The question lances through Ruby like a sword to the gut. It's the same type of feeling she'd had as when she'd ran out of the stadium hallway to see Penny's broken body lying on the ground. As when she'd watch Cinder pierce Pyrrha's heart and scatter her into a million pieces. As when Tyrian had poisoned Qrow and Ruby had had to wonder, day after day after day if he was going to make it to the next one. It's a most bitter fear, of the inevitable fate of her dear friend that she'd been completely powerless to change. It had taken this place to bring Penny back to her, but that hadn't changed what happened.
It didn't change that on Remnant, Penny was dead.
The milk in the bowl on the table has frosted over, and Ruby has to bite her lower lip to keep a sob in her throat. If she has to do this - if she has to tell her - she can't do it like this.
So under the threat of her own knees buckling and failing her, she pushes herself up onto her feet and finally lifts her glassy eyes to meet Penny's. Even then, it takes courage and strength beyond her own to work her mouth into forming her answer. The only answer. ]
Yes.
[ She can't quite keep the sob back then, and it rips through clenched teeth as she lifts one hand to her mouth. ]
rips out my heart and chucks it across the room ig
The question lances through Ruby like a sword to the gut. It's the same type of feeling she'd had as when she'd ran out of the stadium hallway to see Penny's broken body lying on the ground. As when she'd watch Cinder pierce Pyrrha's heart and scatter her into a million pieces. As when Tyrian had poisoned Qrow and Ruby had had to wonder, day after day after day if he was going to make it to the next one. It's a most bitter fear, of the inevitable fate of her dear friend that she'd been completely powerless to change. It had taken this place to bring Penny back to her, but that hadn't changed what happened.
It didn't change that on Remnant, Penny was dead.
The milk in the bowl on the table has frosted over, and Ruby has to bite her lower lip to keep a sob in her throat. If she has to do this - if she has to tell her - she can't do it like this.
So under the threat of her own knees buckling and failing her, she pushes herself up onto her feet and finally lifts her glassy eyes to meet Penny's. Even then, it takes courage and strength beyond her own to work her mouth into forming her answer. The only answer. ]
Yes.
[ She can't quite keep the sob back then, and it rips through clenched teeth as she lifts one hand to her mouth. ]