Because my heart

[bloodandblunder]

[ She's never really forgotten, even as she's gazed upon Lucina and known that she's only ever had one sibling, and that was Cynthia. There's always been someone else with blue hair, someone incredibly important, and that was why Noire was one of the few who didn't turn to romance amongst her friends. There was someone else, and he wasn't there. She has to resign herself to this, and accept it. Her best friend understood. The war is over, Robin had returned to them, and that's more of a miracle than she could have ever expected. Asking for anything else...

But then it happens. Inexplicably, without warning, she finds herself in the Outrealms, called by Naga herself. Another realm needs assistance, more than just one army can provide, and she's not offered much more explanation than that before she and the others are thrown into the fray again.

Dusk has already fallen, and the rain isn't making a battle any easier, her allies (current and new) hard to pick out, but for the most part, it's an age-old struggle-- something Noire's experienced since she was old enough to remember it. Arrow after arrow, duck and skid, call out every so often so your comrades knew your position and that you were still alive. It's grueling, yes, but the amount of oddly intelligent and resilient Risen are starting to taper off by the time she pauses to catch her breath-- and freezes when she spots movement out of her eye, a sniper taking aim at a rain-blurred figure.

She thinks she might have shouted something maniacal and threatening, drowned out by the rage of battle, but her arrow slams into the ribcage, and the Risen falls.

Noire's sigh of relief is quiet, as she slowly lowers her bow. ]

S-somehow... made it... thank goodness.

Comments

[memlost]

[ Oh, Noire. He rests his chin on her head and wraps his arms around her, staring away in thought. ]

It hasn't been easy... has it?

[bloodandblunder]

No... I-I mean-- [ still talking into his clavicle here, but-- ] I knew we'd be separated, and I knew you wouldn't want me to be sad...

... But being without you, Morgan, it's-- it's like something's missing every single day. And I'm so miserable because of it.

[memlost]

[ ... That's too sad. The ache is almost physical. And it helps him come to a decision as he buries his face in her hair, something hard edging his voice. ]

Wait for me, Noire. I'll find one hundred... two hundred... however many Naga's bells it takes to get her to listen to me. And I'll find a way to stay with you. I swear it.

[bloodandblunder]

I-- Morgan, that's-- [ sorry, she's a little overcome right now, but she tries to turn her head to look at him. ] I'm sorry, I was being selfish-- but if you do that... your timeline, your family, your mother--

... You might not be able to go back to any of it.

[memlost]

... It'll be okay.

[ And as he says it, he realizes that it's true. He's sure of it. He straightens and takes her face in both hands, softening. ]

Those things will always be there. They'll get a Morgan that belongs in that timeline, and they'll all be safe and happy. That's good enough for me.

[bloodandblunder]

[ Logically, she knows, she ought to persuade him otherwise. There's no guarantee Naga will agree to this. Even now, as someone who'd had to leave her own time behind forever, she misses what she can never see again. Is he really prepared to give up so much, for her?

But she also knows Morgan. If he's said this much, he's already decided, and she leans her cheek into the curve of one hand, sighing softly. ]

What did I even do right to get someone like you...?

[memlost]

You were yourself. Kind, and sweet, and strong... not to mention cuter than a pea.

[ As he feels her gentle weight on his hand, he knows he can't be without it again. Knowing what her absence feels like, how deep the longing runs... how could he resign himself to a lifetime of that? So the solution is easy in his eyes. ]

I want to be with you. I want to fall asleep and wake up with you. Eat birthday cakes with you, get sick with you, start a family with you. Everything. So please... wait for me.

[bloodandblunder]

[ She'd thought about it before, when she'd been by his side, and after it-- what it would be like to spend the rest of her life with him. To have him be there when she cracked her eyes open in the morning, smiling drowsily. To bake for him, to hold his hand for no particular reason except for it simply being there, having a family of their own...

To hear that Morgan wants it too is an incredible relief.

Noire draws back a bit now, to reach up to the back of her neck and unclasp a chain, pulling it free and clasping one of Morgan's hands to deposit it in his palm. If he looks at it, there's her mother's ring. ]

I'd wait for as long as it took. But I want you to keep this safe for me until then.

[memlost]

This is...

[ Well. Of course he knows what it is. Not just because she's always worn it, but because she explained its significance to him so long ago. With care, he finds the ends of the necklace and closes it around his own neck before placing his hand over the ring on his breast. Her trust contained in a little loop of metal. ]

It's a promise. I'll take good care of it.

[bloodandblunder]

I know you will. I can't think of anyone I'd trust it with more.

[ Or at all. ]

[memlost]

[ A pause, and then he reaches for a bulky waterproof item pouch hidden under his robe. This, he hands to Noire in its entirety. ]

It isn't much, but I'll leave this to you too. Don't open it until you're somewhere dry!

[ And when she does, she'll find a small book nearly full with notes and drawings of vague organization. There are tactical notes and diagrams, as might be expected of him, but poems and lyrics too -- with jagged scrawlings only he (and Morgan) would be able to understand as abstract musical notation -- some neat and complete as if transcribed, and others with words scratched out and altered.

Detailed drawings of unique flowers, birds, and bugs jammed into any available space with notable features labeled, a few with names scribbled in after the fact. Particularly memorable dreams recorded without context, some of them about fruit transforming into soldiers or dogs leading armies, and some of them about Noire. Tiny, hasty checklists for what to shop for around town. Names and birthdays with blanks to fill in more. Mysterious memos, recipes, doodled maps, puzzles, stories, tally marks...

It's all a big mess.

But it all came from him, the little things he thought were worth remembering. ]

[bloodandblunder]

[ She fumbles with the pouch for a minute, not expecting the weight of it, but then she'll press it to her chest. Noire may not know what it contains (and she probably won't risk opening it until she's alone again, where she can trace his writing with trembling fingers and do her best not to shed tears on his memories), but she holds it gently, cherishing it. No matter what he claims, it's clearly important.

When she looks up again, the others are trickling off to compare notes, to heal the more minor injuries, and Noire breathes out unsteadily. ]

How much time do we have left...?

[memlost]

It can't be long now.

[ The luxury they've had thus far could only have been possible with the field nearly depleted of enemies. All the better, or his absence amongst the ranks would be scrutinized that much more closely. He reaches over to squeeze her hand. ]

What do you want to do?

[bloodandblunder]

I-- [ she hesitates, than shakes her head, looking up at him with a tired sort of earnestness. ] What... doesn't matter. I just want to be with you, Morgan. For as long as I can.

[memlost]

[ A slow exhale. It's amazing how such a simple sentiment can still melt him. ]

Well then, first things first. Are you hurt anywhere?

[bloodandblunder]

Ah, no, I'm fine! [ minus a few scrapes, but eeeh. ] Gerome and Laurent have both been worried about me, more than usual, so not much manages to get too close to me these days.

[memlost]

More than usual...?

[ He's seen how those two interact with his own timeline's Noire. Everyone has their own way of looking out for her, but Gerome and Laurent have always been especially vigilant. It's only suiting, he supposes, examining her person anyway for those little injuries. ]

I know archers need their buffer zone, but it sounds like more than that. Have you been giving them cause for worry?

[bloodandblunder]

[ just along one arm, gosh. She's fine! ]

I suppose I haven't been sleeping as well? But that's it...

[memlost]

Worse than usual? That is a cause for worry.

[ Noire needs all the sleep she can get... He casts a look around for the nearest piece of shelter and tugs her toward it. ]

[bloodandblunder]

W-wait, I'm fine! [ MORGAN... ]

[memlost]

When you only have one life to live, you ought to take care of it! No one wants to go down in the books as having died from a silly old scratch. Of course, by that I mean the scratch getting infected and rotting away and falling off... but the scratch was the start of your trouble! Luckily, I picked up a spare vulnerary earlier...

[ In other words, he's having none of her protests. He picks up his sword and her bow before hustling them along.

His shelter of choice is a little half-burned house, long abandoned. Parts of the roof are caved in like a giant punched a hole in it, but it can't be any wetter in there than outside. He peeks through a window and keeps his ears out for any lurking Risen before stepping through the front door. ]

[bloodandblunder]

[ She's still keeping that pouch held close, opting to tuck it into her quiver once she steps inside and casts a cautious glance around.

Most of the furniture has been destroyed, except for a blackened table, which she'll carefully perch herself on. Yeah, she won't argue if Morgan decides to fuss. This time, at least. ]

[memlost]

[ He places her bow on the table next to her before reaching for the esteemed vulnerary from his robe. Midway there, he frowns... and stares down at his soaked robe and hands. Best not drip on her and the vulnerary (even if she's already dripping herself??), so he takes a moment to flap his hands free of droplets and wring the worst of the water from his sleeves, to be shortly pushed up to the elbow.

All set! ]

Your arm?

[bloodandblunder]

[ It's with one sodden glove that she indicates her arm, lifting it up for his inspection. It really isn't that bad, nothing that she hasn't sustained before. ]

Maybe you shouldn't use all of it?

[memlost]

[ 'Tis true... it really ain't that bad, but he'll use that vulnerary anyway. One-third of it, to be precise. He applies it carefully, smoothing it over the wound with his thumb. if. that's how those work. Job well done, he plants his hands on his hips. ]

There. Good as new.