a moment of peace

as a warm glow omits from the table lamp, sharp sounds of metal sharpening against a rock flick across the air like pieces of glass. *shink. shink. shink.* rhythmic, almost like music.

in the corner, ruby sits snuggled on the worn-out beanbag, folding origami out of old newspapers from the obscure cupboard on the wall. over on the other end of the room, conroy carefully sets down the dagger by his side and moves to pick up a box of gun parts from the ground. more sounds of clicking and screws fixing into metal sound from his corner of the room, filling the silence with small noises.

"hey, connie" ruby smirks, finishing the final folds on her paper airplane. "heads up!"

then proceeding to throw her airplane forward, conroy whirls around in his chair to catch the flying projectile. glaring at her, he sets it down at his side and returns to constructing weapons.

"no no no," ruby claps her hand, trying to catch the boy's attention. "you gotta open it! read it out loud!"

eyeing her suspiciously, conroy picks up the airplane again and unfolds it carefully, opening it up to reveal the message. "why did... the whale cross the road?" he recites, though quite confused. "i don't get it. what are you trying to say?"

"wouldn't you like to know, smartass?" ruby leans across the bean bag smugly.

"tell me," conroy responds without hesitation.

"to get to the other tide!" ruby answers, bursting out in laughter.

conroy only stares back with an unamused scowl. "you're fucking stupid."

"but you love it!" ruby manages to force out between giggles.

rolling his eyes admist ruby's hysterical laughter, conroy sets the paper aside and picks up the pieces work again. still, from somewhere down there, the tinest of grins curls up on conroy's mouth. "yea," he mutters quietly. "maybe i do."