Graverobber will always be one of my favorite characters, and I thought he could use some love. So here it is.

Her house was the last on the street, and the only one that still had lights on in the windows. It was a welcoming beacon at the end of a long night, and Graverobber wouldn't have traded it for all the money in the world. And he certainly wouldn't have traded her.

She was the only one other than Shiloh that ever looked at him like he was another human being. She'd smile and laugh and run a hand over his back when he was tired, and that was all he needed to remind him he was still alive.

"Claire." Graverobber's gravely tones rang out through the house. "I'm home."

A bleached-blond head poked around the door to the sitting room. She smiled brightly at him as her sparkly purple highlights danced in the low lighting.

"Miss me?" Graverobber teased softly.

Clair rolled her lilac eyes, a playful smile on her lips.

Graverobber always imagined her voice would sound light, like the clothes she wore. "Of course I missed you, Robby."

But imagining her voice was as close as he would get to hearing it. The epidemic that had robbed so many of their lives had taken Claire's voice.

But he'd become good at reading her facial expressions, and knew that the smile she was currently giving him meant welcome home.

He didn't recall when he'd started caring about seeing her happy, but at some point living with her had become more than just having a place to hide and crash during the day. It had become more about who she was instead of where she lived, and this mute little misfit had suddenly become very important to him. And he still couldn't figure out why.

He could always tell what she was thinking, even though she couldn't say a word. But that was the beauty of it. She didn't talk, and Graverobber never felt like he had to. Not about his life before the epidemic, or why he'd started harvesting illegally, or why he'd begun peddling his drugs… None of it.

There were no questions with Claire. No accusations or assumptions. Just pure, simple understanding. And that was all he'd ever really wanted. Someone who could understand. And when she looked at him, her lilac eyes bright with intelligence and ingenuity, he knew she understood.

Because she would smile, slide on whatever gift he'd brought to silently say thanks for all you've done, I'm such a God-awful freeloader, and I'm sorry this is all I can give you in return and he knew there would never be anyone who could understand him better.

Claire belongs to: Silver Flame Alchemist (aka Me)

All other characters and locations belong to: Terrance Zdunich and Darren Smith