Ruto appeared via magic circle by the door to the clubroom to find everyone else was already there. Asia was happily bonding with her familiar, Rassei, a small blue and white Dragon with crimson eyes. Haru was on the floor in a smoking heap next to Asia.
"The hell happened to him?" Ruto asked, pointing to Haru.
"He got a little too close to Asia and her familiar didn't take too kindly to it. But uh, what happened to you? We looked for you but you were just, gone." Kiba said.
"Um, I guess you could say I found a familiar of my own." Ruto said evasively.
"I'm guessing it didn't take too kindly to you trying to make a pact with it?" Kiba asked with a chuckle.
"Yeah… yeah. Anyways, I need to go home and wallow in misery over the untimely death of my monitor." Ruto said and then left for home.
Every time! Every God damn time! Ruto raged silently as he stewed in anger in his chair. He sat in the living room with Ophis, Rossweisse and… Tiamat.
"Hmmm, this is a really nice place you have here." Tiamat complimented smiling innocently. "Clean, spacious, and even has a room for me. I think I might like it here."
"You know what? I'm not even gonna bother getting mad after this. For some reason everyone knows where I live and thinks it's okay to just crash here. Seriously, do no supernatural beings have any common courtesy?" Ruto glowered.
"Maybe it's your totally-not-sarcastic-abrasive-and dickish personality that simply charms everyone around you." Rossweisse said.
"I like him. He's nice." Ophis said honestly. Ruto smiled at her.
"See, Ophis is on my side. What have you got, huh?" Ruto taunted Rossweisse.
"Pfft, that's only because you pay for her takeaway. Seriously when you're not in your room or at school you spoil her rotten with food." the Valkyrie retorted.
"You're just jelly." Ruto said dismissively. As much as Rossweisse wanted to deny it, she couldn't, but she could hide it.
"And besides, could you resist treating someone so adorable so nicely?" Ruto continued. Ophis was silent as she watched Ruto and Rossweisse go on at each other with a weird feeling.
Adorable? He thinks I'm adorable. I've heard that word over many years but I've never been called it. Ophis thought in confusion. She couldn't shake the faint feeling of what she could only equate to what she thought happiness felt like.
Tiamat had left at some point in the middle of the argument, and Rossweisse, having seemingly grown tired of it had also left. It was only Ruto and Ophis in the living room now.
"I want to apologise." Ruto said suddenly. Ophis looked at him curiously. "I kinda feel like I've been neglecting you lately. I mean, I get it you're the Ouroboros Dragon, you can look after yourself better than I can probably. But I guess it's just that I don't get to talk to you much cos of all the crazy shit that goes on." Ruto said apologetically.
"There's no need. This is all happening because it needs to. Whether we interact much is inconsequential." Ophis said in her usual dull monotone.
Ruto scowled. "That's not the point Ophis. I'll ask you this. What do you reckon was the thing I hated the most before all of this. Having you, Rossweisse, and now Tiamat here. Before mingling with Rias and her posse of weirdos. What do you think it was?" Ruto asked, sounding a lot more soft spoken than he usually was.
Ophis thought hard about what it could be. She knew he hated loud noises, people going in his room, people not closing his door on the way out and a plethora of other pet peeves, but she could think what it would legitimately be. She shook her head lightly at him.
He gave her a melancholy smile. "It was the loneliness." Ophis gave him a slightly surprised look. "Yup. I've always been lonely. Back in Fuyuki, the heart of my old Magicians sect, my family were cold and distant, more teachers and colleagues than actual blood-relatives. Then in the Underworld with Sirzechs and Grayfia and the others, I never really belonged. And since leaving there, I've never had any friends at school cos I never felt the need for them. Any friends I did make were Devils, Angels and Fallen, but they were in other worlds or whatever and were always on the brink of war. You're like me Ophis. I can tell that much." Ruto said sadly.
Ophis sat in contemplation. He was right. She was born from nothingness, always alone with no one but her occupying the Dimensional Gap. Ever since first arriving at Ruto's house, at a glance, she saw the emptiness in his eyes. Emptiness disguised as cool disregard for things and people.
"You're… empty." Ophis said simply.
Ruto nodded. "Very. But I hope to change that. And I want to have you along to help me do that. Waddaya say?" he said offering his hand to her. She stretched her arm out and placed her small hand in his larger one, his fingers closing around it lightly as the shook hands lightly.
"Deal." Ophis said, the tiniest traces of a smile graced her lips. Ruto grinned happily at her and released her hand.
Don't forget, we're partners, Ruto. I've got your back. Albion chimed in.
I know, I know. But for now, let's focus on getting stronger together, eh partner?
Rias sat at her ornate wooden desk with her hands supporting her chin as she was absorbed in thought. Her trust in Ruto was slipping. He was too informed and trusted by the factions to just be some kind of astral handyman. No, he had to have a motive. She knew he would do everything he could to make Haru strong and keep him alive, but how much was he willing to do to guarantee his safety? Would he put the rest of them at risk? Would he even go so far as to completely disregard them in hopes of having a good fight with Haru one day?
There were too many questions, and no answers. The only reason she'd let him stick around was to keep an eye on him, but he was starting to win over her peerage minus herself and Koneko, who hardly acknowledged his presence. To add to her worries was her engagement. She'd never asked for it, and had no choice but to go along with it. After a few minutes of hard thought, she had an idea.
Maybe Ruto could show himself to be at least a little trustworthy. Maybe, just maybe, he can help me get out of this whole arranged marriage fiasco. Sona informed me about how he had her on the ropes in their game of chess, so perhaps his tactical outlook can help me. Rias thought with a small amount of hope.
She gazed out of one of the many windows at the moonlit sky. Brother I hope the trust you have in him is worth it.