Screaming.

Diamond's eyes snapped open. For a moment she did not move, just listened into the night for more noise.

Another scream.

Diamond jerked upright and jumped out of her bed. Dizzy and disoriented in the dark, she patted along the wall, while doing her best to quickly leave her bedroom. On the hallway, the cries were louder, more distinct, and full of fear and despair.

Her own breath was speeding up now, infected by the panic, yet Diamond forced herself to stay calm, as she walked over to the next rooms.

A couple of months ago, she had found out about the dreams. Had found him in the morning, exhausted and dripping of sweat, having been trapped in one all night. Since then, they made sure his door was open and there were no symbols on to dampen the sounds from leaving his room.

Diamond sped up her steps and burst into Nuce's bedroom. In his bed, he was tossing, and turning, and twisting, as if he were trying to escape invisible bonds. His face was sweaty and distorted in desperation, moving side-to-side panically. The blanket had been kicked to the bottom of the bed, leaving his bare chest exposed to the cold night air.

Diamond walked closer to his bed and sat on the edge of it, so that she could put her hand in his shoulder. "Nuce." She tried gently. "Wake up."

Nuce's eyes actually opened and, before she had time to react in any way, he jerked awake, his fist swung, and hit her so hard in the face that Diamond flew off the bed and crashed onto the wooden floor with a yelp. The moment she came to a stillstand on the ground, the pain in her jaw arrived with her, almost felt like she was being hit again.

Diamond gasped and pressed a hand on the spot just to realize that made it hurt worse. Suddenly, Nuce was above her, knees on each side of her, glowing hot hands up, ice-cold eyes on her.

"Nuce." Diamond forced out. "It's... ok..."

He looked scared underneath the rage, but his instinct was not to run, it was to get rid of the threat.

"You're alright, love." She continued, breathing flatly and showing him her empty palms. "Just a dream. I won't hurt you, I promise."

There was a frown now, that seemed to realize something was odd here. Surely, whatever his nightmare had been about, it now stood in stark contrast to her reaction. Nuce seemed confused now, about her lack of aggression, and the glow of his hand faded along with the hatred in his gaze, slowly gave room for realization and horror.

With a little jump, Nuce got off of Diamond and scrambled backwards over the floor, until his back hit the next wall.

Diamond gasped out in relief and tension alike and stayed on the ground for another moment, so that the world would stop spinning.

"Dye?" Nuce asked pitifully from his corner.

"Hey." She gasped. "It's me."

That seemed to upset him more, hectic breaths echoing through the room.

"I'm alright." Diamond told him. She made a face and sat up laboriously, fingers carefully testing her sore jaw. "Everything's in one piece."

"I'm sorry." He whimpered.

She dragged herself over to him and joined him in sitting in there, placed an arm around his shoulders. His head fell heavy against hers.

And so they sat for a while, leaning against the wall and each other. The clicking and humming of appliances vaguely sounded up to them from the kitchen, while it was otherwise perfectly quiet in the house.

"Dye?" Nuce whispered.

"Yeah."

"I'm scared."

She ran her hand over his far shoulder. "I know, love."

Nuce shook his head, was trying for something else. "I don't mean... I mean, I'm scared of... you know. That too, but..."

"But?" She prodded gently.

Nuce's brows pulled together in dread. "I asked Valkyrie, at the Ball... about Myron Stray."

Diamond tried not to sigh too heavily. "And what did she say?"

He raised a shoulder lightly. "Not much. Didn't want to worry me, I guess, but... Well... What you'd expect. He was alone, and powerless, and broken, hiding in his rancid house all day."

"I'm not letting that happen to you, Nuce." Diamond replied. "You're not going to be alone with this."

He sniffed with bitter amusement. "How do you know someone didn't say that to him, in the beginning?"

"Well, whoever they might have been, they did a terrible job at keeping promises."

"Or Stray killed them."

Diamond closed her eyes for a moment to retain her calm, and then moved Nuce back by his shoulder to look at him. His gaze was cool and allowed for no argument.

"It's not enough." He said, tears scratching at the corners of his eyes. "If I hadn't hit you and used magic instead, you'd be toast right now."

"What's the point of thinking like that, Nuce?" Diamond asked.

"We need to prepare." He decided. "For the next time someone uses me. We both have to be prepared."

"We already made plans for..."

He shook his head. When he looked at her now, Nuce seemed decisive. "I want you to use my name against me."

Diamond blinked in horror. "What?"

He did not waver at her look. "I want you to pretend to be using me, and also be yourself, in that situation."

She shook her head disbelievingly. "I can't do that."

"Yes, you can." Nuce said and freed himself from her arm. "You just don't want to. But you should have known that taking me as a partner wouldn't be a joyride."

"It's still a violation of you." Diamond argued dreadfully.

"Not if I tell you to do it."

"But-"

"Diamond." He interrupted, renewed dispair in his voice. "I can't wait around anymore, for the day I'll hurt you. Or anyone else. I don't... I can't..." Nuce broke off, and his forceful pause soon ended in a sob.

Diamond breathed out with sympathetic hurt, wrapped both arms around him, and held on tight, as he fell apart.

"Please..." he got out between sobs.

"Shh, it's alright", she said softly, petting his wild hair. "We'll do whatever is necessary, yeah? I told you, I'm not leaving you alone with this."

"W-why n-not?"

Diamond sniffed with endeared bemusement. "Because you are the kindest, least violent person I know. And I would do anything to make sure you stay that way."

"F-funny." Nuce forced out in a joking tone that was mostly dimished by the crying. "I thought... that was you."

Diamond smiled and wiped some tears off his neck. "Trust me, love, you are a much better person than me. This isn't your fault, and it never should be."