“Finally succumbing to relaxation, Ling?”
Reyna asks Sage with a smile on her lips and a wine glass propped in her hand like a chalice held by a queen. Dark red wine has begun to stain her inner lip over the top layer of her lipstick by this time of night. Sage has allowed herself to fall down into the empty deck chair beside Reyna.
The New Year is approaching. Twenty minutes more until the clock hits midnight; and Sage is about to begin the promised fresh start of the coming year by deepening her stress lines tenfold. All night, Reyna has been able to hear her heart race and pound endlessly, the sound softening and growing louder depending on where she was or what she was doing. Reyna finds herself surveying the state of the other woman who just strong-armed about thirty pounds of pyrotechnics up a flight of stairs.
"Well, as far as it goes, everything should stay successfully intact should Phoenix and Neon keep their distance from the fuses.” While Reyna raises a brow at her unceremonious appearance, Sage sighs. Reyna can swear she could visibly see the stress of the day leaving the woman’s body alongside her breath. Cool air seems to soothe her. The first of tonight’s fireworks blossoms in the sky behind her, painting the night with hues of pinks and oranges. “I should have some time to spare.”
Reyna let out a breath of a laugh through her nose. An image of Neon and Phoenix simultaneously lighting a whole night’s worth of fireworks ablaze comes to mind. She can practically smell the abrupt fumes of gunpowder and see the guilt written across their faces. “Always working. You are merciful to entertain Brimstone in his unwarranted patriotism.”
Sage exhales a sigh that nearly draws a laugh from Reyna. The healer's lips press into a thin line and she merely shakes her head. “It makes him happy. We spent Fourth of July apart. Not to mention it seems to have an effect on morale. We may as well entertain it before we ship off again.” Sage raises her hand as if to wave it off.
Reyna can’t disagree with what she has to say, as amusing as it is to see her face painted with light annoyance. This sort of festive gathering clearly has an effect on the team. Neon is dashing across the rooftop while Raze runs behind her. Chamber and Brim are chatting each other up. As far as it goes, their worries seem to have faded if only for a little while. For once, war isn’t grasping their hearts and clouding their minds. “Your patience amazes me. It always has, cariño.”
“Do not be insincere. Someone must carry the weight.”
Reyna hums as she lifts a wine glass to her lips. “I am sincere. I can enjoy some festivities.” Sage, however, seems unconvinced while she reaches across the table for a bottle of light pink champagne. Deft hands reach for the cork to pry it open and soon after she pours herself a glass. Bubbles fizz within the glass as she brings the rim of the wine glass to her lips.
“Do you enjoy the fireworks? Or are you being purely sweet and sacrificial by attending?” To Reyna the bright bursts of light are similar enough to a wayward stroke of lightning from Neon that she doesn’t deem them particularly special. She can recall that when she was younger she found them beautiful. Many times had she stood in intricate dresses beneath the sky at grand New Year’s events hosted by her family, listening to the pyrotechnics sounding off. The fireworks her family once let off were the most brilliant in the city.
As an adult the novelty has worn off to some degree. The once extravagant parties hosted in her childhood estate have now ceased. She has not attended one at home in years. This celebration is still beautiful, albeit not the same. Some nostalgia follows the fireworks here now even when the world has changed so deeply. New people in a new city and a new world. Though, Sage’s reaction leaves her feeling as like the celebration remains fully worthy of her attention. That look in her eyes makes the entire scene feel more bright to Reyna. She always leaves Reyna with that feeling of lightness that leaves the jewel embedded in her chest glowing. She feels that way even when Sage is being infuriating, fussing over her questionable motives and ideals.
Sage seems to watch the sky with a twinkle in her eyes. Reyna questions if the novelty ever truly wore off for her. “I can admit, yes, I do hold a fondness for them when I am far from home."
“Que pensativa. Darling Sage singing her poetics.” Reyna hums and Sage spares her another short disapproving look. When Sage does not elaborate on her opinion Reyna offers the chance to her, knowing she would not take it herself. “What is it about them that earns your utmost attention?” She turns to face Sage. Sage seems lost in thought, far from the usual concentration she shows on the battlefield. Her mind is clearly straying from the pressure of protecting. It is easing for a night; A rare occurrence. “You look at the sky with such passion. But there is something else. Am I mistaken?"
The healer shakes her head in a simple response. “No. You are correct. However, you will find it ridiculous should I say.”
“No. Not at all.” She says with sincerity in her tone. No playful lilt remains in it. “You have my ear. You have much on your mind.”
“Am I so transparent?”
“Your lips purse when you lose yourself in thought.” Reyna points out. A small smile crosses her own lips. “Though, your heartbeat pounds.”
Sage hums. She’d never noticed that she did such a thing before. "Very well.” She turns her gaze up towards the sky as a few fireworks from within the city begin to roll upwards. “I think… It may be the idea of a new beginning, celebrating a year passed, regardless of the immense loss within it. The conflict has not yet reached an end.” Sage shakes her head, the thoughts stirring in her mind. Such conflicting feelings built up over the year have all collided. “I feel guilt knowing that we visibly celebrate that time for a night rather than grieve.“
“How could that be seen as ridiculous?” Reyna asks as she watches Sage take another sip of her drink.
Sage swallows her drink and then speaks. “It is rather sentimental.” Sage smiles sadly then glances down at her lap. One hand rests on the stem of her glass while her other fidgets on the table. “Every year that passes in danger is a failure for us, no matter how fond we feel of each other. I see it as a foolish thought. There is nothing beautiful within the fights that never cease, Reyna. How can I celebrate the beginning of another year knowing we’ve failed to bring change?” She asks in pure honesty. Her thoughts fall from her lips before she can filter them as she's usually so careful to do. “Doing such cannot be just.”
Reyna is seldom the type to be sentimental herself, or so she would argue she is. Fear within destruction brings a certain sort of delight to her. She has everything to prove. That does not mean it is worthwhile. She would kill again and again if necessary. Never would she deem the effects of such a conflict to be worthwhile. In the end she shares the same goal; To get home. To protect the ones she loves and revitalize a safe world for them. Without that goal there is little left. There is nothing to celebrate within the need to fight.
Sage revokes her statement after a moment of silence. “I should not continue. I’m sorry to dampen the mood especially when responding to such a generous question.”
“You should know by now I would not ask if I didn’t want to know what was on your mind.” Reyna props her arm on the table and rests her head on her hand, her hair falling over her fingers. “A dull answer is a waste of my time.” Her hesitance to continue is blatant. Though she keeps talking. She confides in Sage. She returns the emotion Sage lent to her. “We have each other. Foolishly speaking or not. We have something else to protect beyond fighting the filth in the world. Do you believe we only fight for that?” There is nothing- no one to fight for if the world has nothing left. “You are so opposed to feeling pleasure, Ling.” Reyna hums. “What a miserable way to live. For one night, let it go.”
“It is not so easy.” Sage is quick to deny.
Reyna leans closer to her, so close that Sage can feel her breath on her ear. Her lips pull up in a smile (just for her) and catch Sage’s attention just as they always do. “But it is. There is no one to protect tonight. Celebrate that. Let yourself go.” Her voice is soft in Sage’s ear above the background noise of the fireworks and chatter. Her words are only for Sage, her heart the same. “The world waits for you until tomorrow. Don’t waste the night, hermosa. Nothing exploded as of now. That is plenty for me to drink to.” Reyna proceeds to wave her hand in dismissal as she leans back and Sage sighs. Upon seeing Sage's distrust written plainly across her face, Reyna continues. “For one night, put your trust in me. Enjoy a drink and relax. Forget the rest of the world in need.”
Sage is left considering Reyna’s kind words. She has a good point, although the ache of guilt lingering in Sage’s chest doesn’t entirely fade. “I guess one night cannot be too awful to indulge in…” Sage’s hand rests on the table still tapping on the surface in a fidgeting motion. Slowly, Reyna reaches over with her free hand. Before she can stop herself or cease, her pinky finger carefully slips around Sage’s. A small gesture from a woman who is too cautious to ever fully accept what she wants most. Reyna has never felt Sage’s hand before. Not aside from on the battlefield on her own split skin during healing. Not like this.
Sage looks down at their hands; At Reyna’s tattoos, at her nails and her gentle grip. She touches Sage so carefully as if her hands have never felt blood on them. Not a weapon to claw. Neither a healer nor a martyr. They’re just them for the time being. That tiny action conveys more than it should. She will be here with her. In radiant war, in shared moments, and perhaps even if the world is blown to shreds. She’ll hold her hand in her own form of protective reassurance.
Sage can distinctly remember when she met Reyna. How Reyna’s introduction was simple. She’d kill for her purpose. Every moment spent alive was her pushing to be a weapon in battle. She took every fight ceaselessly as if she was no longer a woman. Only a vessel. Yet now, she looks content holding Sage’s hand. Her nails don’t claw into flesh. She only strokes her hand softly with her thumb every so often. She is taking time to rest.
Sage can accept that as a step closer to victory. A woman she cares so deeply about has found some semblance of peace.
When Sage looks up, Neon still looks cheerful across the rooftop. Raze is now laughing beside her while setting up a speaker Sage can only guess is of Killjoy’s invention. Chamber is leaning against the wall of the roof top as he chats with Brimstone who looks to be laughing heartily at whatever comment he may have made. Reyna’s point rings true.
Perhaps this year has not ceased the brutality of Kingdom’s attacks but it seems like those around her have been changed for the better throughout that time. Some progress has been made. Not only that, the city ahead of them is still intact rather than drained of life. Citizens still fire off fireworks to celebrate safety. They continue to live in blissful ignorance of mirror worlds or the threats that come alongside them.
When Sage really takes Reyna’s words to mind she sees that some progress was indeed made.
There is work to be done nonetheless but…
“There she is.” Reyna interrupts her thoughts.
Sage turns her attention to Reyna once more. Reyna is now looking at her rather than the sky or the city. Sage cannot miss the fondness in her eyes.
“What are you referring to?”
“You.” Reyna says simply. No need to hide it. “There’s your hope. Keep that safe. Protect what is yours. If you will not, then I will.” Reyna doesn’t need to say another word to convey it all. She would keep Sage’s heart safe in the palm of her hand could she do so. She would be her shield. “What you have is precious. Be selfish and take it for yourself.”
Sage exhales a quiet, nearly relieved chuckle. “You have a point. You should consider providing the pep talk at the next meeting.”
“Oh, I adore you, you have me wrapped around your finger. But I think I would rather be torn to shreds and suffocated.” Reyna visibly cringes and Sage huffs.
“It was worth an attempt.”
Reyna’s attention shifts from Sage’s eyes, down her face slowly and to her lips while she speaks. Every word Sage speaks makes Reyna more inclined to bridge the gap between them. She wants to know her lips, her thoughts, her mind. To show her every bit of the respite she deserves most.
“Thank you, Zyanya.”
Reyna nods, giving Sage’s hand a squeeze. “You will always hold my heart and my mind in your hands. All you have to do is ask for them. For me.”
Reyna's statement gains little reaction from Sage but it does ring quite loudly in the healer's head like a pleasant song. It's what makes her speak up, what makes her feel she can ask, perhaps not for that just yet, but for something along those lines. “Zyanya.”
“Yes?”
“May I ask you for something else?”
“You always may.”
Sage gestures down at the watch on Reyna’s wrist.
11:57.
Reyna follows her gaze.
Oh.
*Oh*.
At that moment, once again, any interest Reyna has in the fireworks bursting to life in the sky swiftly fades away.
“You told me to indulge. I would like to. Given that that is alright with you-”
No further words are needed. Only a shared silent look and Reyna tilting her head playfully. It's only a slight lean before her lips press lightly against Sage's without concern for the opinions of other agents.
The kiss Reyna proceeds to offer Sage is just as fleeting as the lights of the fireworks. For just a brief moment she experiences the beauty of spontaneity; A moment that cannot last forever and is even more precious just the same. Perfection and sparks for just a moment.
For that period of time that is ever too short, it feels as though the rest of the world fades away. Cliche or not, Sage leans closer in an attempt to learn the feeling of her lips. To take to memory how they move against her own, soft and hungry, passionate but controlled. Reyna is careful not to bite or brush her teeth against her soft lips and of course Sage does the same just for her.
When they finally part, Reyna’s hand has moved to caress Sage’s cheek. Her affection is so gentle that Sage wonders how she can treat someone so delicately.
That said...
“That was certainly not at midnight, Reyna.”
Reyna feigns innocence with a slight shrug. “Oh. Goodness. I am so apologetic. I misread the time. I guess I will be forced to kiss you again when midnight comes.”
The healer rolls her eyes. “I would not be opposed. If you must.” She can only hope Reyna will assume the dull flush dusting across her cheeks is a reflection of the light from the fireworks.
Reyna smiles. She has to make an effort not to burst out in laughter once she notices the purple lipstick (and red wine) smudged on Sage’s lips. “Oh, purple looks breathtaking on you.” Reyna’s thumb moves away from her chin and up to her lip. With a gentle sweep she rubs the residual lipstick off of Sage’s lip. If she wasn’t a stronger woman she’d ask to kiss her again considering the way Sage looks up at her while she wipes away the lipstick. Dare she say it, Sage looks at her with an expression almost more enamored than when she looks at the fireworks. She can hear her heartbeat and it beats quickly like the sound of a pounding on a door. Reyna, as brazen as she is, gives herself credit for such a reaction. "You are more beautiful than any light in any world’s sky, cariño.”
Sage’s cheeks flush an even more visible red before she rolls her eyes. Reyna watches as a tiny smile rises on her lips. “You say such ridiculous things, Reyna. You truly do.”
“You fall in love with each and every single one of them. By the end of this year, your heart will beat only for me.“
‘You fall in love with me. Time and time again. I will ensure it.’ Reyna thinks.
“We will see.” Sage replies as she spares Reyna a final glance before her attention is drawn elsewhere. Neon has retrieved a box or two of sparklers from their preparations and is waving them in the air to the two. Like clockwork, Neon speeds towards them and places the boxes but not without a subtle playful look between the two
“Thank you, Neon-“ Sage says to the agent wielding the sparklers but by the time she manages to say it in its entirety, Neon is already far across the rooftop out of earshot by the time she can say it. Streaks of electricity wax and wane in the air after her. Once the duelist has gone back to the festivities, the sparkler box lays idle on the table until Sage caves and lifts it then flips the lid open.
“Would you like one?”
Reyna can only laugh. She reaches for the plastic bag within the sparkler box and removes a sparkler with her nails. While Chamber and Brimstone begin to settle into their chairs beside the two, Sage lifts the lighter from the table. With a quick click the flame sparks to life. She holds the lighter out to Reyna’s sparkler first, lighting the end ablaze. Sparkling light glints to life on the stick and illuminates any darkness between them. Reyna shares the flame all the same. The two sparklers lit between them flicker.
Neither of them are concerned with how fast the light may burn, only how it sparkles in the moment.
“To another year. Together.” Reyna tilts her sparkler upwards like a toast and Sage does the same.
“Yes. To another year. Together.”