#enberlight

Mara sighed contentedly in her bed. Technically speaking, it wasn't actually her bed. The room she was in wasn't even actually her room. It was Miranda's guest room, but she'd been permitted to stay there ever since she'd revealed herself to her best friend. Ever since she'd killed the Queen of Flames to protect Miranda from any future attempts to harm her.

She had yet to overstay her welcome, but she suspected that it was because Miranda was wonderful and too kind to one such as her. She smiled to herself at the thought of Miranda's kind heart. Thinking of Miranda's kindhearted nature immediately brought to mind Miranda's gentle eyes and her radiant smile, and the way that her hair framed her face in such a way that...

Oh.

Mara paused in her musing to realize what was happening. That was not good. That was not something she could let herself do.

She couldn't love Miranda! She wasn't worthy! Miranda loved everyone and everything and Mara couldn't let her base nature take over, let herself try to claim Miranda's wonderful heart for her own. Her love was too wonderful to selfishly take solely for herself.

If she tried, she would be no better than the Queen of Flames and her dreams of conquest for conquest's sake. If she was no better than the Queen of Flames, she would be a danger to Miranda. If she were a danger to Miranda, she would need to leave as soon as possible or allow herself to be destroyed so that Miranda was safe. So she couldn't take Miranda's love for her own She couldn't!

She was beginning to hyperventilate. Her mind was running in loops, constantly circling back to the key point: She was in love with Miranda and she should absolutely not be in love with her. There were so many reasons to be in love with Miranda, and it felt like the most natural thing in the universe, but she couldn't succumb to such desires. She was unworthy. She couldn't let herself be in love. It wasn't fair! It wasn't fair to Miranda, who was so kind and beautiful and clever and...

She cut off her thoughts again, desperately trying to keep herself from continuing to spiral as she continued to hyperventilate, trying to find her breath desperately as her thoughts drove her deeper and deeper into terror.

Her door burst open, revealing the source of her current predicament, though she didn't blame her for it. Miranda didn't know what thoughts ran in her head.

As she continued to hyperventilate, however, Miranda approached her with concern in her eyes as she helped her into a sitting position, taking Mara's hands in her own.

“Deep breaths,” Miranda said gently, the delicate touch of her soft hands grounding Mara as she began mirroring the deep breaths that Miranda was demonstrating for her. Once she was breathing calmly, Miranda spoke again. “Feel better.”

“Yeah,” she acknowledged, “Thanks.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

After a bit of deliberation, she came to her decision. Miranda deserved to know the truth. “In the morning, Miranda. I promise.”

“Are you sure you're going to be alright?” Miranda asked.

“I will be,” she agreed, “I was just having a bit of a panicked spiral.”

“...Do you mind if I stay with you, then?” Miranda asked, “I was worried when I heard the smoke alarm go off and came in to see you spewing out black smoke... I thought you were... I'm just glad you're okay.”

“Y-you can stay in here,” Mara agreed, moving to the side of the bed to let Miranda in, “It'll be like those sleepovers again.”

Miranda chuckled at that before climbing in next to Mara and wrapping her arms around her. Mara, despite herself, found her own arms proceeding to encircle Miranda.

“Good night,” Miranda said, before pressing a kiss to Mara's cheek, just slightly away from her lips.