Okay, so I know that some people are upset about how rushed this ship was but I honestly think that Ruby and Dorothy are an adorable couple. They're a step in the right direction, not a huge step, but a step nevertheless and I really hope they have some more screen time. That little note aside, I just watched 05x18 and I couldn't help but think about what would happen when Dorothy goes to the Burning Room. This may turn into a prompt series if people like it.
Summary: Set a few days after the end of "Ruby Slippers." Dorothy wakes up screaming after visiting the Burning Room. Luckily for her, Ruby's there to offer some much needed comfort.
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon A Time.
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It was so hot, she felt like she was melting. It was as though she was made of wax. The flames inched nearer and nearer with each passing second, almost taunting her. It was like they knew they would get her eventually, so they felt no need to rush. She'd tried calling out for someone, anyone, to help her, but there was no-one. She was alone. In this fiery Hell, even Toto and Ruby had abandoned her. Why was she here?! The flames were so close now, almost enough to burn her. The prickling heat licked at her arms and legs scaring her more than she'd care to admit. She just wanted to go back to Oz, to her little cabin, to her friends, Toto, Ruby...all of it, she just wanted to go home. Backing herself up against a wall, she began to cry as the flames surrounded her completely. There was no escape, she was stuck here, on her own, just waiting for the fire to engulf her. As the first tall pillar of orange and red made contact with her arm, what little control she had dissipated and Dorothy screamed...
Dorothy felt her throat burn as she sat bolt upright. She didn't know where she was, only that it wasn't that room. She could still feel the pain and heat of the fire on her arm and as she looked down, she realized why. An angry, red burn that covered her wrist. Her eyes darted around her and, as her senses returned, she remembered where she was. This was her cabin, her bed, her Toto lying beside her, a little shaken from her scream. The first rays of sun were starting to come through her window, revealing the rest of her room. But the amber rays did nothing except remind her of the burning room. Her crying intensified, the pain and fear fast becoming unbearable.
A cool hand touched her back, the initial contact causing her to flinch, before she leaned back against it. Another hand gently lifted her painfully scorched wrist, presumably to examine it, then placed it back on her lap. "You're okay." Whispered a soft voice. "You're okay Kansas." Ruby. Thought Dorothy, relief washing over her. Looking over to her right, her tear-filled brown eyes met her girlfriend's concerned green ones and she took a deep breath. She didn't want Ruby to see her weak. The girl in question placed a small kiss onto Dorothy's forehead before standing up. Dorothy felt her pulse increase at the idea of Ruby leaving. Her hand shot up to grab her wrist, a small whimper leaving her throat without her consent. Ruby's heart broke a little at the sound and her hand reached up and cupped her trembling girlfriend's face, brushing away a few tears with her thumb.
"It's alright." She said, the softness still lacing her words. "I'm going to get something to cool your wrist. I'll be right back, I promise." Kissing Dorothy again, she walked out of the room. True to her word, she returned only a few moments later with a cloth, a basin filled with water and a tankard, also containing water. She placed the items on the small table next to the bed and maneuvered so that she was kneeling in front of Dorothy. Toto had chosen to make himself comfortable with his head on his owner's lap and was enjoying Dorothy's scratching behind his ears. Ruby picked the basin and placed it to her girlfriend's right. Carefully lifting Dorothy's arm, Ruby then placed it above the basin. "This is going to hurt, okay?" Dorothy just nodded, tears still falling from her eyes. Ruby then lowered the burnt wrist into the water, drawing a pained sound from the other girl.
Ruby reached back over to the tankard and handed it to Dorothy. Grateful for the drink, Dorothy took it and downed half of it. She then put it back onto the table and stubbornly wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Thanks Wolfie." She said, her voice still a little hoarse and somewhat sore. Ruby smiled slightly and kissed Dorothy tenderly. "You wanna talk about it?" Asked Ruby. Dorothy tensed visibly, dreading this conversation. She'd already scared Ruby enough, first with the curse and now this, she didn't want to worry her any more. She looked down at Toto, deliberately trying to avoid Ruby's eyes. Her efforts proved fruitless however, when her girlfriend gently lifted her chin and locked eyes with her. Ruby sighed and brushed a stray strand of hair away from the other girl's face. "It's okay if you don't. It's just...I know people who've been under sleeping curses before and they've ended up in the Burning Room." That got Dorothy's attention.
"It...that room...everyone goes there?" She hated the way her voice betrayed her fear, but it didn't change the way Ruby was looking at her. Adoration and love were visible through the concern in a way Dorothy hadn't seen in a long time. Ruby nodded.
"If they've been under a sleeping curse. It's a side affect. Snow said they go away eventually and you just have to get through it 'till then." Dorothy's eyes teared up again and she looked down at Toto in an effort to hide it. Ruby's hand dropped, realizing that Dorothy would talk when she was ready and refusing to force her. She lifted the other girl's hand out of the water, relieved that the redness has diminished. Taking the cloth from the table, she began to slowly and gently wrap the burn. Every so often, Dorothy would wince and Ruby would kiss her cheek in response. It physically hurt when she tasted salt there for the first time.
"I was alone." Dorothy whispered suddenly. Ruby finished wrapping the injury, tied the bandage and placed a small kiss on top of it. She looked up at Dorothy and squeezed her hand to show she was listening. "I tried shouting but no-one was there. The fire was everywhere, no matter where I looked it was always there. I couldn't get out. I tried to run but the flames kept cutting me off. I got trapped against a wall. I..." Her voice hitched and Ruby climbed onto the bed next to her. "I was scared Ruby. It didn't matter what I did, I couldn't escape. All I could do was wait for the flames to get me. I thought you'd abandoned me, just like I left you." Her voice cracked again and she covered her mouth with her good hand. "I was so scared Wolfie!" She finally broke down, a mixture of exhaustion and fear completely enveloping her.
Ruby pulled her True Love close, holding her tight. Dorothy curled into Ruby's side, tucking her head into the crook of Ruby's neck. Her sobs rang clear in the early morning silence, each one feeling like a stab in Ruby's heart. She ran her hand through the soft brown hair, pressing gentle kisses into the top of Dorothy's head. "Shhh shh, it's okay. You're okay, I've got you." More sobs, another kiss into the hair. "I'm here, it's alright. You're okay Dorothy." The witch-hunter's cries began to subside and Ruby pulled her impossibly closer. "There you go. You're safe, it's all gonna be okay." Ruby felt tears start to fall down her cheeks, but she made no effort to wipe them away. Seeing Dorothy this upset was hurting her, but she refused to let go of her, even if it was just to wipe her eyes. After a few more minutes, Dorothy's crying had diminished into sniffles and the occasional whimper. She turned her head to look up at Ruby and was met by a few drops of water hitting her head. Looking further up, she saw tears falling silently from her love's eyes.
Nice going Gale, you made her cry again. She thought sadly. Ruby, as if reading her mind, leaned down and kissed her sweetly. "I'm sorry." Said Dorothy, quietly. Ruby shook her head.
"Don't be, there's nothing to apologize for."
"You're crying. If I hadn't said anything-"
"Then I'd have worried even more. I'm only upset because you are. You being in pain hurts me Dorothy, but that's only because of how I feel. Nothing's hurting you again if I have a say in it. And I'm never gonna leave you all alone, I promise." She kissed her head again. "You're stuck with me Kansas." That drew a smile from both of them. Ruby looked out of the window at the sunrise and sighed. "You need to get some sleep." She carefully guided Dorothy to lie back down, pulling the covers over both them and Toto, who was now curled up between the two of them. Dorothy settled down with her head on Ruby's chest and an arm over her torso. Ruby, in turn, wrapped her arms around Dorothy and kissed her forehead once more. She could tell that, despite how exhausted she was, Dorothy was fighting not to go to sleep. Gently taking the bandaged hand in her own, Ruby intertwined their fingers and ran her thumb over the back of the other girl's hand.
"What if I end up in the Room again?" She asked, her voice sounding so small. Ruby raised their hands to her lips and kissed Dorothy's hand softly.
"Then I'll be right here when you wake up." The hero of Oz smiled and relaxed against her girlfriend again. As Dorothy's breathing evened out, Ruby tightened her grip protectively.
"I love you Kansas." She muttered. Dorothy smiled tiredly.
"I love you too Wolfie."
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So I hope you enjoyed my little one-shot, please leave a review if you feel like it. If you have any ideas that you'd like me to write then feel free to leave it in a review or PM me and I'll try my best. Thanks for reading and once again, I hope you enjoyed it!
Holly x
