she was, spinning pain into motion.
And I watched.
Helpless.
---
Stress.
It drips down my spine like cold water over bare skin.
CEO meetings by morning. Bloodied files by noon. Shadowy deals by midnight.
And through it all—her.
My maddening, stubborn, infuriating little rabbit.
Who hadn't smiled in days.
Even in a whirlwind of weapons trade, codes blinking red, and war on my doorstep—
Her silence hit louder than any gunshot.
She stopped teasing me to eat.
Stopped dancing on the marble floors.
Stopped being Aveline.
---
Today?
Again—"nothing" when I asked what's wrong.
But those ocean-blue eyes? Drowning in it.
I was on a call with Adam. Running names. Listing men I might erase by morning.
But I saw her.
Out near the garden. Barefoot in the grass. Leon by her side.
But there was no light in her. No bite. Just stillness.
"Adam, later," I snapped, ending the call.
"Aveline," I called.
She turned—
And collapsed.
Right into my arms.
I didn't panic. I never do.
I caught her with ease. Like silk. Like she was made to be held by me.
Bridal style. Always.
Because if she's going to fall apart—
She'll fall apart wrapped in the arms of her devil.
I carried her in like glass.
Cool voice. Calm steps.
But my chest? It was chaos.
---
"Mr. Han. Call my private doctor. Now."
I took her straight to our room—the bed she once danced naked in.
Now she was burning up. Fingers cold. Lips pale.
Doctor came fast. Thank hell.
> "She's dehydrated. Undereating. Mentally exhausted. Her body's crashing."
" Not even eating properly. "
He looked at me.
> "Were you even watching her, Ruby?"
...Was I?
---
Goddamn it, Aveline.
You idiot bunny.
You beautiful, soft, breakable creature—
I sat by her bed, touched her burning forehead.
Her hand twitching in sleep
I sat at her side, touched her fevered skin. Her hand twitched in sleep.
"You're not allowed to do this," I whispered.
"You're not allowed to burn out before I do."
I ordered everything—soup, meds, her comfort playlist.
Even hummed that stupid lullaby she liked while brushing back her damp hair.
Because if she breaks…
There's no war left worth fighting.
---
She woke.
I kissed her forehead. Soft. Automatic.
With her, my body disobeys me. I become soft without meaning to.
I asked, gently, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
I let her lie. Just for now.
I sighed, held her hand.
She looked at me. Our eyes met.
I kissed her lips. Just a breath of one.
Then I stood.
> "Take care of yourself. I promised your damn sister I'd keep you safe."
She chuckled—just barely.
---
Two Days Later
Evening spilled across the villa like ink.
Golden light bleeding through clouds like hope bleeding through grief.
And for the first time in days, I was breathing again.
Shirt sleeves rolled up. Slacks loose on my hips. Wine in one hand.
Leon chasing shadows in the garden.
Then—
Her.
I was watching her. Of course, I was watching her.
Aveline stood by the pool again—barefoot, lost, her reflection rippling below like a girl who didn't belong in her own body.
She didn't know how to swim.
But she stood there, toes curled at the edge like she was flirting with drowning.
My eyes narrowed.
Then she turned—looked straight at me, right into me.
And with the calm of a dream, said:
> "If I drown, will you save me?"
like she was daring the water to swallow her.
I narrowed my eyes.
She turned. Looked at me. Into me.
> "If I drown… will you save me?"
My glass paused mid-air.
I don't joke about death.
Not with her.
Not with the only softness left in my war-torn existence.
> "No matter what," I said.
"I'll protect you."
And then—
She jumped.
No sound. No scream. Just a splash.
The glass slipped. Shattered.
Leon barked.
My heart cracked.
I dove.
Didn't think. Didn't breathe.
Just jumped.
She sank like she meant to.
Like she trusted I'd find her.
And I did.
Found her under the water—shaking, weightless. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulled her out like she was the only thing that mattered.
Out of the water. Onto the cold tile. Her lips parted. Her eyes… blank.
Water dripping from her lashes, lips parting like she didn't even know what she'd done.
And I snapped.
> "Are you an idiot?" I shouted, breath ragged.
"Why do you always test me like this? Like my patience is something you can shatter every damn day?!"
She just looked at me.
Said nothing.
That silence?
It shattered me more than words ever could.
I crouched, still dripping. Still furious.
Still hers.
Wrapped her in a towel. Pulled her against my chest.
I wanted to shake her.
I wanted to kiss her.
I wanted to scream into the sky and beg her to stop playing roulette with my goddamn soul.
But all I did…
Was grab a towel and wrap it around her.
And whispered—
> "You don't get to drown before I do, Aveline."
---
Later…
Couldn't sleep. Again.
The study was dark. Papers everywhere. The scent of scotch and chaos thick in the air.
Leon sleeping by the fireplace.
I was staring at an old photo.
Her.
My mother.
The one who made me. The one whose death still claws at my throat every birthday.
Then—
She was there.
Standing in front of me like she'd never died.
Same locket. Same silk dress. Same power in her gaze.
"Mom…"
"You're dead. Why are you here?"
She smiled, warm and terrifying.
> "Because you need me, Ruby."
"You always did, my lion. My child."
I blinked. Didn't cry. I never cry.
"Everything's falling apart," I whispered.
"Aveline. The business. The mafia. Me. I'm losing it."
She cupped my face. Her hand like memory.
> "You're not supposed to have it all together. You're supposed to feel."
"You've buried too much. Let yourself bleed, Ruby."
My jaw trembled.
"I don't wanna be like you. Cold. Alone."
> "But you're not," she said.
"You love her. You'd burn the world for her."
"I caught her when she fainted," I confessed. "And I hated how helpless I felt."
She leaned in.
> "Then stop pretending you're invincible. Let her see you. The real Ruby. The one who fights for love—not against it."
My voice cracked.
> "Don't leave me again."
She smiled—fading already.
> "I never did. I live in your fire. And now, so does she."
And she was gone.
---
I stood up, left the study, and walked straight to room. She was asleep, soft breaths against the pillow. And I—Ruby fucking Sun—curled beside her in silence.
And held her like the universe owed her safety.
And whispered—
> "I won't let you fall again."