Me and Ruby got home around 5 something, and we had both decided to stay in for the rest of the night. I had ordered take-out [to which she strongly objected] and we both sat on the couch together, watching T.V.
"Alright, I'll admit it," She said smiling. "This is better than I thought it would be."
"Yeah, great..." I wasn't in the mood for smalltalk, though. I was worried about what Dave had said about anthro couples being taken. With how they'd been treated since they first started appearing, It wasn't impossible, so much as it was unlikely.
"Uh, Ruby, there's something I'd like to talk about." I braced myself for the worst.
"Hmm?" She turned towards me and raised an eyebrow. "I... I think you should turn off the T.V."
::::::::::
I listened to everything Rick said. I heard him talk about the man who had disappeared, the new laws about anthros, everything. And as I listened, I got this horrible feeling. I'd only felt it once before. It was fear. I was afraid of what would happen to me, and Rick.
"Do you have a- a drink or something?" I asked, shakily. He fetched me some water, and I swiftly downed it.
"Shit." I was filled with so much emotion, none of it positive. I was afraid, but also angry, but I didn't know why.
"It's bullshit." I stood up and kicked his coffee table, sending it forward and splitting it in half. "What the hell do they think we are?" I threw one of his houseplants to the ground. "Look, Ruby, just calm down, okay?"
"I'll calm down when I have Collins' fucking head on a..."
I stopped. For a second, I was confused. Then, a wave of happiness flowed through my body. It was permeating my entire being, filling me with euphoria that I'd never felt before. A smile crossed my face, and I lay down on the couch and closed my eyes. For the first time, I was completely content.
The feeling slowly vanished. I opened my eyes to see Rick, laughing to himself. "That..." I said, happily, "That was the most wonderful thing i've ever felt."I thought for a second. "Did you do soomething?"
"Ruby, I was scratching behind your ears."
"Oh." I was pretty embarrassed, but my anxiety was gone. "Thanks, Rick. I'll remember that."
The night passed like all the rest. Watched T.V., ate what tasted like burnt rubber, and went to bed.
That was the last peaceful night for a while.