A/N: Hello friends! Because people have asked, and because I'm a giant sappy nerd, here's a chapter two!
This is a bit of a reworking of the nightmare scene in episode 26. (Sorry, no LaF in this one, although I love them to pieces)
Carmilla returned from her walk in the small hours of the morning, certain Laura would already be in bed. Sure enough, as she entered the room she found her roommate fast asleep, albeit in a rather odd position. She was slumped in a half-sitting, half-lying position, her head lolled to one side and a book threatening to fall from her lap. Carmilla shook her head fondly, a smile tugging at her lips. The other girl must have fallen asleep while studying again.
She crossed to her side of the room and clicked on a lamp, fairly sure it wouldn't disturb the sleeping girl. Their relationship had progressed to a point where Carmilla wouldn't intentionally irritate Laura anymore, although she couldn't refrain from light teasing and snarky comebacks. Lately, though, her caustic wit was more often than not met with a small smile or chuckle. Carmilla lived for those moments, the times she would hear Laura's laugh. But, somewhere in the back of her mind, Carmilla still almost hoped that Laura would wise up and leave. And if it was Carmilla's annoying behavior that drove her away, then so be it.
Suddenly, Laura started shifting in her sleep, mumbling under her breath. "No, I can't…" she muttered, her body jerking and her brow furrowing in fear.
Carmilla quickly recognized the signs of a nightmare and rushed to Laura's side to stop it before it got any worse. She placed her hands on Laura's shoulder and hip, hoping to ground the girl as she woke up.
"Hey, hey hey, Laura, Laura, Laura," she said, putting gentle pressure on the girl's side, focusing on her face as she awoke. "Laura! Laura. You're dreaming. It was just a dream. Hey." The last word was low and soft, spoken as Laura's eyes finally came fully open.
Their gazes connected, and instead of the fear fading from Laura's eyes, it only changed. She gasped and jerked backwards, knocking her head off the headboard behind her. Carmilla flinched away as Laura pressed herself into the wall, grabbing the back of her head in pain and staring around the room wildly, her eyes wide and startled.
"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Carmilla asked in alarm, her fingers hovering over Laura's arm, afraid to touch her again.
"There's – It's all – You said my name," Laura sputtered, finally looking back at Carmilla, her lips slightly parted in shock.
Carmilla's brow creased in confusion for a split second, and then she felt her blood run cold. Oh no. No, no, no…
"You said my name," Laura repeated, sitting up straighter and pointing a shaky finger at Carmilla. "You called me Laura and now everything's…" She waved her hands around her, encompassing the entirety of the room. The room that was surely now all in color.
Carmilla felt like she was in some kind of trance. She started to slowly back away, shaking her head from side to side, her eyes wide in dismay. No. This couldn't be happening. A split second of lapsed attention, and months of control were undone. She had been so careful…
Laura followed her, quietly climbing out of bed and standing in front of her. "How long have you known?" she asked, her voice low. "I've said your name so many times now. How long have you known?"
Carmilla could feel the panic rising in her chest, squeezing at her still heart. It was happening again – it was Ell all over. But this time it was so much worse, because it wasn't Maman's meddling that showed Laura the despicable creature she truly was – she had put that look of fear in the girl's eyes herself.
She struggled to keep herself upright, to stop herself from dropping to her knees at Laura's feet and begging for forgiveness. There were tears in Laura's eyes – they tore at her very soul. She had ruined it, destroyed it before it even had a chance to become an it.
"Please, let me explain," she implored, clasping her hands together but keeping them low, so it wouldn't seem like the gesture of supplication it was. "I was only trying to keep you safe. If Mother had known, if she had found out what we are –"
"Carmilla," Laura murmured, interrupting her. She reached out and brushed her fingers over Carmilla's knuckles, sending sparks up the other girl's arms. "Your eyes are brown."
She said it like it was the most important fact in the universe, and Carmilla felt her breath catch in her throat. A single tear escaped Laura's lashes, leaving a glistening trail down her cheek.
Then Laura was leaning up and in, a sigh escaping her lips as they connected with Carmilla's. For a second Carmilla froze, too shocked to react. Laura… wasn't angry? Wasn't running in fear? It would have been a reasonable reaction – learning your soul was connected to that of an undead monster would send most people fleeing for the hills. But instead, Laura was here, her arms wrapped around Carmilla's shoulders, her mouth so sweet yet so hungry against Carmilla's.
Carmilla found her hands moving, curling around Laura's waist and underneath her thin cotton shirt. She pulled the other girl closer, bringing their hips flush together as she deepened the kiss, hoping Laura could feel the depth of emotion she held for her.
Everything was right, so right, and not even the brightest color in the world was as brilliant as this single kiss with her tiny roommate.
Too soon, Laura pulled away, her breaths uneven and her cheeks wet with spilled tears. Carmilla reached up to wipe them away before tenderly cupping Laura's cheek in her hand. Laura leaned into the touch, her eyes half closed. Carmilla traced the corner of one with her thumb, feeling the echo of another action and another girl, so similar yet so, so different.
"Your eyes are brown, too, love," she said, and Laura's smile was so wide and so genuine Carmilla was struck anew with how beautiful she was.
"I never thought I would find you," Laura said, her voice shaky, her hands involuntarily fisting in Carmilla's hair.
Carmilla found she liked the sensation. "Nor I you," she replied, running her hand up Laura's spine and luxuriating in the shiver it elicited. She almost added not again, but held her tongue. There would come a time when she would have to elaborate on her connection to Ell, but now was not that time. Now there were more pressing concerns to discuss.
"Laura," she said, and was almost swept away by the girl's tiny sigh of pleasure at the sound of her name on Carmilla's lips, but she held her ground. "Darling, there's something very important I have to tell you."
She drew away slightly, taking Laura's hands in her own and giving them a gentle squeeze. Laura gazed at her with unfettered adoration, and Carmilla ached for how what she was about to say might hurt her.
She took a deep breath, then just said it. "We can't tell anyone."
Just as she had thought, the light in Laura's eyes dimmed, and she started to turn away, her expression hurt and confused.
"No, dove, don't misunderstand me," Carmilla pleaded, reaching out to cup Laura's cheek again and turn her face back towards her. "I'm not ashamed of being your soulmate. If you wanted me to, I'd gladly proclaim my love from the highest rooftop on campus."
Laura's wide eyes snapped back to Carmilla's face, and Carmilla felt her phantom heart give a painful thump when she realized what she had just said. Still, she soldiered on, determined to give Laura the warning she needed.
"It's for your safety. If we were to tell anyone, it wouldn't be long before word reached my mother. And then…"
"And then she'd come for me," Laura finished. Carmilla expected her come to her senses then, to finally, finally, run in fear. Hell, it's what she would do.
Instead, she felt Laura's spine straighten, and saw resolve steel behind her eyes. "Then let her," Laura said, her voice strong and steady. "I'm not afraid. Well, maybe I'm a little afraid, but that's understandable. What I'm not is willing to hide. So maybe we don't announce the fact that we're… soulmates…" her voice cracks a little, but she carries on, "to everyone we meet. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna cower in here and never even have to courage to hold your hand. I want to be with you, Carmilla, I want to see all the colors the world has to offer, and I want you by my side while I do."
At the end of her little speech Laura's cheeks had flushed pink, and she was breathing heavily. Carmilla could feel tears pricking behind her eyes. At a loss for words, she tugged Laura into another kiss, molding their bodies together, trying to say silently what she couldn't out loud.
She pulled back and took Laura's face in her hands, gazing into her deep brown eyes. "I would die for you," she whispered.
"No, I don't want that," Laura said, and Carmilla felt her stomach drop until she continued. "I don't want your death. I want your life. Live for me instead."
Carmilla couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped. "I think it's a little too late for that, cutie," she said with a smirk.
Laura shoved at her shoulder with a lopsided smile. "You know what I mean. Just don't get all self-sacrificial on me."
"I'll do my best," Carmilla replied, knowing that was the best she could offer.
Wanting to dispel the heavy mood that had settled over them, Carmilla grabbed Laura's hand and drew her towards the door. "C'mon, I'm taking you somewhere special," she told her tiny soulmate.
Laura laughed, tugging on Carmilla's hand to make her stop. "At least let me put on my shoes first," she said. Not letting go of Carmilla's hand, she grabbed her boots from beside the door and pulling them on. "Where are we going?" she asked as she hopped on one foot, trying to get the boots on one-handed.
Carmilla smiled at her fondly, letting go of her hand but immediately hooking a finger into one of Laura's side belt loops. "The greenhouses," she said. "There should be some night-blooming plants there. You're going to love really seeing flowers."
Laura's answering smile made her feel like maybe she could do more than just not die. Maybe she could live.