Centurion’s place was huge, but it was easy how quickly you got used to so much extra space. Compared to her tiny apartment in Ottawa, it was a genuine palace. Even Garnet seemed to be suffering from agoraphobia, and had barely left a corner of the room the first few days. Still, Ruby had a few ideas on what to do with it, but she didn’t want to install a parkour course, climbing wall or indoor skydiving machine inside his living room without his blessing. They had been friends for a long time, but their romantic relationship was still in the early stages, and she didn’t want to give him the feeling that you get when someone shows up on your doorstep holding a Chinese baby and demanding you pay alimony (that is, obviously, a completely fictional situation). A feeling of ‘oh snap, what have I gotten myself into? This is gonna be bad’.

Still, despite the fact it was well after midnight, Ruby found herself to be restless and wandering the around the not-so-humble Chicago abode. She stopped and paused at the trophy cabinet, instantly noticing the Cross-Hemisphere Championship Centurion had won just last weekend. It was a title she had held as well a few months back, when she had represented the XWF in a crossover event and emerged victorious. Her fingers stroked the golden centerpiece, which was cold to the touch.

Ruby: “Hey there, bud. Ya miss me?”

She knew she missed it. Not so much THAT title belt, as she was incredibly proud of Centy for having won it… Her words were said without the slightest hint of jealousy or resentment. No, she missed being a champion. Being a symbol. And she realized she missed the Anarchy Championship most of all. And on the next episode of Anarchy, she would have a chance of competing for it once again. But only if she won.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Anarchy match, or a Vinnie Lane booking for that matter, if she wasn’t pitted against a girl she considered to be one of her best friends and a woman she had a lot of time and respect for. Vita had gone AWOL for a bit, or so it seemed, but the little (in age, most of all, as she was taller than the banana-lime blur) pink spitfire had felt that same taste of gold, and Ruby knew she was feeling the same as she felt right now: hungry.

It wasn’t so much the fame or acclaim, or purse money for that matter, that Ruby hungered after. Not even the adoration. It was the sense of accomplishment. The feeling that she was making a difference. By being on top of a division, you could exact true change, and bring true meaning to the values of respect, friendship and benevolence. While she was happy for Kenzi Grey to have won the Anarchy championship, she wasn’t sure if the former child starlet was all that interested in doing that. After all, she had been adamant about being done with the XWF altogether. Vita, she hoped, would want to win that Anarchy title for more or less the same reasons than she herself did. And for the Pink Mist it would be a great affirmation that she was on the right path. She was still very proud of Vita for having shown such growth, both in character and in terms of respect: both given and earned.

And then there was Tula. A character that… worried her. Much more so than any kind of Bobbi London backstabbing ever could. Because while the latter had always been obnoxious and deceitful, Tula had shown signs of regression. That flicker in her eyes that Ruby recognized all too well… she had stared into the eyes of masked madmen, of deranged cult leaders, of mind-addled gargantuan simpletons, of split personality disordered psychopaths… It had always been the eyes that gave them away. And that flicker in the eyes of Tula she had spotted? It concerned her. But she still believed the woman she knew could prevail. Ruby was going to do everything she could to help her stop that spiral into darkness. But it wasn’t going to be easy. Even more so because she was obligated to physically destroy her on Anarchy to achieve her own goals.

Suddenly, Ruby felt restless. All this thinking had put her on edge. She felt the call of the streets. Under the cover of darkness, it whispered to her. “Go out there, and do some good.” She felt ashamed that she even heard it. She had everything her heart had any right to desire under this very roof. She was ashamed she still felt hungry for titles, when the man worth a thousand championship was sleeping next to an empty space. But she couldn’t resist. She changed into her superhero outfit, and snapped the mask into place, before packing her backpack with a parachute. They were high up here. She was going to need it.

She opened up a window. Wind blazed in immediately, howling through the cracks. And still ,the voice behind her was clearly audible.

Centurion: “You know, this building does have an elevator.”

She turned around and grinned. There he stood, looking all dapper and half-naked. She knew how weird this must’ve looked. But Centurion had always accepted her who she was and, apparently, loved her for it.

Ruby: “Elevators? So boring, my guy.”

She chuckled, realizing that was one of the first instances she could use those words literally.

Ruby: “And you should know that from looking in the mirror… this girl doesn’t settle for boring.”

Ruby opened up the window all the way. The Windy City. There was bound to be crime afoot. She put one foot on the window’s edge, and looked over her shoulder one more time.

Ruby: “Don’t wait up. COWABUNGA!”

And the Super Dear’O leapt into the cold, windy embrace of night.