Chapter Text
“Say it.”
Dave stood there, at a loss for words in every way. Vibrant blue eyes watched him sadly; they were expecting something that he couldn't give. There was a beat of silence, and then a woeful sigh. Were Dave able to make himself look up, he would see John's shoulders slump slightly, and the look of pain on his face. He would see the heart breaking behind those square lenses that complimented his face so well.
“...Okay.” John said slowly, as though trying to make time for Dave to speak up.
Nothing.
Dave heard him take in a deep breath. In his mind he could see his shoulders becoming straighter. A simple gesture that he had come to love in the other; it was filled with resolve and determination usually. But it shattered his heart this time. He couldn't help but think about how it was almost funny that the same action could make a smile spread across his face and also make him want to crumple to the floor.
“Bye, Dave.” The words came out colored with disappointment and sorrow.
Dave didn't look up until he knew John was gone.
“....Shit.”
- - - -
“Rose, you don't have to do this!” Jade pleaded desperately. She grabbed onto the other girl's sleeve and tried to make her face her. The blonde head stayed where it was, though, despite her efforts. The dark-haired girl gritted her teeth, fighting back the tears that she knew were going to come anyway.
“Why? Why? Just answer me that, and I'll let go.” She spat out, becoming more and more angry as the other continued to not answer or look at her.
No answer.
“Rose.” Jade said angrily, her voice breaking slightly. Rose's shoulders began to shake. It was a slight movement, but Jade saw it. She knew everything about Rose; the way she wanted to hide her emotions from others. The way she had a difficult time addressing her own problems while she was so ready to help other's with theirs. The way her mask broke.
Jade walked around so she was looking at Rose's face. She turned her head slightly to avoid the piercing green eyes. Jade furrowed her eyebrows, and brought her hands up to the other girl's face. She turned her head gently again, and their eyes met. Rose's eyes reflected the sadness in Jade's. They stared at each other for a long moment, the stares communicating so much more than words ever could.
“...Is this what you want?” Jade broke the silence, her voice almost silent itself. She felt Rose nod slightly in her hands. Jade's eyes closed, and she took a moment for herself.
Rose couldn't help but think about how beautiful she was.
When her eyes reopened, Jade cupped her face a little tighter before leaning in and giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. They parted, and Jade leaned her forehead against the girl's in front of her, eyes squeezing shut against the tears threatening her. Rose closed her eyes, too.
She felt the hands leave her face. Her eyes remained shut. Soft lips met her cheek once more in parting. Rose couldn't bear to open her eyes.
“Goodbye, Rose.”
The blonde opened her eyes to an empty room.
She let herself cry.
- - - -
“Honey, I'm home!” John trilled happily as he swung through the doorway of Rose's apartment. Rose looked up from the book she had been pretending to read, and gave him a warm smile.
The tears had run out half an hour ago, and by the time her on-and-off boyfriend had come in, her cheeks were dry, though still rosy. She put the book on her coffee table, and got up to meet him. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, as it was the only way for her to reach his lips without him leaning down to meet her. She parted with a smile, and reached her hands up to play with the collar on his jacket. “Well well well, Mr. Egbert. What can I do for you on his fine night?” Rose hadn't been expecting him to come over for quite a while. John slept at her apartment on occasion when they were dating, but he didn't come over until 8:00 at the earliest. Rose couldn't help but be slightly grateful that he chose this night to break the tradition, but she also felt a little nagging guilt biting at her in the back of her mind. She looked up at him, and for a moment saw his sister. She didn't let her reaction show, but instead walked back to the coffee table to pick up the book and properly reshelf it.
“Well, I thought that maybe we could go out to dinner! You know, make a night of it.” He said with his trademark infectious grin. He intercepted Rose on her way to the bookshelf, took her hands into his and began to dance her around the room. Rose laughed lightly, falling into step easily with him.
“What's the occasion?” She asked, already feeling a bit lighter. John had quite a way with making people feel better.
“It's a Saturday night and we're young. We don't need an occasion!” He finished off his sentence by lowering Rose into a dip. They stayed there for a moment, smiling at each other.
“I can't argue with that logic.” She said with a tinkling laugh. John stood her back up and bounded back to the doorway.
He flashed around again, his face slightly flushed. “Go put on your fanciest clothes and do all of that girl shit, and I'll be back to pick you up after I get cleaned up, too.” He raised a hand in goodbye and was gone. Rose waved a little after him and rolled her eyes. She looked down at herself and sighed. She didn't really feel like going out tonight, but that was alright. Sometimes it was best to just let John drag her around. There wasn't a single time where it had happened where she hadn't enjoyed herself, so why would this be any different?
Her traitor mind supplied quite a few reasons, Rose shook them from her mind and walked to her room to get ready for their night out.
- - - -
John chose a very romantic venue for dinner that night. Rose just shook her head a bit when they drove up to the extravagant building, but couldn't help but think how very John the whole thing was. He was a romantic to rival all romantics. The food, though ridiculously pricey, was delicious. The feel of the restaurant was very intimate, and each table (there were only tables for two) had it's own candle. The candle was certainly needed, as the other forms of lighting in the room were dim at best. John picked up the bill though Rose argued and insisted that she would get dinner this time, and when everything was said and done, they went for a walk.
Rose clutched her shrug closer to her body, shivering a little in the chill Fall air. They walked in a comfortable silence, enjoying the city lights and each others company. They started to go through a nearby park, strolling on a path lined with trees. It was nice. Very nice. Rose closed her eyes and took in a deep breath of the crisp air. When she opened her eyes again, John wasn't beside her anymore.
“John?” She called out in confusion, looking around for him. He was stopped a few steps behind her, watching her with an expression that Rose couldn't place. She cocked her head to the side, a small smile of confusion on her lips. She was going to ask another question, but something about his expression made herself stop the words before they came out.
John stepped up towards her, and just watched her for a moment. Rose began to become anxious. Did she do something wrong at dinner? What was he doing?
“Rose...” John began warmly. He reached down and took one of her hands into his. “We've had kind of a crazy relationship, haven't we? We've had some troubles, but hell, an alien told us we were destined for each other. And I think that trumps any troubles we've seen. Don't you think?” He stared at their hands while he spoke, and looked up at her face at his last question.
Rose smiled a little suspiciously. “I suppose?” She said in a question with a little laugh.
John laughed in return. “Now, just stay with me here for a minute, okay?” He grinned and waited for her to nod before kneeling down. There was a sharp intake of breath from above him.
“Rose Lalonde?”
Rose pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes wide. She shook her head a little in disbelief, and shuddered out an answer. “Yes?”
John held her other hand in between his two, and looked up at her with a heart-stopping expression. “I love you.” He took one of his hands away from her's, and reached into his slacks pocket and brought out a small box. He gently put down her other hand and opened the box to reveal a ring with a modest, glittering stone. He offered the box up to her. “Will you marry me?”
The world stopped.
- - - -
-- turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering gardenGnostic [GG] at 17:39 --
TG: jade
TG: jade please
TG: i need to talk to someone and youre the only one i have
TG: please
TG: i know youre there
TG: come on
TG: i need you
TG: jade
TG: i cant deal with this alone
TG: i fucked up
TG: i fucked up so royally i can barely breathe
TG: please
TG: please
TG: fucking please
TG: im begging you
TG: answer harley
TG: please
-- gardenGnostic [GG] has become an idle chum! --
TG: god dammit
TG: harley
TG: god fucking dammit jade
TG: youre all i have left
TG: i cant even think about my fucking sister without wanting to punch through a wall
TG: i basically burned the bridge with john by being a fucking idiot
TG: fuck
TG: fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck
TG|: FUCK
TG: then again you have every fucking right to hate me too
TG: which is why youre ignoring me now
TG: fuck i cant even blame you
TG: id hate me too
TG: hell i hate me now
TG: shit
TG: what am i even doing
TG: like youd want to pat my back right now anyway
TG: oh thats okay dave you just screwed up your life and screwed me over too in one fell swoop thats cool here cry on my shoulder
TG: why thank you jade how considerate
TG: shit
TG: im sorry jade
TG: im so fucking sorry
TG: i wont talk to you anymore if thats what you want
TG: but just please
TG: say something now
TG: say it
TG: oh god
TG: thats what he said hahahahahahh motherfucker i cant do this
-- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering gardenGnostic [GG] at 17:51 –