Zane's room - Pixane drabble set after season 12 - based off of the prompt "Hey, hey, calm down. They can't hurt you anymore."

She could see them - she knew she had seen them. They were just outside the window. She could see the glimmer of their eyes as they moved in the darkness. It wasn't over. It was never over. They were here to take him again. She was sure.

She was so sure.

Her legs had already moved her to the window as she peered out into the starless night, searching for any additional sign of them. She had seen it! She knew she had! They were there! Where did they go? Were they already in the house? What if she was already too late? She could feel her heart racing as she bolted out of her room. The hall too was dark. Zane. Where was Zane's room? She was sure she knew, but she couldn't remember. Why couldn't she remember? The hallway seemed so much longer than before. So many doors. But she didn't have time to check them all. She could feel her chest tightening as the imminent threat undoubtedly drew closer.

"Zane?" She called out.

"Zane?!" Her legs shook beneath her as she started down the darkened hall.

"Zane… Zane, please, where are you?"

Everything felt heavy. But she was getting so lightheaded. And the hall was tightening around her. She could feel it. She reached her hands out, her fingertips grazing the wall. She shifted her weight onto it as she stumbled forward.

"Zane!" She could feel tears form as the weight seemed to collapse on top of her. "Zane, please!" She dropped to her knees, unable to hold herself. "I'm sorry, I can't do it!" She closed her eyes, surrendering her weight to the wall. "I can't do it… I can't do it…"

"Pixal?" Zane's figure peered out from behind his bedroom door, his hair a bit messy, and his eyes a bit groggy.

"I can't do it. I can't do it. I can't do it." Pixal muttered to herself.

It wasn't a moment before Zane had rushed over to her, kneeling down to her level.

"Zane!" Her eyes lit up, her arms quickly encompassing him, more tears streaking down her face. Zane gladly embraced her, though still a bit confused.

"Pixal, what happened?" He asked as she broke away, clearing her eyes.

"It was the Mechanic! And his men! They were just outside! I saw them! And I thought-"

"Hey, hey, calm down." Zane quieted her, taking her hands gently into his own. "They can't hurt you anymore. They were all taken away, remember?"

"No, no!" she shook her head. "They were here! And they were going to take you again!"

Zane looked at her, the tears streaming endlessly from her cheeks as she crumbled, his voice struggling to stay steady itself.

"No one's coming to get me. I'm still here."

"But I saw them… I know I saw them." Her breathing started to slow as she glanced around the hall.

He slowly guided her face back towards him, his heart filling with more concern. "You were just dreaming, everything's okay."

"But…" her eyes returned to his, blankly processing for a moment. "But I couldn't find you. I couldn't find your room, I couldn't-"

"You couldn't find my room?"

"It wasn't there! I couldn't find it!"

"My room's where it's always been. It's right next to yours."

Pixal slowly turned around, breaking their contact as she observed the two ajar doors in the hall: her door, and the door next to it. She took a few deep breaths, leaning back against the wall, and raising a hand to her forehead.

"How could it be a dream if I wasn't… I don't remember falling asleep."

Zane quietly joined her against the wall, taking her other hand. "Well then, maybe you should get some sleep." He placed a kiss on her cheek, her heart rate steadily slowing as her mind shifted back towards reality. She slumped over onto his shoulder, her heart growing a bit heavy again.

"I've had you taken from me so many times." She gripped his hand a bit tighter as she closed her eyes. "And every time, I'm never strong enough to stop it. And I try. I try so hard. But I can't do it. And it all happened so quickly this time I just-"

"That's not your fault."

"It just…" she sighed. "It made me feel so powerless. I couldn't do anything."

"Hey," Zane lifted his other hand to grace her knee. "You saved my life today."

"After letting you get kidnapped-"

"I didn't do any better of a job of stopping myself from being kidnapped," Zane teased.

Pixal smiled, easing into his embrace even further. "I'm sorry I woke you up. I was-"

"You were tired," Zane stopped her. "Come on. Let's get you back to bed." Zane untangled himself from her, standing up. "Maybe you should sleep in my room for the rest of the night, just so you don't have any more nightmares." He reached down, helping her up.

"That would probably help," she sighed, finding her balance.

Zane smirked, glancing down the hall. "That is, of course, if we can manage to remember which room is mine."