His skin felt like sunshine and spice. His pulse steady. His snores soft and subtle. Zemlya liked him more when he was asleep. When he wasn't trying to kill either her or Harran.

He stirred. She gripped his hand, on the edge of her seat. "Are you awake? How do you feel? I apologize for Kaka, she got too excited."

He groaned, easing out of her hold. For a moment he didn't say a word. The bed creaked and the sheets rustled. "Why did you save me?"

She bristled. "Was I not supposed to?"

He chuckled. Zemlya would be lying if she said she didn't like the way it rung in her ear. A hesitant smile crept across her face.

"You're so naive," he spat, venom laced in his tone. Her smile fell. "You don't know who I am and yet you bring me into your home. Into your world."

"I'm sorry," she murmured, lost for a better response. "I promise to get you back to your home safely."

"And what will you take in return?"

"Nothing. I don't need anything. I only want to help."

"I don't want to be a pampered princess's charity case."

Zemlya was many things but pampered wasn't one of them. In fact she received the opposite treatment from her family and her people. Bullied and scorned. Called the most colorful words she'd never repeat and never forget. She may have had royal blood flowing through her veins but Dhulka treated her like the failed prototype of a princess.

"Take me back to where you found me," Lua grunted. "I'll find my way back to my tribe."

"I can't." She found his wrist and placed her phone in his hands. "Play news."

This is Gima Bell with DBC. A front door footage from the Southern Quarter has been making rounds on the line, racking up 10 million views since its release only yesterday. The footage depicts a hooded figure outside the residence of a farmer who wishes to remain anonymous. The ominous character is seen limping down the corridor before falling against the farmer's door, as if from exhaustion, setting off the owner's doorbell. It is then that things turn bizarre. Thinking it were a fellow neighbour at such time of day, he answers the door only to be met by what looks like the devil himself. Skin as black as charcoal and eyes aflame-

"That's me," he said.

"Dhulka knows you are here. They're looking for you." The news anchor didn't say but Zemlya knew there were things in Dhulka that not everyone was allowed to know.

"What does this mean?"

"I promised I'd return you to the surface but it might take longer than you'd like. They'll be watching the Southern Quarter like hawks, scouring every inch of this place until they find you."

"Is it foolish to believe that they'd return me sooner than you could?"

"It's foolish to think they'd care enough to. They might return you but only after they turn you inside out and study every cell of your body. The unfamiliarity of the surface world scares them, and fear makes people do horrible things."

He let out a drawn out sigh.

The phone fell into her hands. But she dropped it onto her lap and took his hands in hers, noting how small hers became in his and how rough and hard his were. "If I am to help you, you must trust me."

"You do realize you're blind?"

She laughed. "I realize how that sounds. But I can use this princess thing to my advantage to keep you safe until Harran and I can come up with a way to get you back."

"Why are you so set on helping me?" His tone eased and the harshness of his voice faded, he didn't aim to provoke rather to simply understand. "If there's nothing in it for you, why would you risk going against your own people to help me, a stranger from the surface who tried to kill you and your guard?"

She smiled. "Let's just say I see something in you." In the next moment the front door clicked open and her smile vanished. "Oh no."

"Zemlya!" The voice called from just beyond her door. "Are you asleep?"

"What-" Lua said only to be interrupted by Zemlya placing a finger to her lips.

"Bathroom," she whispered. "It's my grandma, she can't know you're here."

The bed creaked and his feet met the floor. He dragged his feet as muffled moans escaped him.

"I'm sorry." She threw the apology at him hoping he wasn't upset.

He huffed and the bathroom door clicked open. Just as the bathroom door shut her bedroom door opened.

"Hi baby," came her Grandma's sweet and soothing voice. Zemlya stood to meet her with open arms. Grandma's hugs were always snug and warm. She worked in the spices sector of the Southern Quarter, and as a result Zemlya's nostrils would almost always be swarmed with spices when they embraced.

Grandma pulled away and led Zemlya to her bed. "You were awake, why didn't you respond? And I thought I heard someone else. Where's Harran?"

"I was, uh." Zemlya cleared her throat. "I was listening to my voice books, yep. Learning about etiquette and manners, and all of that. It's Harran's day off and he doesn't like learning about etiquette, well he doesn't need to anyway. What was your question again?"

A brief silence.

"Why are you sweating so much?" Grandma chuckled. "Have you eaten?"

Eat. Food. Zemlya only then recalled that she hadn't prepared anything for Lua. She sighed.

"Are you not feeling well?" Grandma placed her knobby knuckles against Zemlya's forehead. Then turned her hand so that her calluses brushed against Zemlya's skin. "You feel alright, but this bed is awfully..." Her words trailed to a halt. "Why don't I make you some soup?"

"Can I have an extra serving?" Zemlya perked up.

Grandma chuckled. "You must be starving."

~~~

One big bowl of soup gone and her granddaughter was all better again. Bright eyed and smiling. "Seconds," she exclaimed.

Nalya had a fixed routine of working three days a week and returning to her cold empty home ever since her husband passed many years ago. But since Zemlya came to live with her, her days had become brighter. Working became worthwhile and coming home to a sweet smile was her favorite thing in the world. But sometimes she wished she could work less, because everytime she saw her granddaughter she'd get a little taller, a little bigger and a little older. And before Nalya knew it Zemlya had become a woman.

Zemlya accepted her second serving of soup with a grateful smile. But Nalya noticed that she didn't dig right in.

"So," Nalya began. "How are you and Amir?"

Zemlya's shoulders visibly tensed. Her sugary smile drooped. "We're alright." But her tone was hesitant.

"Has a date been set?"

Creases formed between her brows. "Whenever he's ready."

"He better not be mistreating my granbaby," Nalya chided. "I won't let you wait for a man who won't treasure you as much as I do."

"Grandma," Zemlya grumbled.

"I'm serious. What does he take you for? He'd be lucky to have you by his side."

"You're my grandma, of course you'd think that." Zemlya sighed. "But he's the only man in Dhulka willing to even be seen with me in public. I don't exactly have men lined up at my doorstep begging for my hand in marriage."

Nalya felt her heart wrench. How unlucky had her granddaughter been to be involved in such an incident that scarred her for life, took her sight and took her grandfather as well. Day after day, Nalya wished she'd been in her granddaughter's place that day. Because to change mindsets was so much more difficult.

She took her granddaughter's hand from across the table. "You know better than anyone that the heart is what matters. Skin fools the mind. I want for you someone who sees you how you see him."

Zemlya smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "If that person exists then he's too late." She lifted the bowl and stood. "I'll have this in my room. " She turned away but halted a moment. "Thank you Grandma for seeing me how I see you."

A/n: I've always wanted to write a Romeo and Juliet story for some reason. So this is my version, I suppose.