I'm no trooper

Chapter 42: Bittersweet

F/N's perspective

The air blew gently against my face as I leaned against a balcony overlooking the city. Days had passed since our victory over the Empire and the 13th Sister, and slowly, the capital was rebuilding. The distant sounds of hammers and the like echoed below as it flew on the wind.

Sighing softly, I looked down upon the ring in my right palm, the metallic surface shining against the sun as I flexed my prosthetic fingers—a gift for my services in the revolution, installed while I was still bedridden from the confrontation. Though, my thoughts drifted away from the hand and ring, my fingers closing around the silver object.

F/N: "Did you plan for all this going in?"

I asked, glancing over my shoulder to see Gold leaning in the doorway that led back into the palace. The man shook his head with a chuckle, pushing himself off and walking over to my side.

Gold: "Far from it, but plans change, for better or for worse. It seems that it worked out in the end, despite becoming a Skywalker."

He said with a grin and looked at my deadpan expression.

F/N: "Oh, har har, very funny."

Gold: "I know, I'm a good comedian, but you holding up, ok?"

He asked as I shrugged, flicking the ring to where it rested between the knuckles of the prosthetic index and middle finger.

F/N: "Depends on what you mean? Physically, I'm still sore all over, mentally. I can't remember how long it's been since I came here, and it's all over now. Fighting's done for the time being, and we can rebuild."

I said, looking back over the city as Gold moved to my left, placing a hand upon the banister.

Gold: "Indeed, and nothing else for my great foe will descend upon these lands. The deal has been met and set in stone."

F/N: "Yeah, though I assume you didn't come here just to pat me on the back, Mr. Multi-universe."

Gold chuckled softly as he pulled back and walked towards the exit. I got up from my spot and watched him as a rift formed where the doorway should have been with a wave of his hand.

Gold: "Indeed, it's a question that I believe I know the answer to, but you've given me enough surprises with your little plan to question that. Do you want to return to your world or stay within this one?"

He said as I shook my head a bit and looked down at the ring in my hand. The gem glowed a soft blue hue for but a moment before fading as I turned my gaze to Gold.

F/N: "I think I'm going to stay. I've got things here now I need to see through."

Gold smiled before letting out a sigh as he closed the portal.

Gold: "Well, that's much less work for me explaining you-.... Forget what I was about to say."

He said with a slight sweat, my eyes narrowing while slipping the ring onto my left index.

F/N: "Gold...what exactly did you do to explain my disappearance?"

Gold: "Well, you seeeeee, I may have, sorta, kinda, left a clone that died after a few weeks. D-don't worry, your friends and family know what you were doing, so it's-

He was saying in a rapid tone before I broke in and yelled loud enough to scatter a flock of pigeons sitting upon the roof of the palace.

F/N: "YOU PULLED A SPARTAN 2 PROGRAM ON ME!? REALLY!?"

The man jumped back at my outburst, throwing his hands up in defense.

Gold: "I had limited time, ok!? And it worked out in the end, you got the girl, you have a cool ring with water magic, and you saved the nation!?"

He said, wincing slightly as Gold expecting a punch, though, opened his squeezed eyes to my face of udder neutrality.

F/N: "Yeah yeah....well, Black Marlin hasn't called me up for his death, so guess he's sticking around a little longer. So, what now?"

I asked and watched the man open another rift.

Gold: "For me? What I've been doing. But, you enjoy yourself here. You've earned it."

He said with a small smile before leaving, the rift shutting behind him before a pair of footsteps echoed from within the palace halls.

Mine: "You done screaming? You probably woke half the capital."

The pink-haired assassin said with a soft smile as she walked onto the balcony. I just rubbed my temple a bit before looking up at her.

F/N: "How much of that did you hear?"

Mine: "Just something about Spartans? But I assume that was this 'Gold' you spoke about?"

She asked as I gave her a simple nod before looking back over the city. I smiled softly as the girl wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned against me.

Mine: "Hard to think it's all over now that we won."

F/N: "Yeah, but we still have work to do. At some point, there will be those that wish to restore what once was."

I said, wrapping my arm around her back as we looked each other in the eyes.

Mine: "Yeah, but I've got you now."

F/N: "That you do."

I said before Mine pushed herself up onto her tippy toes and pecked my lips, a soft blush dusting her cheeks. Softly giggling, I fully enveloped her into a hug. The two of us stayed like that for a long time before being interrupted.

Leone: "Get a room, you two!!!"

The bubbly blonde yelled from within the palace, a scarlet blush breaking out over Mines's face as we broke the hug. The short stack turned towards her teammate with embraced and angry eyes.

Mine: "Oh, you just had to ruin our-oh come here, you troublemaker!"

She yelled, Leone, laughing as she made a sprint into the palace, Mine right on her heels. Laughing, I looked down at the ring again, flexing my fingers before forming a fist.

F/N: "Well, if you do stick around, I'm sure there's still a use for you yet. Jobs never truly done."

I said, staring out at the city one last time before dashing my girlfriend; we'd just gotten this place, be a shame if we broke it now. For who knew what would come our way in the future to come, but one thing is for sure. We had earned our victory through the pain and can take on whatever is thrown at us next, together, a bittersweet ending, I guess one could say.