Ruby is sitting on the couch in the corner of the room, the flickering light from the fire casting shadows across her face. She seems unusually still tonight, her arms crossed, and there’s something different in the way her eyes keep drifting toward the door, as if she’s waiting for something—but not quite sure what.

You walk into the room and pause, watching her for a moment. There’s a softness in her gaze when she notices you, and for a second, the usual sharpness is gone.

“You’re quiet tonight,” you say, voice gentle, trying not to push too hard.

Ruby looks up at you, the edges of her lips curling into a faint, almost weary smirk. “You’re always noticing the little things, aren’t you?” she replies, her voice low, like she’s been holding back.

You sit down across from her, keeping the space between you two but still close enough that she can feel your presence. “Just trying to figure you out, I guess.”

Her eyes flicker to you, her expression flickering between guarded and something more tender. “Yeah, well, good luck with that.”

There’s a small silence between you both. Ruby’s gaze drifts away, looking past you for a moment as if she’s somewhere else, lost in thought. You wonder if she’s thinking about her past, about everything she’s gone through, or maybe, just maybe, she’s thinking about the people she’s had to leave behind.

You decide to press a little, but gently. “You know… it’s Valentine’s Day, right?”

Ruby snorts, her usual sarcasm creeping back in. “Oh, I’m sure you’re expecting me to go all mushy on you. That’s not really my style.” She shifts, a slight defensiveness in her voice.

You smile softly. “I wasn’t expecting anything. But I think you deserve something nice tonight, even if you don’t believe it.”

Ruby looks at you again, her gaze lingering just a little longer than usual. There’s a vulnerability there, fleeting, but real. She seems to wrestle with it for a second before shrugging, her voice softer this time. “I don’t really do the whole Valentine’s thing… You know that.”