The rain had been falling for hours, its rhythmic patter on the window a distant echo in Tamara’s mind. The cold, grey sky mirrored the emptiness inside her, the void that had lingered ever since Tori left. Tamara stood by the window, gazing out into the storm, her hands resting against the glass, fingers tracing patterns in the condensation. Her heart ached, a dull, constant throb that wouldn't go away.
Tori had been gone for months, and every day, Tamara had prayed for her return. The days had stretched into endless nights of loneliness and quiet desperation. Tori had left to lead Norway’s red faction—ambitious, driven, and determined to make a difference. Tamara had supported her, encouraged her, even though part of her was terrified. Terrified that Tori might not come back, terrified that their love would be consumed by the dangers she had chosen to face alone.
But she had promised Tamara she would return. And she always kept her promises.
Tamara hadn’t been able to shake the thought of her. And now, she was here.
A soft creak of the door drew Tamara’s attention. Her heart stopped in her chest. Slowly, she turned around. The figure standing in the doorway was tall and familiar, but everything about her had changed.
Tori stood there, drenched in rain, her long hair matted against her face, her eyes shadowed with exhaustion. Her usual confident posture was hunched, almost fragile. Her once graceful features were marred—half of her face covered with severe burn scars, a jagged line that ran from her cheek down to her jaw. Her left arm was replaced by a sleek mechanical prosthetic, gleaming coldly in the dim light of the room.
Tori’s gaze met Tamara’s. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Tamara’s chest tightened as she tried to steady her breath.
"Tori..." The name slipped from Tamara’s lips like a prayer, soft and broken, as she took a hesitant step toward her.
Tori stood frozen, her lips trembling slightly, a mixture of relief and guilt passing through her dark eyes. "I... I’m sorry, Tamara," she muttered, her voice hoarse, filled with sorrow. "I didn’t mean for it to be like this."
Tamara’s heart ached. The sight of Tori, broken and vulnerable, shattered her completely. She had always seen Tori as a rock—strong, unshakable, confident. But now, in front of her, she wasn’t sure if Tori was still that person.
Without a word, Tamara stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Her hands reached out, trembling as they rested on Tori’s shoulders. The moment their skin met, a surge of warmth flooded through her, a quiet assurance that Tori was here, that she was still alive, still hers.
Tori didn’t resist as Tamara pulled her into a tight embrace, her own arms wrapping around the shorter girl, though awkward at first, the mechanical arm feeling foreign against Tamara’s skin. Tamara buried her face in the crook of Tori’s neck, inhaling her scent—a mix of rain, metal, and something deeper, more intimate.
“You came back…” Tamara whispered, her voice breaking as she clung to her. “I thought you weren’t going to.”
Tori let out a shaky breath, the weight of her emotions finally breaking through. She gently stroked Tamara’s back, her fingers brushing against her soft skin, as if memorizing the feeling of her touch. “I never wanted to leave you, Tamara. I thought I could make it right... but I failed. I failed everyone. And now I’m not sure who I am anymore.”
Tamara pulled back just slightly to look at her face, her thumb brushing against the burn marks, soft and reverent, as if trying to erase the pain that Tori carried. “Tori, you don’t need to be perfect for me,” she said, her voice filled with quiet sincerity. “You don’t need to fix yourself. I love you... just the way you are.”
The words hung in the air, raw and true. Tori’s lips parted, her eyes welling with tears that she had long since held back. Tamara’s chest tightened as she watched her lover break, her walls crumbling after months of isolation.
“I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself for what I’ve done,” Tori whispered, her voice barely audible. “For leaving you... for failing.”
Tamara’s heart ached for her. She lifted a hand to Tori’s face, cupping her jaw gently, forcing her to meet her gaze. “You don’t have to forgive yourself for anything. I’m here, Tori. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They simply held each other, allowing the quiet intimacy to wash over them. The world outside no longer mattered. All that mattered was the two of them, tangled in their emotions, and the weight of the love they shared.
Tamara reached up to kiss Tori, her lips pressing gently against the scarred skin of her cheek, her lips brushing over the rough texture of the burn marks. She could feel Tori’s hesitation, but she didn’t pull away. She kissed her again, this time on the lips, a soft, lingering kiss that spoke of everything they had been through and everything they still had to fight for.
Tori’s hand moved to Tamara’s back, pulling her closer as their kiss deepened. The warmth of Tori’s lips against hers made Tamara’s heart race, and she could feel every inch of Tori’s brokenness as she kissed her. But it was in that kiss that Tamara understood—Tori was still hers. And no matter what scars they both carried, they would heal together.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless. Tori’s hand reached down to gently touch Tamara’s cheek, tracing her features with the softness of someone who had been starved of tenderness for too long.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Tori said, her voice trembling.
“I’ve missed you, too,” Tamara replied, her voice thick with emotion. “So much it hurt.”
Tori smiled, the first real smile Tamara had seen in months. It wasn’t the smile of the leader, the soldier, or the strong woman she had been before. It was the smile of someone who had found home again.
“Can you stay with me tonight?” Tamara whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “Can you just… hold me?”
Tori nodded, her lips brushing against Tamara’s forehead in a soft, loving gesture. “I’m not going anywhere, Tamara. Not again. I’m here. And I always will be.”
With that, the two of them made their way to the couch, holding each other close as the rain continued to fall outside. For the first time in months, Tamara felt at peace, knowing that despite everything they had been through, they would be okay.
Their love, though scarred and tested, would endure.
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