Co-operation

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"No. Absolutely not!" Ruby Lockhart's grey eyes were narrowed in defiance, despite the fact she was stood in her commander's office right then. "Bringing them in will only bring more questions and red tape!" She insisted, her slender fists balled up by her sides.
"This isn't a discussion, Lockhart. I have my orders, and now you have yours." The grey haired man told her, though he sounded somewhat weary, like he was all too accustomed to these childish outbursts. "You are to meet your new partner at 8pm and brief them on the case. The sooner we clear this whole mess up, the sooner I can go back to letting you do things your way, alright? Believe me, I don't want these blind fools involved anymore than you do, but this last case has made local news. We need to stop it before it goes national, or global."
Ruby's lips pursed together as she continued to scowl, seeming to be considering all this new information. There was a reason she didn't have a partner; no one could put up with her hotheaded, shoot first ask questions later attitude. It created mountains of paper work, but unfortunately she came from a long line of the divisions pure bred hunters, and her skills were... invaluable. 
"Fine!" She huffed at last. "But if this yokel ends up dead because they couldn't do what I said or panics when faced with the truth, I won't be held to blame!" Having said that, she stormed from the office, waves of dark hair swinging behind her before the door slammed shut.

Jett was on his knees, spitting blood at the elve’s feet. “Well couldn’t very well have his lordship getting his nails dirty, now could I?” The young man spat.

Ruby wasn’t exactly happy with Red right then either. “I told you I couldn’t leave without him, you ignored me!”

Aren looked at his own talons and scowled. "And yet I have. I hate demon blood. It makes my skin crawl. Almost as badly as human beings does. Come on then. We'll get you to a hospital and hope you don't die. It costs too much to replace you."

Red looked shocked. He held up his hands and shook his head. "You were dying. I had to make a call. I'm not sorry for what I did."

“Yeah, what a fucking waste that would be, right?” Jett sneered, though he had fallen face first into his own blood before Aren could reply.

“I was not dying!” Ruby shot back, seeming rather defensive. “Why does everyone seem to think I needed saving!” She added, casting a scathing glance at Tobias as she said this.

"Ruby? They just brought your brother in." A young officer leaned into the room, looking rather grim. "Aren is with him and he's using a human glamour if that tells you how bad it is." Piper was up and out of the room before anyone could stop her. 
Tobi simply snorted, "Aren has been itching to get involved with something. He's just..." 
"Human glamour?" Red interrupted.

Ruby groaned and eased herself back down into the bed with a hand pressed to her stitches. “Well this day just keeps getting better and better.”

Jett was in pretty terrible shape when they brought him in, babbling about he needed Piper, he had to tell her she was safe.

Tobias snorted, not even looking at Red. "Let me guess, your brother tried to out dick a demon and lost. A higher-up had to step in and save his hide as usual. I voted to get rid of the gypsies from the beginning. Look what it's causing." 

"Take her into custody." The moment Aren saw Piper he was barking orders. Like Tobias he hated gypsies. She had caused him a great deal of trouble. Enough was enough.

“Shut up!” Ruby hissed. “This has nothing to do with Piper being past of their clan, and you damn well know it! Azazel’s goons were snatching norm girls too!”

Jett had been given a lot of medication now as the doctors fought to assess what had happened to him. He unable to fight Piper’s corner this time.

"Because you and I threw them off the scent." Tobias said. He got to his feet and bumped into Red hard enough to knock him to the side. "I'll go talk to Aren. You rest." 
"So...you guys were keeping people from finding out about Piper? And these guys were demons...right?" Red asked, sitting on the end of Ruby's bed. He hoped she wouldn't be frustrated with him again.

Ruby was still in a rotten mood, but luckily for Red, her magic had been somewhat exhausted since her outburst just before she was stabbed. “Yes.” She replied rather sullenly. “My brother and I have been keeping her safe since we were children.”

"the cost seems pretty high..." Red told her gently. "Is the friendship worth it? And what about the one with your partner? He's kind of...a jerk." Red admitted, laughing softly.

“I love Piper, and Tobias isn’t a jerk... he’s a fucking asshole.” Ruby replied, then seemed to realise what else Red had said. “And for the record, he isn’t my partner either.”

"For now, I am." Red said with a gentle smile. "Whether he likes it or not. Which brings me to the next thing.. I saw something last night. I'm ready to stop acting stupid and believe..."

“Trust me, he won’t like it.” Ruby remarked with a snort. “And it doesn’t matter what you saw, or what you believe. You can’t hide from it now, you’ve been seen.” She added rather cryptically. “The only thing your kind have going for them, is that the elves and all their cohorts think humans are beneath them, and so pay them little mind. You meddled tonight... you’re on their radar.”

"I thought elves we're just something in a movie but I saw one tonight." Red confirmed. "He had white hair and he was tall...he was heading in the direction I had last seen you. He..was shouting into a com on his shoulder, saying something about how if Azezal screwed this up it would be a fortnight before they could try again."

Red had Ruby’s undivided attention this time. “You’re certain that’s what he said.” She asked, her grey eyes searching his face for any sign he may be lying. She had never really liked the elves, but people like herself, Jett and Tobias were hard to come by as few humans had the physiology for magic. It usually meant there was a deviation from their own species somewhere in their history. That usually meant demons, not elves or fae, though it wasn’t completely unheard of.

Red nodded, wondering if he'd said something wrong. "The person on the com addressed the elf as Captain. If that means anything to you..." He went on. 
Ruby would again be stopped from answering as Tobias returned with Piper. "Stupid elves we're trying to take her to the Order. That's the last place we need her. " He grumbled. 
Piper was exhausted. She had slept in days and it was showing. The stress of seeing Jett so near death was getting to her. "I need someone to take me to my potions..." She breathed. "Jett needs them."

“I’ll take you.” Ruby volunteered as she pushed herself back to her feet, not seeming to care that she herself had been close to death not so long ago. “I seriously doubt I’m on any of the orders favourites lists right now.”

"Ruby...you were hurt...I can't just let you leave here." Red said, shaking his head. "I'll take her home. You're staying put."

“I have been hurt before. This is my job.” Ruby insisted, though was moving rather slowly as she tried to head for the door.

"Just what the hell are the lot of you doing in this disgusting hospital?" Aren spat. He was there the moment Red tried to open the door. "I understand humans like to congregate hear but this is no place for magic. Not that your kind would understand such a thing." He snorted. "All your lot understand is violence and death."

“I’m sorry, did we interrupt your manicure?” It seemed Ruby held elves in the same esteem as her brother did. “Without our apparent thirst for violence and death, you would have to get your own goddamn hands dirty!”

"This is not an injury for this hospital. You could have dealt with this yourself." Aren said coldly. "Piper, it's time to go. You've caused enough trouble." The elf captain held his hand out for the gypsy, looking annoyed.

Ruby had been disciplined before for her insubordination, and elven punishment was not something to wish on anyone. Despite this, she slapped Aren’s hand away. “Piper isn’t going anywhere. As you pointed out, she is human, and I may also add not a member of the order. You can’t just bark demands at her!”

"she is as member of the Order through birth and I would advise you not to touch me again!" Aren barked, making a grab for Piper's wrist. Instead of her his long fingers found Red's forearm. It was clear this didn't make him any happier. "You, sir, are a guest, in my prescint. And so far an unwise one." He hissed. "I'll be calling your captain about your behavior. Now..." 
"I need to make my potions for Jett." Piper said. "Ruby...please let's go home. I'll give you something too. You'll feel better. I promise. I'll give you my grandmother's stuff...not mine..."

Ruby nodded her head at Piper’s suggestion. “I feel like that norm doctor butchered me with these stitches.” She muttered, not even glancing in Tobias’ direction. “Hey, Red, if you need a place to stay you can use my apartment while I’m with Piper.” She called over her shoulder, well aware what Tobias would have to say about this.

"Thank you, but I have a room at the motel." Red said gently. "Can I give you two a ride at least?" 
"Hardly." Tobias snapped. "You can't see where they're going. Get some rest. We'll meet up tomorrow and send you packing." He muttered, leading Piper past Aren without another word.

Ruby was having to lean on Piper as they walked, able to feel the wet patch from the blood oozed from her stitches. She was fighting very hard to bite her tongue on anything that had just been said.

Tobias got the two women settled, ignoring Piper's protests to take potions to Jett. He healed the immdiate bleeding on Ruby and sat down beside her.

“This is your fault.” Ruby remarked once he was done, rather disgruntled that she had needed Red to get her out of Azazel’s stronghold, Piper to leave the hospital, and now Tobias’ magic to partially heal her wound.

Tobias sighed softly. He too was exhausted. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had a good night's rest. "I never imagined a gypsy would have such a large home." He remarked, ignoring Ruby's words. "Their kind always have the itch to move." 
"Here." Piper handed her friend a bottle filled with red liquid. "It's Gran's. Some of the last...it will heal you. The rest is for Jett."