In the Heart of the Fire (a KOTLC fanfic)

Beans, Babes and Beyond: A Bonus Story

Author's Note: Don't tell me you already forgot about Rayne! They were just biding their time until I got to this.

I would also like to warn. There are possible triggers in here. I do discuss poor mental health.

*****

Rayne often frequented this place. It was a paradise for the fruity people. There were drag shows every night until midnight. Coffee, tea, pastries and sandwiches were served 24/7. The air was always filled with the scent of dark roast, baking streusel and excitement.

Alex, the owner, spotted Rayne as soon as she walked in. He was, of course, in drag, having probably just finished MCing the show. Her name was Mary of Butterscotch, and, like a queen, she reigned over her café like no other.

"Well! Miss Rayne! What are you doing up, dear? It's past your bedtime!" Her big, golden hair fell in waves to her shoulders, spilling over her skin as smooth and dark as fresh black coffee. Her purple sequined gown was tight fitting, showing off curves made possible by padding. Her matching platform heels made her tower over the customers as she took their orders and delivered their food. Rayne assumed Isaac, the boyfriend, was in the back. Isaac was a professional chef and made all the delicious treats offered here. He was nicknamed "The Lady-in-Baking."

Rayne giggled. "I've actually had a rough last ten minutes. I'm meeting someone here to get clarification."

"Ah. So camomile tea with honey? Tea for tea?"

"With a chocolate croissant, of course. Give my regards to Isaac." Mary knew Rayne's order. Rayne was a true regular.

"Right away, darling."

As Mary bustled off to the back, Rayne seated herself at the corner table for two next to the window, contemplating how her life would change after this.

Rayne was just starting to blow off her tea and nibble on her croissant when the bell above the door chimed and Zeke entered. He looked around, spotted Rayne, and walked over.

"This is a nice place." Zeke offered. "As long as I've lived here, I've never been in it, though."

"Ah." Rayne sipped her tea. It warmed her bones, sending comfort throughout her body. "I love this place. I've been here more times than I can count."

At that moment, Mary appeared and took Zeke's order. There was a pause in their conversation.

"So...where to begin?" Rayne asked. They were eager and nervous at the same time. They wanted to know the whole truth, but it would (once again) be a major life change pertaining to her identity.

"Well, I figure I'll start with my disappearance." Zeke smiled, his eyes going a big cloudy with the memory. "I really was transported to Eternalia, the elven capitol. It was crazy. The Council, the twelve ruling elves, knew right away that I was there. They personally came to get me. There was even a Tribunal, an elven court case, basically, to decide what to do with me. The end decision was that I'd be kept there to keep me from revealing secrets to humans. I had to regularly check in with the Council every month. One day, while I was there, I went exploring and I found a records room of sorts. It was the Archives. I dug through everything to find my file. That's how I discovered I was half-elf and able to leap. That's when I saw yours. I was naturally curious. I had been thinking about you and everyone else every day." By everyone else, Rayne knew he meant his grandparents, as his birth parents disowned him for being who he is. "So, I pulled it out and looked at it. According to the scroll, you're part gnome. I remembered you have an affinity for plants and it makes sense. I did some digging, asking trustworthy elves and turns out, gnomes' singing makes plants grow."

Rayne smiled as they thought of themself talking to their plants and said plants growing up walls. Literally.

"So..." Zeke continued. "I was an apprentice at a special shop in Mysterium, a shopping center for non-noble elves. The owner was kind and did not care for the arrogance of nobles. I was able to create new potions and elixirs as I wished as well as worked the register. When the owner started to have kids and a family, I bowed out, not wanting to interfere. Additionally, I had been debating what to do with myself as I knew I was not meant to be there forever. I went to the Council in that month's check-in and told them my plan. I would be a gatekeeper of sorts and still able to travel between worlds. I knew I belonged here anyway. The vote was close, but I had the majority. I settled in my cabin and went into the human world only when necessary. Then I met Thorne, and the rest is history. I tried to find you. I swear I did. I guess you were at college then."

Rayne nodded. "And now we're here..."

Zeke mirrored her nod. "Yeah...But what about you?"

Rayne snorted. Where to start? "I went into depression when you left. I mean, I lost my best friend. I was in and out of mental hospitals. My parents were steadily put into debt. When I was finally stable enough, I got a job and helped pay off their debt and be part of the solution, not the problem. I also worked enough to go to college. I have no debt, thanks to that. I studied art and teaching separately but decided to combine them. I mean, why not? I've always loved kids. So, I started teaching, then I came to that school and next thing I know there's a kid in my class with the same last name as you and I'm embarrassing myself in front of a class and I'm calling ghosts who aren't Ghosts in the middle of the night and now I'm here." Rayne took a deep breath and sipped the last dregs of their tea.

Zeke just stared. "I'm so sorry, Rayne."

Rayne shrugged. "We are all victims of circumstance in some day. You have nothing to apologize for."

Mary came over then to check on the pair, attracted to their sadness like a fly to honey, or well, butterscotch.

After reassuring Mary that everything was okay, Zeke paid and he and Rayne exited. "Let's walk for a bit." Zeke offered. "It's a nice night."

Rayne agreed, then remained silent, tuned in to the world around them. After being told her heritage, they felt the call of nature now more than ever in their life. It just seemed right. They could feel it in their bones.

"You have to take me back there when there's a show." Zeke pleaded. "The head drag queen is quite a royal."

Rayne allowed herself a smile. "Mary has been so kind to me when I moved here. That shop is very LGBTQ+ friendly and you would be surprised how outrageous the show is. I also think you would like Isaac. He's Mary's boyfriend, and he makes all of the delicious treats."

"I would really love to meet him. I have to say, the drink was exceptional."

"Now, Mary makes the drinks. You ought to try matcha anything. Mary also makes a mean mango smoothie."

Zeke laughed then, a true laugh. On the pair went, chatting like it was old times again, off into the night. They spoke until the sun began peeking up over the horizon and Rayne called in, opting out of their teaching for the day to make up for years of dreamless sleep in one day.

*****

Author's Note: It's been a hot second...my bad. I'm so sorry I haven't posted since forever. That's totally unfair to y'all and I promise to do better. I really cannot express in just words how much y'all mean to me. Happy reading, book buds! Love you all!💙