TRC Part 4: Ruby, Kevin, and Kimberly's Excellent Adventure
Jul 7, 2016 11:20:17 GMT -5
Post by Kevin Hardaway on Jul 7, 2016 11:20:17 GMT -5
June 19th, 2016
7:15AM
As a single parent, you realize that 7:15 in the morning is considered by many as “sleeping in”, mostly because your child can’t sleep in. He or she has to be up at the crack of dawn to make sure they get their recommended 12 hours a day of playtime before they have to mercifully go back to sleep. Trust me, Kevin has been doing this for 7 years, now going on 8 come yesterday. But to him, after going through the absolute ordeal that happened in Nashville...having to pay a fine and being banned in the state of Tennessee until further notice...he’s just happy to sleep for a change, heal any nagging injuries caused by him the night before, and not have a care in the world.
Enter the tiny little child of doom. Otherwise known as his daughter, Kimberly.
Doom is right, as she opens the door and jumps into bed with him. He’s awake, but he just wants to remain in his own little world. For the better.
"Daddy. Daddy, wake up!"
Welp, we can’t all be winners or losers in this scenario. He stirs and slowly gets to a seated position as she greets him with a big ol’ hug. But the pain in his ribs causes him to hold back a little, letting her know to be gentle to her father.
"What’s wrong?"
"Oh, nothing...papa bear is just a little banged up. You remember Uncle Brad and Cousin Joe from a few years ago, right?"
"Yeah."
"Yeeeeah, they remembered me too."
He shares a giggle with her and slowly gets up from his position, but not before rustling his daughter’s hair and giving the top of her head a small kiss.
"Happy belated birthday, kiddo. I’m sorry I wasn’t here last night."
She smiles at him and puts his arms around his neck.
"Ah, it’s okay. Least you’re here. And hey...I get to meet your friend tonight. Hope she’s awesome."
At that point, it was like a light from a freight train came blinding in at his eyes. Oh dear god, he clearly forgot about the dinner tonight with her and Ruby. One that the two of them clearly wanted no part of, due to the fact that she thought he was a boorish oaf that screamed at her television ad nauseum and he thought that she was a stern drill instructor with the sarcastic wit of a cyborg.
Clearly not the best idea for a dinner date if you ask me, but hey...they had to bite their lips and deal with it. It wasn’t even for them anyways. It was for Kim. And a nice way to have her spend a night with her father...and the “cyborg” that has been training him to hunt anything oogie-boogie since the end of last year, not to mention the several flings the two have shared way before all of this ever took place. He’s dreading that day where he has to tell his own daughter about being put into a coffin and the Chairshot Survival match.
Let’s just cross that bridge when we come to it, okay?
Regardless of that, the two of them had the entire day to worry about all of the fancy stuff that they had to do, like what to make for dinner and what they were going to talk about...that sort of thing.
====
Damn...and here I was going to go 15 minutes this time talking about how I used to be such a big deal here. There goes my absolute plan. Now what in the hell will I talk about? To be quite honest, it’s really all about the present and about the future now. Then again, I didn’t even do all that much here when you think about it. Where did my life go? I really have no idea, now do I? But yeah, here I am. Just me right now...Ricky is off doing god knows what, and Ruby had some other things to attend to, but you’ll get Ricky and my partner-in-crime’s thoughts and opinions at a later date, trust me. I know what you’re all going to say? “Well, why isn’t your partner, your little ol’ sweetheart here?” Haveeee you seen us two in the same room trying to cut a promo?
If you read my bio on FGAWrestling.com, it perfectly describes me and Ruby as, “a love/hate relationship that makes Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele look like a kindergarten crush.”
I hate to reference off of 50 Shades of Grey, but umm...it’s fucking accurate.
To one Ms. Sara Cochran. Hi...my name is Kevin Hardaway, you’ll meet my confidants in Ruby Tyler and Ricky Valero soon enough, but just know that you’re walking into a room that’s possibly going to explode on you once that bell rings, because you’re stepping into the company of three people who’s minds are not where they should all be right now. In fact, most of our fans are writing fan-fiction right now about #RickyRubyWay. Honey, I would just back off where you can now, because things are going to get real ugly. Okay?
That’s all I really know about you, Sara. Unlike the other two fools who are just standing there like the “man” owes them a favor or something.
Jason and Chris...boy, it is lovely to see you guys back here. I remember back in the day when I watched you guys and...oh wait, you guys told me that I wasn’t allowed to talk about my past, sooo...that means that I can’t talk about you guys. So that makes you completely worthless, is that right? I’m sorry, that was corny, even for myself. But I do remember you guys becoming the FGA Tag Team Champions, so that’s something I can’t take away from you both. Then again...how many times did you defend them rightfully? Oh yeah, that’s right…
Zero.
Yep, it shows that I wasn’t the only one bested by the infamous flock known as The Murder, now am I? And not just that, but you never even got pinned. In fact, you were the first team eliminated in said match, so there goes your trump card of “it was an Ultimate Endurance match” out the window. Anything else you guys want me to say or do to ruffle those feathers, because I will. Or Ruby will...or Ricky. We all have a bone to pick with this entire division anyways. It’s your call. In fact, why don’t you let Jason or Chris open their mouths for a change and let them have their say instead of hiding behind somebody who won’t shut the hell up.
Because I’m going to say it right now...this industry, this entire thing that we call “wrestling” sees ups and downs. They claim the fans turned their backs on them...I say, who hasn’t had that happen? Raise your hands. Shit, I’ll raise my hand. It happens. No offense to the FGA universe, but they have the attention spans that can only be measured in nanoseconds. See, they’re looking at a bird on a tree now, are you guys happy?
But you know...maybe it’s not because you guys need a voice to help you guys out. Maybe...just maybe The Usual Suspects weren’t that great to begin with. Simple as that. At least I won a title here AND defended it. I was the first Pride Champion...everybody remembers that. The Usual Suspects were the second Tag Team Champions. Not so many people remembering that. Sure, you beat The Murder, but at the same time, it took you guys HOW many tries to defeat them? My point remains. And you claim that people turned your back on them, for what reason? Maybe they were just bored of them and wanted to cheer on somebody who actually could give a shit. I don’t know, I’m not a rocket scientist.
They want to cheer somebody who can actually wrestle. Why do you all think they cheer me and Ruby? Okay, because the loudest of our fans are fan-fiction writing vultures that can’t take a hint, but hey...at least they enjoy us. At least they’re trying. When was the last time you saw somebody caring about The Usual Suspects? And yeah, these belts we have been holding are now nothing more than pawn shop material...but you know what, we earned the WLW Tag Team Championships. Go back and look and you’ll see two Infinity Gauntlets inside our homes. We didn’t just lie down and earned them. No. We actually stopped bickering for a change and did something about it.
Tell that to the 14 of the best tag teams in the world who tried to get a hold of these. Did we even see you guys in the match? That speaks of itself really.
And yeah, these are pretty much useless. But guess what. We actually have a plan for these.
But if two people who can’t really deal with one another on a daily basis could actually become Tag Team Champions, then clearly they can do it anywhere. And yeah, the Dynamic Duos tournament was a road bump, and CLEARLY we should be the FGA Tag Team Champions right now, but instead of actually going against the “man” and trying to pay lawsuits and bucking the system and all of that PC-correct bullshit that is the reason why I’m putting a write-in vote for Hannah LaCroix and Patrick Starfish as the President and VP of these United States come November (it’s up to them which one wants which category…#Clownfish2016)...WE’RE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT! By kicking your asses.
I need a drink. I really do.
====
June 19th, 2016
7:15PM
12 hours have passed and it actually was a pretty solid day altogether. The two of them shared a day of doing nothing but catching up, watching movies, and of course, getting ready for the day that he dreaded. Although she was ecstatic as all. So over the gums and through the woods...if you know what I mean. But even still, for most of the day, he got to relax and let his injuries heal up before anything else. She even grabbed him a couple of ice packs throughout the day and gave him stuff to drink. What a great kid, really.
But here they were...Kevin was finishing up preparing dinner and Kim was busy preparing the table up. Weirdly enough, on a situation like this, you think the both of them would be dressed up...or at least to the point where she would make him dress up like he was being held hostage, but nope...both were in jeans and a t-shirt. Like father, like daughter I guess.
She finishes putting up the last cup when suddenly, the doorbell rings. The two of them look up at the door. Both with opposite fields of admiration.
With Kimberly, it’s one of absolute joy. She finally gets to meet the infamous Ruby Tyler, somebody who her father has spent all this time with, hoping that she’s nice enough to like her company.
With Kevin, it’s one of absolute disdain. Here he has to let Ruby into his apartment for the first time (even though he’s invaded her home many times, but that’s beside the point) and share an actual homegrown family dinner with that is not take-out from a fast food joint.
But Kim reaches up and pulls the door open and there Ruby stands...dressed a little fancier than the Hardaway family, but not by much. Kim looks up as Ruby looks down, arms behind her back, and cracks a small smile at her.
“Well hey there. You must be the birthday girl, Kimmy.” she tells her as Kim nods her head and smiles.
“Yes I am.”
“Well I’m Ruby. And it’s very nice to meet you. Aren’t you going to let me in?”
Kim moves out of the way and greets her in with her arms, Ruby letting off a giggle and a sincere thanks as she walks in and scouts out the place before locking eyes with Kevin and giving off a welcoming nod.
“Hey.”
“Howdy. Welcome to De Casa Hardaway.”
“You mean “Le Casa de Hardaway”, right?”
“Listen, I failed Spanish twice...sue me.”
She scouts out the place once again.
“And you like to stay at my house again, WHY??”
“We are in a third-floor apartment after all?”
“Still doesn’t explain a lot of things, but okay…so what did you cook for the birthday girl?”
“Her favorite...tater tot casserole.”
“Really? Wait...when did you learn how to cook?”
“I have for awhile now. Kind of easy now when you get to take care of somebody’s who can blow bubbles in her milk.”
“And you haven’t cooked for me, WHY??”
“She eats it all before I get to give you any leftovers.”
Ruby goes wide-eyed and looks at Kim, who does her best “angel a.k.a. I didn’t do anything” impersonation, as she giggles and tells Ruby…
“Nah. He’s the one who eats it all.”
Ruby giggles at her. An honest-to-God real giggle, not a phony one.
“Oh, is that so?”
“All the time.”
Kevin just gives the two of them a weird and disconcerning look, but then sticks his tongue out at Kim, who does the same right back.
“Hey, I got you something.” she tells Kim as she finally removes her hands from behind her back to reveal a small package wrapped up, as Kim grabs it and thanks her with a hug. Sure, it’s a hug on the legs, but a hug nonetheless as she smiles down at him and for a change...both Kevin and Ruby actually share a smile for this rather touching moment. As Kim goes to the couch to unwrap it, Ruby walks up to Kevin.
“You...you didn’t need to do that.”
“Oh, I know.”
She pulls something out of her back pocket. A wallet with a Batman logo on it.
“You left this back at my place last night after you came back to town.”
He goes wide-eyed and snatches it back as Ruby laughs at his reaction and then whispers in his ear.
“I used my card as well.”
Kevin gives her a stern look and smiles as she tells him then, “Also, who carries around a Batman wallet in his 30’s?”
“Uhh...this guy. Now let’s eat. I’m starving.”
“Me too. You coming, kiddo?”
She...she called her “kiddo”. The name that Angie called him. The name that Kevin called Kim. He didn’t know whether or not to be shocked, confused, or angry that she decided to use that name. On the other hand, Ruby and Kevin have seen hell and high water throughout their time together, so I guess it wasn’t going to hurt any less or any more than it already did. It’s best to just move on and eat dinner and get this over with.
But dinner was anything but. For the next several hours, the three of them ate dinner, and just caught up, Ruby getting to know Kim. Ruby was clearly having a good time...that was any time Kim had the floor and spoke about her stories. If Kevin ever chimed in or told a story, Ruby passed it off, but she was all over Kim. From her stories about climbing the monkey bars and doing backflips off of them, to getting second place in her science fair (and let’s face it, Kevin wasn’t the biggest science nut either, so second place is an honor really) to having a conversation about a boy liking her and thinking that boys have cooties.
Ruby would give her some advice though.
“Just because you think boys have cooties doesn’t mean that every single boy out there has them. It’s like getting sick. Only the boys who you don’t like have the cooties. Bullies...tons of cooties. But the ones you do like, like your friends...I think they’re okay.”
“And what about daddy?”
“I think he has the most out of anybody.” Ruby tells her in the most playful voice ever, and Kim giggles right back, playfully bumping Ruby.
“No he doesn’t.”
“Okay...only a couple. But I think he’s okay.”
“Geez, thank you very much, girls. Glad to see that I have cooties. UNCLEAN! HELP!” He screams as he shuffles over and tickles his daughter, kissing her cheek in a biting-like fashion, like all parents do to their kids. You know how it is. But Kevin looks at his watch and sighs.
“Hey...it’s getting late. It’s almost time for bed.”
“Awww...but I want to stay up and talk with Ruby. Come on, pa! Please?? Please, pa?”
“Yeah, please pa?”
He points at Ruby.
“Don’t you start.”
“But yeah, you’re right. I got other things I need to do anyway.”
Kim sighs in distress, but Ruby kneels down and puts her eye level to Kim’s.
“Hey, don’t you worry. It’s not the last you’ll see of me. I promise. Maybe next time, you can come over to my place and I can show you how to make a bow out of sticks. That sound fun?”
"Yeah!!" Her frown is immediately turned upside down as Ruby reaches her hand out and the two high-five.
“Okay, kiddo. Get into your PJ’s and I’ll be in to tuck you goodnight.” Kevin tells her as he kisses her on the cheek and she runs off, as she enters her room and away from the two bickering...well, I don’t know what to call them anymore.
“She has really taken a liking to you.”
“I know.”
“I...I have to ask you, who are you and what have you done to Ruby Tyler?”
“I guess I’m just really great with kids.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Hey...I have to train with one. It’s the same difference.”
Kevin gives her that look of “shut the hell up!” that she always enjoys seeing out of him as Ruby opens the door and walks to the outside.
“But no...I think I owe you an apology. Turns out you’re really great at something after all. She’s a great kid.”
“Yeah. She’s the world to me.”
“Yeah, well...we need to keep training if she’s going to have a world to live in.”
“Exactly.”
Ruby’s phone rings and she immediately answers it…
“Hello. Yeah. Hey, can you hang on for a second…?”
She hides the phone in her hand.
“Hey, I have to split. I’ll catch you tomorrow, okay?”
“Yeah. You go do your thing.”
Ruby smiles and heads off, answering the call again...Kevin just standing there, looking out at her as she drives away...not sure where things are going to go next. If at any chance at all.
Kevin goes back inside to put a nice little ribbon on the day when he sees the gift on the table that Ruby left for Kim. You know, after all this time, he had no idea what Ruby (and Kevin, given that she used his credit card) got for the little young'un. He opens the small box up and sees a note along with a small swiss army knife. The ones that young campers would receive when they became one with nature. For starters, he became angry at the thought that she would get something like this, until he saw the note that was underneath the gift.
"For Kimberly. Take care of your daddy for me. He's kind of important to me, okay?"
Love, Ruby <3
A small smile formed from Kevin's face.
7:15AM
As a single parent, you realize that 7:15 in the morning is considered by many as “sleeping in”, mostly because your child can’t sleep in. He or she has to be up at the crack of dawn to make sure they get their recommended 12 hours a day of playtime before they have to mercifully go back to sleep. Trust me, Kevin has been doing this for 7 years, now going on 8 come yesterday. But to him, after going through the absolute ordeal that happened in Nashville...having to pay a fine and being banned in the state of Tennessee until further notice...he’s just happy to sleep for a change, heal any nagging injuries caused by him the night before, and not have a care in the world.
Enter the tiny little child of doom. Otherwise known as his daughter, Kimberly.
Doom is right, as she opens the door and jumps into bed with him. He’s awake, but he just wants to remain in his own little world. For the better.
"Daddy. Daddy, wake up!"
Welp, we can’t all be winners or losers in this scenario. He stirs and slowly gets to a seated position as she greets him with a big ol’ hug. But the pain in his ribs causes him to hold back a little, letting her know to be gentle to her father.
"What’s wrong?"
"Oh, nothing...papa bear is just a little banged up. You remember Uncle Brad and Cousin Joe from a few years ago, right?"
"Yeah."
"Yeeeeah, they remembered me too."
He shares a giggle with her and slowly gets up from his position, but not before rustling his daughter’s hair and giving the top of her head a small kiss.
"Happy belated birthday, kiddo. I’m sorry I wasn’t here last night."
She smiles at him and puts his arms around his neck.
"Ah, it’s okay. Least you’re here. And hey...I get to meet your friend tonight. Hope she’s awesome."
At that point, it was like a light from a freight train came blinding in at his eyes. Oh dear god, he clearly forgot about the dinner tonight with her and Ruby. One that the two of them clearly wanted no part of, due to the fact that she thought he was a boorish oaf that screamed at her television ad nauseum and he thought that she was a stern drill instructor with the sarcastic wit of a cyborg.
Clearly not the best idea for a dinner date if you ask me, but hey...they had to bite their lips and deal with it. It wasn’t even for them anyways. It was for Kim. And a nice way to have her spend a night with her father...and the “cyborg” that has been training him to hunt anything oogie-boogie since the end of last year, not to mention the several flings the two have shared way before all of this ever took place. He’s dreading that day where he has to tell his own daughter about being put into a coffin and the Chairshot Survival match.
Let’s just cross that bridge when we come to it, okay?
Regardless of that, the two of them had the entire day to worry about all of the fancy stuff that they had to do, like what to make for dinner and what they were going to talk about...that sort of thing.
====
Damn...and here I was going to go 15 minutes this time talking about how I used to be such a big deal here. There goes my absolute plan. Now what in the hell will I talk about? To be quite honest, it’s really all about the present and about the future now. Then again, I didn’t even do all that much here when you think about it. Where did my life go? I really have no idea, now do I? But yeah, here I am. Just me right now...Ricky is off doing god knows what, and Ruby had some other things to attend to, but you’ll get Ricky and my partner-in-crime’s thoughts and opinions at a later date, trust me. I know what you’re all going to say? “Well, why isn’t your partner, your little ol’ sweetheart here?” Haveeee you seen us two in the same room trying to cut a promo?
If you read my bio on FGAWrestling.com, it perfectly describes me and Ruby as, “a love/hate relationship that makes Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele look like a kindergarten crush.”
I hate to reference off of 50 Shades of Grey, but umm...it’s fucking accurate.
To one Ms. Sara Cochran. Hi...my name is Kevin Hardaway, you’ll meet my confidants in Ruby Tyler and Ricky Valero soon enough, but just know that you’re walking into a room that’s possibly going to explode on you once that bell rings, because you’re stepping into the company of three people who’s minds are not where they should all be right now. In fact, most of our fans are writing fan-fiction right now about #RickyRubyWay. Honey, I would just back off where you can now, because things are going to get real ugly. Okay?
That’s all I really know about you, Sara. Unlike the other two fools who are just standing there like the “man” owes them a favor or something.
Jason and Chris...boy, it is lovely to see you guys back here. I remember back in the day when I watched you guys and...oh wait, you guys told me that I wasn’t allowed to talk about my past, sooo...that means that I can’t talk about you guys. So that makes you completely worthless, is that right? I’m sorry, that was corny, even for myself. But I do remember you guys becoming the FGA Tag Team Champions, so that’s something I can’t take away from you both. Then again...how many times did you defend them rightfully? Oh yeah, that’s right…
Zero.
Yep, it shows that I wasn’t the only one bested by the infamous flock known as The Murder, now am I? And not just that, but you never even got pinned. In fact, you were the first team eliminated in said match, so there goes your trump card of “it was an Ultimate Endurance match” out the window. Anything else you guys want me to say or do to ruffle those feathers, because I will. Or Ruby will...or Ricky. We all have a bone to pick with this entire division anyways. It’s your call. In fact, why don’t you let Jason or Chris open their mouths for a change and let them have their say instead of hiding behind somebody who won’t shut the hell up.
Because I’m going to say it right now...this industry, this entire thing that we call “wrestling” sees ups and downs. They claim the fans turned their backs on them...I say, who hasn’t had that happen? Raise your hands. Shit, I’ll raise my hand. It happens. No offense to the FGA universe, but they have the attention spans that can only be measured in nanoseconds. See, they’re looking at a bird on a tree now, are you guys happy?
But you know...maybe it’s not because you guys need a voice to help you guys out. Maybe...just maybe The Usual Suspects weren’t that great to begin with. Simple as that. At least I won a title here AND defended it. I was the first Pride Champion...everybody remembers that. The Usual Suspects were the second Tag Team Champions. Not so many people remembering that. Sure, you beat The Murder, but at the same time, it took you guys HOW many tries to defeat them? My point remains. And you claim that people turned your back on them, for what reason? Maybe they were just bored of them and wanted to cheer on somebody who actually could give a shit. I don’t know, I’m not a rocket scientist.
They want to cheer somebody who can actually wrestle. Why do you all think they cheer me and Ruby? Okay, because the loudest of our fans are fan-fiction writing vultures that can’t take a hint, but hey...at least they enjoy us. At least they’re trying. When was the last time you saw somebody caring about The Usual Suspects? And yeah, these belts we have been holding are now nothing more than pawn shop material...but you know what, we earned the WLW Tag Team Championships. Go back and look and you’ll see two Infinity Gauntlets inside our homes. We didn’t just lie down and earned them. No. We actually stopped bickering for a change and did something about it.
Tell that to the 14 of the best tag teams in the world who tried to get a hold of these. Did we even see you guys in the match? That speaks of itself really.
And yeah, these are pretty much useless. But guess what. We actually have a plan for these.
But if two people who can’t really deal with one another on a daily basis could actually become Tag Team Champions, then clearly they can do it anywhere. And yeah, the Dynamic Duos tournament was a road bump, and CLEARLY we should be the FGA Tag Team Champions right now, but instead of actually going against the “man” and trying to pay lawsuits and bucking the system and all of that PC-correct bullshit that is the reason why I’m putting a write-in vote for Hannah LaCroix and Patrick Starfish as the President and VP of these United States come November (it’s up to them which one wants which category…#Clownfish2016)...WE’RE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT! By kicking your asses.
I need a drink. I really do.
====
June 19th, 2016
7:15PM
12 hours have passed and it actually was a pretty solid day altogether. The two of them shared a day of doing nothing but catching up, watching movies, and of course, getting ready for the day that he dreaded. Although she was ecstatic as all. So over the gums and through the woods...if you know what I mean. But even still, for most of the day, he got to relax and let his injuries heal up before anything else. She even grabbed him a couple of ice packs throughout the day and gave him stuff to drink. What a great kid, really.
But here they were...Kevin was finishing up preparing dinner and Kim was busy preparing the table up. Weirdly enough, on a situation like this, you think the both of them would be dressed up...or at least to the point where she would make him dress up like he was being held hostage, but nope...both were in jeans and a t-shirt. Like father, like daughter I guess.
She finishes putting up the last cup when suddenly, the doorbell rings. The two of them look up at the door. Both with opposite fields of admiration.
With Kimberly, it’s one of absolute joy. She finally gets to meet the infamous Ruby Tyler, somebody who her father has spent all this time with, hoping that she’s nice enough to like her company.
With Kevin, it’s one of absolute disdain. Here he has to let Ruby into his apartment for the first time (even though he’s invaded her home many times, but that’s beside the point) and share an actual homegrown family dinner with that is not take-out from a fast food joint.
But Kim reaches up and pulls the door open and there Ruby stands...dressed a little fancier than the Hardaway family, but not by much. Kim looks up as Ruby looks down, arms behind her back, and cracks a small smile at her.
“Well hey there. You must be the birthday girl, Kimmy.” she tells her as Kim nods her head and smiles.
“Yes I am.”
“Well I’m Ruby. And it’s very nice to meet you. Aren’t you going to let me in?”
Kim moves out of the way and greets her in with her arms, Ruby letting off a giggle and a sincere thanks as she walks in and scouts out the place before locking eyes with Kevin and giving off a welcoming nod.
“Hey.”
“Howdy. Welcome to De Casa Hardaway.”
“You mean “Le Casa de Hardaway”, right?”
“Listen, I failed Spanish twice...sue me.”
She scouts out the place once again.
“And you like to stay at my house again, WHY??”
“We are in a third-floor apartment after all?”
“Still doesn’t explain a lot of things, but okay…so what did you cook for the birthday girl?”
“Her favorite...tater tot casserole.”
“Really? Wait...when did you learn how to cook?”
“I have for awhile now. Kind of easy now when you get to take care of somebody’s who can blow bubbles in her milk.”
“And you haven’t cooked for me, WHY??”
“She eats it all before I get to give you any leftovers.”
Ruby goes wide-eyed and looks at Kim, who does her best “angel a.k.a. I didn’t do anything” impersonation, as she giggles and tells Ruby…
“Nah. He’s the one who eats it all.”
Ruby giggles at her. An honest-to-God real giggle, not a phony one.
“Oh, is that so?”
“All the time.”
Kevin just gives the two of them a weird and disconcerning look, but then sticks his tongue out at Kim, who does the same right back.
“Hey, I got you something.” she tells Kim as she finally removes her hands from behind her back to reveal a small package wrapped up, as Kim grabs it and thanks her with a hug. Sure, it’s a hug on the legs, but a hug nonetheless as she smiles down at him and for a change...both Kevin and Ruby actually share a smile for this rather touching moment. As Kim goes to the couch to unwrap it, Ruby walks up to Kevin.
“You...you didn’t need to do that.”
“Oh, I know.”
She pulls something out of her back pocket. A wallet with a Batman logo on it.
“You left this back at my place last night after you came back to town.”
He goes wide-eyed and snatches it back as Ruby laughs at his reaction and then whispers in his ear.
“I used my card as well.”
Kevin gives her a stern look and smiles as she tells him then, “Also, who carries around a Batman wallet in his 30’s?”
“Uhh...this guy. Now let’s eat. I’m starving.”
“Me too. You coming, kiddo?”
She...she called her “kiddo”. The name that Angie called him. The name that Kevin called Kim. He didn’t know whether or not to be shocked, confused, or angry that she decided to use that name. On the other hand, Ruby and Kevin have seen hell and high water throughout their time together, so I guess it wasn’t going to hurt any less or any more than it already did. It’s best to just move on and eat dinner and get this over with.
But dinner was anything but. For the next several hours, the three of them ate dinner, and just caught up, Ruby getting to know Kim. Ruby was clearly having a good time...that was any time Kim had the floor and spoke about her stories. If Kevin ever chimed in or told a story, Ruby passed it off, but she was all over Kim. From her stories about climbing the monkey bars and doing backflips off of them, to getting second place in her science fair (and let’s face it, Kevin wasn’t the biggest science nut either, so second place is an honor really) to having a conversation about a boy liking her and thinking that boys have cooties.
Ruby would give her some advice though.
“Just because you think boys have cooties doesn’t mean that every single boy out there has them. It’s like getting sick. Only the boys who you don’t like have the cooties. Bullies...tons of cooties. But the ones you do like, like your friends...I think they’re okay.”
“And what about daddy?”
“I think he has the most out of anybody.” Ruby tells her in the most playful voice ever, and Kim giggles right back, playfully bumping Ruby.
“No he doesn’t.”
“Okay...only a couple. But I think he’s okay.”
“Geez, thank you very much, girls. Glad to see that I have cooties. UNCLEAN! HELP!” He screams as he shuffles over and tickles his daughter, kissing her cheek in a biting-like fashion, like all parents do to their kids. You know how it is. But Kevin looks at his watch and sighs.
“Hey...it’s getting late. It’s almost time for bed.”
“Awww...but I want to stay up and talk with Ruby. Come on, pa! Please?? Please, pa?”
“Yeah, please pa?”
He points at Ruby.
“Don’t you start.”
“But yeah, you’re right. I got other things I need to do anyway.”
Kim sighs in distress, but Ruby kneels down and puts her eye level to Kim’s.
“Hey, don’t you worry. It’s not the last you’ll see of me. I promise. Maybe next time, you can come over to my place and I can show you how to make a bow out of sticks. That sound fun?”
"Yeah!!" Her frown is immediately turned upside down as Ruby reaches her hand out and the two high-five.
“Okay, kiddo. Get into your PJ’s and I’ll be in to tuck you goodnight.” Kevin tells her as he kisses her on the cheek and she runs off, as she enters her room and away from the two bickering...well, I don’t know what to call them anymore.
“She has really taken a liking to you.”
“I know.”
“I...I have to ask you, who are you and what have you done to Ruby Tyler?”
“I guess I’m just really great with kids.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Hey...I have to train with one. It’s the same difference.”
Kevin gives her that look of “shut the hell up!” that she always enjoys seeing out of him as Ruby opens the door and walks to the outside.
“But no...I think I owe you an apology. Turns out you’re really great at something after all. She’s a great kid.”
“Yeah. She’s the world to me.”
“Yeah, well...we need to keep training if she’s going to have a world to live in.”
“Exactly.”
Ruby’s phone rings and she immediately answers it…
“Hello. Yeah. Hey, can you hang on for a second…?”
She hides the phone in her hand.
“Hey, I have to split. I’ll catch you tomorrow, okay?”
“Yeah. You go do your thing.”
Ruby smiles and heads off, answering the call again...Kevin just standing there, looking out at her as she drives away...not sure where things are going to go next. If at any chance at all.
Kevin goes back inside to put a nice little ribbon on the day when he sees the gift on the table that Ruby left for Kim. You know, after all this time, he had no idea what Ruby (and Kevin, given that she used his credit card) got for the little young'un. He opens the small box up and sees a note along with a small swiss army knife. The ones that young campers would receive when they became one with nature. For starters, he became angry at the thought that she would get something like this, until he saw the note that was underneath the gift.
"For Kimberly. Take care of your daddy for me. He's kind of important to me, okay?"
Love, Ruby <3
A small smile formed from Kevin's face.
