Lastland AU: Lost Memory, Lost Time, Lost in Space

Room for One More?

A video sunrise filtered through the small window of Irie's bunkroom, casting a warm glow on her face as she slowly, steadily woke up. Before she could fully open her purple eyes, though, Strike quietly entered the room, a mix of determination and uncertainty on her face.

Irie sat up, a curious look on her face as she watched Strike approach. "Strike? What's going on?" This wasn't her bunkroom.

Strike took a deep breath, her eyes searching Irie's before she spoke. "Irie, I... I've done something. Something you might not be happy about."

Irie frowned, concern growing. "Strike, what happened?"

With a heavy sigh, Strike explained the events of the previous night. She'd snuck out to Aletheia, all of Irie's scientific notebooks and journals tucked securely under her arms. With them, Strike was able to understand how and why Irie came to the conclusion that bringing back Storm would "kill" Strike. Despite the risk, though, Strike was still determined to help Irie.

It's not just for her, but for me, too. I made an oath of devotion to that Ranger that fought beside me in the antechamber battle. If that person was Irie, then so be it. If anything, it was actually convenient that the person Strike had grown naturally to care for was also someone from her past that she already owed a debt to. Storm was her first love, after all. And if I am Storm, then I guess... in a way... I will get to keep her too.

How ironic, aside from death, the thing Strike feared most was losing Irie, and now she was about to do both.

I HATE losing Irie to someone else, but... at least that someone else is... me? More importantly, if it made Irie happy and reunited her with someone important from her past, then how could Strike begrudge her? She would've given anything to tie up her loose ends. She knew Irie would've protested, though, so that was why she snuck away in the dead of night. She was going to leave Storm instructions on what to say to Irie when she returned to Notus, but those instructions were never needed, because when Strike completed the rest of Irie's work, she and Storm both woke up.

"And now... we're both here...!" Strike cried breathlessly. It was still just as hard for her to believe as it was for Irie, and she lived it!

"Wait, what do you mean... both Storm and Strike are... here?" Irie whispered, hardly daring to hope. She'd already been on an emotional rollercoaster enough, going from terror to fury to despair at what Strike nearly did to herself to the awe of what she was implying.

Strike nodded in confirmation. "We are two minds in one body. I am Strike, but Storm is here." She tapped the back of her head. "She's listening to us now, even though we can't speak to you at the same time."

Irie could only gawk and gape, opening and closing her mouth silently like a fish out of water. Then—"STRIKE! Why on EARTH—or any other planet—would you EVER do SOMETHING LIKE THAT?! I TOLD you I loved both you AND Storm! So what were you thinking, huh?! What would I have done if I lost BOTH of you?!"

Strike's gaze dropped, a mix of guilt and apology crossing her features. But there was neither regret nor remorse. She did not wish to hurt Irie, but she would not have changed the decision she made.

"I thought you wanted Storm back, that you missed her. I wanted to make you happy." To Strike, it really was that simple.

"Strike." Irie sighed, trying to control her patience. Trying to get the Storm to see herself as a life with value was as hard as figuring out how to bring back a mind from another timeline. She was still furious, but she uncrossed her arms. "Again. I love you as much as I love Storm. I don't want you to erase yourself—any part of yourself—for any part of me, or us, because I need all of you." It was cliché, but true, even though Strike technically hadn't erased herself, since she was standing right there. But the fact that she could've was what scared Irie.

Strike sighed guiltily again as Irie's words sunk in. "I'm sorry, Irie. I just wanted to give you what you wanted." She still wouldn't have changed what she'd done, but some of her haughtiness was gone. She thought back to the battle where she briefly feared that Irie would die. It made her heart and stomach twist knowing she made Irie feel that way about her.

Irie pulled Strike into a tender embrace, voice soft but emotional. "You already have. You always have! From the moment you came home with me..." She paused as she buried her face in Strike's shoulder, inhaling deeply. Strike felt tearstains seeping through her sleeve. She was frozen and could not move again until Irie finally pulled away from her. "You've given me both of you... I can't believe it..." Her voice was reverent. She pulled away from Strike to meet her eyes. Storm...?

It took a moment for their minds to switch, but the moment Strike stepped away to allow Storm to take over, Irie knew it at once. The shifts were subtle, but Irie could still tell. No matter how much time had passed, it hadn't dulled her knowledge of Storm in the slightest.

"Iris...?"

"Storm!" Irie lunged at the tall, muscled blonde and hugged her for all they were both worth. At first, Storm stumbled back, trying to adjust to being in control of her own body again. Once Irie's weight sank fully into her arms and mind, she began to smile, instantly changing her focus to her wife. Nothing else mattered except for her.

"Oh, Iris, it's so good to be back! I've missed you so much!"

"And I you!" Iris laughed, sniffling and clinging to Storm like a drowning woman to a rope. Oh, I can't wait to thank Strike!

It was going to be an adjustment, but it was a challenge Irie was more than excited to face. She was sure her heart had more than enough space, but when it came to the rest of Timeline-B, was there enough room for one more?

AN: End of current plotline. Complete for now. Stormris is canon again, baby! Woot, woot, LOL!