( * * )

Fire… Cutting through shadows… Burning… Roaring… Screaming… In pain… In anger… Crying… 'Traitor'…

Emerald shot up, a loud gasp escaping from her lips. She sat on the bed, gulping in big breaths of air, her eyes wide and fearful, staring into the dark room.

She promptly jumped down from the bed and rushed into the bathroom, turning on the sink and repeatedly splashing her face with cold water.

After couple of minutes of dousing herself, Emerald turned off the faucet and silently stood at the sink, getting her breathing under control.

Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it. That nightmare again. Just when she thought it was done with, when she felt everything was settled, it came again, like it was waiting for her to relax before pouncing.

Emerald took a deep breath, looking at herself in the mirror and frowning. She didn't see Emerald Sustrai, master thief like she usually would. Instead she saw Emerald Sustrai, the cowardly little girl who turned her back on one of the few people who…

"Emmy?"

Emerald turned to see Ruby, dressed in her adorable Beowolf tank top and rose-printed sleep pants, standing in the doorway.

She blinked, confused by the appearance of her girlfriend, when she remembered. That's right; I snuck into her dorm tonight. Crap. Crap.

She put her face in her hands. "God, sorry Ruby. I completely forgot I'm in your room. I didn't mean to wake you."

Ruby shrugged. "It's alright. What about you? Are you okay?"

Emerald looked at her girlfriend, seeing nothing but genuine, open concern in those silver eyes. "No. Guess I'm not." She sighed.

From the edge of her vision, she saw Ruby approach slowly, placing a hand on her back and gently rubbing in small circles. "Bad dream?"

Emerald chuckled darkly. "That's one way of putting it."

"… Do you want to talk about it?"

Emerald thought for a moment, actually considering telling Ruby what she saw. But she remembered the fear, the shame, the anger, and the hatred it all brought out.

She shook her head. "No. I'm… It's not something I want to think about. Not yet."

In the mirror's reflection, she saw Ruby giving a small, understanding smile. "Okay." Her voice carried a little concern, but no disappointment or suppressed desire to find out: just acceptance and patience.

Slowly, Ruby wrapped her arms around Emerald, hugging the thief from behind. Emerald couldn't help but feel comforted as Ruby's body pressed against hers, her head resting on her back.

"It's alright." Ruby's voice was soft, comforting, and supportive. "Whatever happened, it wasn't real, and it's over now. You're home. You're safe. And I'm here for you."

Not for the last time, Emerald wondered how a girl like her was able to win the heart of someone like Ruby. However it was, Emerald thanked her lucky stars for it.

"Thanks, Ruby." She said, placing her hands over her girlfriends.

The two of them stood there, just silently basking in the other's presence and warmth.

( * * )

I know I already did a nightmare chapter, but that was Emerald comforting Ruby. Also, there aren't many fics where it's Ruby doing the comforting – in fact I only know of one – and I wanted to show that Emerald wasn't the only strong one in the relationship.

This is my shortest chapter yet: it just barely passes five hundred words, but I'm coming up with these chapters as I go, so there's bound to be a few that aren't thousand-word epics.

Also, shameless plug here, but I also uploaded another oneshot called A Lot to Take In. It's chock-full of predictions and theories concerning Vol 3 in story format, so go give it some luvin'.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to set my alarm so I can watch Episode 2 when it becomes public.