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Laudna reached out to grasp a lightning-scarred hand and felt herself pulled into a familiar hold. But this time there was no danger, no objective, no world hanging in the balance. She felt a grin spread across her face from where it was tucked into Imogen’s neck and a laugh bubbled in her throat.
"What is it, honey?" Imogen whispered softly against her ear. Laudna let her head tilt sideways against her girlfriend’s shoulder as she glanced up.
"We did it, Imogen." Her smile widened, cracking her face apart. "We saved the world. We found our cottage." Imogen’s gaze turned achingly soft and she reached out to brush a loose strand of Laudna’s hair back behind her ear.
"We did." Imogen’s fingers trailed across the gold cuff and down Laudna’s neck, brushing against age-old scars. She pulled back a little to press her hand against Laudna’s chest, where a purple glow faintly pulsed. "You did it."
The weight behind those words nearly bowled Laudna over. She reached up to wrap her own hand over Imogen’s. "I-" the swelling emotion threatened to sweep her words away. "I did."
She recalled how she began this life: with the world in front of her and nowhere to go. A life she could see no way out of. A dead girl walking, shackled to the will of the woman in her head. And when she was handed her own freedom, the fate of the world still chased her. Chased Imogen.
She let her fingers trace lightning scars up Imogen’s arm as she met violet eyes. "And so did you."
"No dead ends," Imogen whispered, voice catching with emotion. Nobody and nothin' controllin’ us, she continued in Laudna’s mind. Forever is in our hands.
Laudna surged forward, mouth capturing Imogen’s and pouring in every emotion she was feeling. Forever, she thought back. Always and forever, Imogen. She felt black tears streaming down her face, mixing with Imogen’s own. She pulled back a little, mouths still brushing, and whispered "I love you" against Imogen’s lips.
"I love you more than anythin', Laud." Imogen reached up to cup Laudna's face, thumbs brushing away streaks of black ichor, and gently guided her down to rest her forehead against Imogen's. "This cottage, this life with you? It's all I've ever wanted." Imogen snorted, the sound soft and bitter, yet tinged with powerful emotion: "You were the only good dream I ever had."
"Imogen." It still made something in Laudna's brain stutter when Imogen made declarations like that. Laudna was still learning to accept herself. Working to untangle the mess of her mind and understand her own self-worth. She let her gaze catch Imogen's and looked.
Imogen Temult was beautiful. Laudna had always thought that. Long, lavender hair spilling in waves down her back. Lightning scars tracing up her body and brushing her face: a symbol of the power she wielded. And deep, violet eyes that had never once looked at Laudna in the same way that everyone else did.
And that was the catch wasn't it? Because whatever pedestal Laudna had placed Imogen on, had never been supported by Imogen herself. Exaltant Hope of the Red Storm, God-Eater, savior of the pantheon itself, and she wanted nothing but Laudna. Had always wanted Laudna.
The red thread, the gold ring, the love that Imogen had always shown her. Perhaps, to Laudna, she was just Imogen. Laudna's Imogen, Laudna's tether, Laudna's future.
Hey, you still with me? Imogen's voice cut gently into her thoughts, softened with amusement and care.
Always with you, Imogen, Laudna said earnestly and with a growing understanding. For the rest of our lives. "Imogen!" She switched to speech as the excitement threatened to burst out of her. "We're going to spend the rest of our lives together!"
Imogen smiled. "We are."
"I mean, I know I knew that technically, with the whole 'soul-binding' process. Or I assume that was our souls right? But I suppose it hadn't quite clicked in my head yet. It all happened very fast and its been thirty years without aging and—Imogen! Am I going to age? Get all old and wrinkly?" And oh, Imogen was laughing.
Laudna wanted to bottle the sound, wanted to spend the rest of her life (rest of their lives!) making Imogen laugh. She looked so free, so unburdened from the weight of expectation that had buried them for the last three months and the weight of her life that had chased her for much longer.
Imogen reached out and gently caught Laudna's hands that had pulled free in her excitement. Her thumb's ran comfortingly across Laudna's skin, lightning scars dragging across the surface in a familiar way. She raised one hand to her mouth and kissed it softly. "I love you, you know that?"
Laudna smiled. "Of course I do, darling."
"Good," Imogen murmured, as she turned Laudna's hand to press her mouth to the inside of her wrist. Laudna's breath caught and she wondered if Imogen could feel her heartbeat, wondered if it felt any faster—any more alive. "And, honey, I don't know if you're goin' to age in the same way, but we have all the time in the world to figure it out."
"No dead ends," Laudna whispered, repeating Imogen's words back to her.
"Always and forever, Laudna."
Imogen reached up and pressed a quick kiss to Laudna's mouth before pulling back. "Now, you said somethin' about wantin' to fly?"
"Oh yes!" Laudna clapped her hands together. "Make us fly, Imogen!"
Imogen looked at her thoughtfully, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly and Laudna caught the hint of mischief that danced in her eyes. Imogen stepped behind her and encircled her arms around Laudna, pressing the whole of her body against her and resting her chin in the crook of Laudna's neck. "Hold on tight, honey," she whispered, warm breath tickling Laudna's ear.
Laudna felt them lift from the ground and the rush of air as they shot smoothly upward. She laughed. "Not that I'm complaining, darling, but wouldn't it be easier if we were both flying?"
She felt Imogen nip her ear. "Don't want me close?" her girlfriend asked teasingly.
Laudna's heart stuttered. "Not what I said!"
She felt Imogen's smile press into her skin. "I'm glad," her girlfriend murmured as she trailed kisses down her neck.
Laudna groaned as she tilted her head to allow Imogen more space. "Darling, this is lovely, but weren't we going to scope out the land? Appreciate the views?"
"I have an excellent view right here, baby."
"Imogen." Laudna failed miserably at sounding stern.
Imogen sighed and Laudna shivered as warm breath washed over her. "Fine."
Laudna laughed. "Insatiable."
"It's not my fault you're so distractin'," Imogen whined.
"Oh believe me, I understand. But lovely fantasy that it is, darling, I do worry about you keeping your focus. We wouldn't want to go plummeting to our deaths."
"Laudna, flyin' is second nature to me now. I wouldn't drop, no matter how distracted I was."
Laudna twisted in Imogen's grasp to brush their noses together, amusement pulling up the corners of her mouth. "Yes, but Imogen darling, could you also hold onto me properly? And what about time limits?"
Imogen groaned, leaning her head forward to gently knock their foreheads together. "Alright, alright, you have a point."
"It is a wonderful thought though! You are, of course, very capable, and I'm certain we could figure something out, but I only just processed that we have the rest of our lives together. I would rather not cut that time too short if it's alright with you."
Imogen snorted. "That would be just perfect wouldn't it? Survive the God-Eater only to get taken out by flying sex attempts. Our friends would revive us just so they could ridicule us for the rest of our lives."
"Oh, I'm sure they've attempted worse things," Laudna grinned.
Imogen considered for a moment, before shuddering. "Maybe best not to think too hard about it. Anyways, Laud, you wanted to see the land?"
"I did! I heard the coast is nearby!" She squinted around slightly before twisting again in Imogen's grasp and pointing. "That way!"
It was indeed, not that way, but between the two of them, they were eventually able to locate the edge of the land and a vast expanse of clear, blue water.
Oh, Laudna sighed in Imogen's head, shadowy voices echoing her awe. It's beautiful.
Imogen turned to look at her. Golden sunlight danced across her face and illuminated the very slight reddish tint of her hair. The gentle motion of the waves reflected in dark eyes opened wide with wonder. The joy and care that Laudna could still bring to the world always shot straight to Imogen's heart. She was so in love with her. The most beautiful sight in the world, she whispered into Laudna's mind.
Laudna glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, amusement flickering in her gaze. Imogen, that was so cheesy.
Imogen nuzzled into Laudna's neck, grinning. You love it.
Laudna sighed. Of course I do. I love you.
I love you, too.
They both turned to watch the horizon, the setting sun drifting into the calm ocean waters and painting the sky in shades of red and orange. "It kinda looks like the skies of Ruidus," Imogen murmured into Laudna's ear.
"So it does," Laudna responded. "But now those storms mean something different."
"So they do," Imogen echoed. "The end of an age, Laudna."
"And the start of a new one."