Galen Hotel

The Letter (OUABH)

"Little Fox! I'm back!" Jacks yells as he enters the main space of the inn after two days of being gone. "In the kitchen!" Evangeline calls back. Jacks follows the sound of her voice, a little confused since neither of them know how to cook and the tavern magically summons food, anyway.

The gentle thump of Jacks's boots on the wooden floorboards turn to little clicks of the checkered tile in the kitchen, which is tucked away to a back corner of the decently sized inn. As always, his shoulders drop a little as he sees Evangeline, his breathing more steady, his eyes more calm. Evangeline's own posture relaxes, her grip on a bowl loosening, as if a small burden has slid off her shoulders, Jacks notes with a smile.

He doesn't waste a second as he walks across the room to where Evangeline is spooning batter into a baking pan, cupcake liners already in the holes. She smiles and angles her neck as Jacks tenderly kisses her temple, cheek and then her juncture between her neck and shoulder, his arms wrapping around her waist and chest. The two never go long without some form of affection being shared, which is what made the two day trip Jacks took so difficult. It would seem ungrateful to not constantly touch, given how much they fought for this, for the simple ability to kiss the one you love.

"What have you been doing?" Evangeline softly asks, moving her head to kiss Jacks's cheek. She feels his lips spread into a smile that is not as comforting as it should be. "Just the simple theft and tax laundering." He (hopefully) jokes.

"Jacks." Evangeline laments.

"It seems you've been busier than me." Jacks notes as he finally looks around the kitchen, avoiding her question. Wooden and stone counters line three of the walls, wooden cabinets hanging above, and a bronze sink shines as the golden daylight bleeds through the wide window behind it. A peninsula to their left is full of freshly baked goods that look a little wonky, but still edible. An ice box and oven are scattered between the counters and a small island takes up some of the floorspace. The counter tops are cluttered with standard baking ingredients, pans, lemons and spilled piles of sugar and flour.

"I found a book full of recipes and decided to make some things." Evangeline explains as she picks up her spoon, continuing her work. "There's sourdough rising in the cabinet above me."

Jacks only hums, resting his chin on her shoulder as she works, moving away to sit at the island when she needs to move around. He could spend hours, Jacks thinks, just basking in Evangeline's company.

As Evangeline finally puts the bread and cupcakes into the oven, she breaks the comforting silence. "We got mail earlier today." She starts, her voice hesitant. She goes to a pile of dish rags and lifts some of them up, grabbing the formal looking envelope that has already been opened that was buried under them.

"Who's it from?" Jacks prods when Evangeline does not speak or move towards him. Evengalines silvery blue eyes land on him before quietly whispering, "The Empress of the Meridian."

Jacks stiffens immediately before walking over to the letter. One hand slides to Evangeline's waist while the other holds up the parchment. "They just want to see me." Evangeline summarizes, her voice nervous. "They don't know the whole story about what happened here, and they would like me to give them a first hand account rather than rely on gossip."

Jacks looks over at her, considering. "Do you want to go?" He finally asks.

"It would be nice," Evangeline starts, "To see them again. To be in touch with more people than just Lala and Chaos." Jacks nods, not really surprised. His Little Fox always was more of a social butterfly than him. "It would be nice if you accompanied me." Evangeline whispered while nervously tugging on her fingers.

"Little Fox, you know that's a bad idea." Jacks's eyes widen as he imagines what that reunion would look like. "Donatella will undoubtedly be there." And Scarlett isn't fond of him, either. Not to mention the time he'd have to spend with Legend of all people. . .

"Please?" Evangeline begs, her head dropping to rest on Jacks's chest with a pathetic thump. "You helped them in the end, didn't you? That has to count for something. And wouldn't it be so much better if you could get on friendly terms with them?" When Jacks says nothing Evangelien continues in a broken voice, "My home was the Meridian Empire. I want to have the option of seeing it again with you." Jacks sighs, never wanting to hear that tone of voice from her ever again.

"Fine." He grumbles.

"Really?" Like turning the page of a book, Evangeline's sad tearful face becomes as radiant as the sun, her smile the most stunning thing any male could ever hope to see. Jacks's own lips twitch into a small smile at the sight of it. "Jacks, thank you thank you thank you!" Evangeline wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him tightly, peppering his skin and jaw with kisses.

It'll be worth it, Jacks thinks. Going through anything, no matter how awkward or downright weird, is worth it to see her so happy.

I wrote most of this, like. . .a month ago? I think??? And I just wanted to post it because It's pretty cute in my mind, and Jodi loves it soooo yeah.

Have a nice day/night!

-Cloudy