Chapter Text
Penny shot up in bed, her heart hammering in her ears. With rapid, unrestrained breaths she threw her covers off and sat on the edge of her bed, and tried to take deep, steady breaths to bring her panic down.
That must’ve been a nightmare. Yeah, there was no way they were ready to be that intimate and Ruby would never storm away after seeing her in such distress, right?
Slowly calming down, she heard Ruby taking long breaths, likely asleep in her own bed.
She knew that wasn’t real. It hadn’t happened. Still, it felt so real. The heartbreak and absolute terror still had her heart drumming, and she was certain it would keep her from sleeping. Maybe it would be best to just catch up on her schoolwork, so she got up and crept over to her desk to work as quietly as she could.
Page after page, worksheet after another, practice test after test, she thought she was finally making some headway when the least bit of sunlight breached their modest curtains. Against the clock she continued to work, even as the lines blended together and the onset throbbing of a migraine threatened her. She only stopped when a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind and a weight settled on top of her head. Ruby didn’t say anything, yet Penny knew what questions she’d have on her mind.
“I couldn’t sleep. I had nightmares,” Penny whispered. And she felt Ruby hug her tighter.
“Wanna talk about them?” Ruby asked, voice still sluggish from sleep.
“I’m not sure…”
“You can be vague about them, if it would help,” Ruby bargained.
“Yeah okay. On your bed?” Penny asked as she stood.
“Yup,” Ruby replied and promptly threw herself onto her messy bed. She lay on her side, watching as Penny slipped under the still warm sheets.
Penny once again decided against looking at Ruby. She didn’t want to see her reaction as she shared her worries, unfounded as they may be. She heard the bed creak as Ruby cuddled up to Penny’s side and rested her head on her shoulder. Penny let her head lull to the side to rest against Ruby’s. “In the nightmare…we were…about to get a little intimate with each other…” Penny thought she’d feel super embarrassed sharing this with Ruby, but she was so warm and wrapped in a hug that didn’t waver.
“…And I-I didn’t have the parts for that,” she sighed, letting out a lot of building tension. “A-and you got angry with me and left. It hurt so bad to feel that way, t-that incomplete and disappointing,” she breathed out heavily and teared up a bit.
Ruby sat up on her side and with her hand gently tilted Penny’s averted gaze to meet hers. “I know it’s irrational and just a nightmare, Ruby. And I know you’d never leave me over that, but…”
“But?” Ruby asked, attentive and calm. It was nice to be listened to.
“It’s possible that it’s true, and that bothers me. I don’t want you to miss out on the intimate side of a relationship, because of me.” Penny tried to look away, but Ruby didn’t let her.
“Penny, even if that’s true I don’t care. It won’t change how I feel about you. I want to stay.”
She started crying, again. Ruby was there to cradle her and soothe her. “I even told you this back in the car, remember?”
After awhile she sniffled and said, “I do remember, but you didn’t–”
“Nuh uh, no ‘buts’,” Ruby said, shaking her gently. “I meant it then and I still mean it now.”
“Okay,” Penny said.
“I mean it you silly bug,” Ruby said. Penny couldn’t help but giggle desperately as she was tickle-poked. “I’ve gotta draw out all of this silliness.”
“Nooo! Sto–ahhah–stop! Ruby! Ahaha,” Penny wheased.
As soon as she hiccuped, Ruby ceased her onslaught and beckoned Penny to lay down. She lay down fully and rested her forehead against Ruby’s chest. Feeling warm and loved, peace washed over her, and she fell asleep.