The Scarlet Fire

A Texas Reunion

The next day in a Texas stadium, a banner reads 'Y/N BLAZE - TOUCHDOWN JUMP!' But someone has crossed out TOUCHDOWN and replaced it with SUICIDE.

Inside the locker room, Y/N splashes cold water over his face and stares at his reflection before a smiling publicist pops his head inside.

"No more interviews..."

"This is the last one. They came all the way from New York City."

"I suck at interviews, I can count how many times they've gone well. Oh yeah zero."

"That's not true..."

Y/N just gives him a look.

"Okay, it's true. Just try to remember to smile...relax...and mention Pennzoil."

As Y/N walks down the hall, a young woman waiting at the other end is silhouetted by the stadium lights like an angel. His world slows to a standstill as he sees the ghostly haze of the fluorescents fading away revealing the familiar woman.

"Hello, Y/N."

The sweetest sucker punch of all time. 

"Zooey...?"

She smiles beautifully, taking Y/N's breath away.

"Are you ready for me?"

"Oh God yes...," he replies breathlessly.

"Medium on me, Stuart."

Y/N looks away from Zooey, seeing a full camera crew around them. Stuart, the camera man, frames them up as Zooey checks her microphone.

"We're good to go, Zo..."

"And 3...2..."

She smiles into the camera.

"We're here with daredevil Y/N Blaze just moments before his world-record jump over Texas Stadium. Y/N, how are you feeling today?"

Y/N just stares like a deer in the headlights.

"Pennzoil..."

The publicist rubs his tired eyes.

"After months of preparation you're about to attempt a death-defying, field goal to field goal jump. What's going through your mind?" 

"God you're beautiful..."

He freezes.

"I said that out loud, didn't I?"

The publicist buries his face in his hands.

"We'll edit that out later."

"Gee, ya think?" 

"Your critics say that you have a death wish. That these stunts of yours are nothing more than a form of pay per view suicide."

"They say that...?"

"They also say that you're a poor role model for the young people of today. How do you respond to that?"

"They're probably right..."

The publicist looks up to heavens asking why me. Zooey lowers her voice.

"This is the part where you're supposed to say you're a highly trained professional..."

"Right...I'm...a highly trained professional...and what I do is extremely...extremely..."

He drifts off, getting lost in her eyes. 

"Dangerous?"

"Extremely."

He pauses.

"So don't try this at home..."

"Good luck today, Y/N Blaze."

"Thanks...Zooey...Kern."

"Back to you in the studio."

"Aaaaand...we're out."

Stuart turns to the publicist.

"Doesn't he use a helmet?"

The hallway clears out, leaving Y/N and Zooey alone. 

"I...I didn't know that you...I mean..."

"I know. Imagine how I felt when they handed me the assignment."

"You're a reporter now?"

"I'm on my way. I cover human interest pieces for a morning show back in New York. It's not exactly the hard news that I always dreamed about but it pays the bills."

"So how long are you in town?"

"I'm flying back tomorrow."

Y/N takes a deep breath.

"Zooey..."

But then he stops after noticing something on her hand.

"You're married..."

She holds up a brilliant pear-shaped diamond ring.

"That's...that's great...I'm...really happy for you..."

"Are you?"

There's a long beat as they get lost in each other's eyes. Y/N takes a deep breath.

"Zooey..."

"Let's haul ass, bud!"

They look to see Kuro popping his head into the hallway.

"This crowd looks like what happens when white meets trash! We don't want 'em gettin' any drunker!"

He slips back out into the lights of the stadium. 

"You'd better go..."

"Will you stay for the jump?"

Zooey shakes her head.

"I never liked watching you jump. It always put my stomach in knots."

"I never knew that."

"You never asked."

Y/N nods at the awkward moment.

"It was good to see you."

"You too."

As they embrace, Y/N closes his eyes and breathes her in; taking a sensory snapshot before reluctantly letting her go. She walks off. 

"Zooey...?"

She turns back, a long beat passing. There's so much he wants to say, but in the end...what can he say? He gives a sad smile and she nods back. 

And then she walks out the door leaving Y/N standing there feeling small and alone. Kuro walks out, putting his hands on Y/N's shoulders guiding him.

"Come on my deer in the headlights."

Y/N groans making Kuro laugh.

"Was I that bad?"

"God you're beautiful," he mimics.

"Kill me."

"We both know you'll probably do it yourself."

The two laugh.