𝕮𝖔𝖇𝖎𝖊 𝕾𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖘

In Sickness, In Health | C.S.

[Fluff]
Inspired by Seven Spires' 'In Sickness, In Health'

The city buzzed softly in the background, the faint hum of car engines and distant laughter blending with the gentle breeze brushing through your hair. You leaned on the cool metal railing of a rooftop bar, a drink untouched in your hand. This was one of Cobie's favorite spots, though she wasn't here yet.

The sunset painted the horizon in streaks of amber and lavender, fading into a deep sapphire sky. You stared at it, trying to find beauty in the colors, but all it did was make your chest ache.

"Lost in thought again?" Her voice came from behind you, low and teasing, and your heart jumped.

You turned, and there she was. Cobie, effortlessly magnetic in a leather jacket and jeans, her dark hair curling loosely around her face. She gave you a crooked smile, the kind that softened the sharp edges of the world.

"I guess so," you admitted, unable to stop your own smile from tugging at your lips.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked, already stepping closer.

"Would it matter if I said no?"

Cobie laughed, that warm sound that always made the world feel just a little brighter. She slid into the space beside you, leaning her elbows on the railing, her gaze fixed on the skyline.

For a while, neither of you spoke. The silence between you was comfortable, like the city itself had taken a moment to breathe.

"Ever wonder what's out there?" she asked, breaking the quiet.

You raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Beyond the skyline. Beyond everything we know," she said, gesturing toward the horizon. "Do you think it's... better? Happier?"

You thought about it for a moment, about all the songs you'd written trying to capture that feeling of longing. "Maybe. Or maybe it's just different."

Cobie nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I used to think I'd find it one day. That place where everything clicks. But now I'm starting to wonder if it's just a fantasy."

You glanced at her, catching the faint shadow in her eyes. Cobie wasn't the type to let people see her cracks, but tonight, she seemed... raw, vulnerable in a way that made your heart ache.

"What's wrong?" you asked softly.

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the railing. "It's nothing. Just... one of those nights, you know?"

You nodded. You did know. The kind of night where the world felt too big and too small at the same time, where your thoughts tangled until they became a weight you couldn't shake.

"Want to talk about it?"

Cobie gave you a wry smile. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

"Not a chance."

She sighed, her gaze dropping to her hands. "I guess I've just been feeling... lost. Like I'm stuck in this loop of trying to be everything for everyone, but I don't even know who I am anymore."

Her honesty caught you off guard. Cobie was always the strong one, the one who lit up a room and made you believe in the impossible. Seeing her like this felt like seeing the ocean in a storm—beautiful, powerful, and deeply unsettling.

"You don't have to be everything for everyone," you said gently. "Sometimes it's okay to just... be."

Cobie looked at you, her eyes searching yours. "And what about you? Do you ever feel like that?"

You laughed softly, the sound tinged with bitterness. "I feel like that all the time. It's why I write. Trying to put it all into words makes it feel... manageable, I guess. But even then, it's never enough."

She smiled faintly. "You're a bard of death and love, aren't you? Always trying to make sense of things no one can ever really explain."

"Something like that," you said, a blush creeping up your neck.

Cobie reached out, her fingers brushing yours. "For what it's worth, I think your words are more than enough."

The sincerity in her voice left you momentarily speechless. You looked down at her hand, the way it rested so casually against yours, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

"Thanks," you murmured, your voice barely audible.

The evening slipped into night, the bar growing quieter as the crowd thinned. Cobie stayed by your side, her presence steady and grounding.

"Do you want to get out of here?" she asked suddenly.

You blinked, startled. "Where would we go?"

"Anywhere. Everywhere." Her eyes sparkled with a reckless kind of energy. "Come on, let's see what's out there."

You hesitated, but the way she looked at you, like you were the answer to a question she hadn't even asked, made it impossible to say no.

"Okay," you said, a smile tugging at your lips.

The two of you wandered the city streets, the world around you a blur of neon lights and shadowed alleys. Cobie led the way, her laughter echoing against the buildings as she pulled you along.

"Where are we even going?" you asked, breathless from trying to keep up.

"Does it matter?" she called over her shoulder, grinning.

You laughed despite yourself, the sound mingling with hers in the cool night air.

Eventually, you ended up at the waterfront. The river stretched out before you, its surface shimmering with reflections of the city lights. Cobie sat on the edge of the pier, her legs dangling over the water.

You joined her, the wood creaking softly beneath you. For a while, neither of you spoke, the quiet hum of the city fading into the background.

"This feels right," Cobie said finally, her voice soft.

You glanced at her, your heart skipping at the way the moonlight caught in her hair, the gentle curve of her smile. "Yeah, it does."

She turned to you, her expression unreadable. "Do you ever think about what it means to be happy?"

You frowned, caught off guard by the question. "I guess so. Why?"

"Because I think I might have found it," she said, her gaze locking with yours.

Your breath hitched. "Cobie..."

She leaned closer, her hand reaching for yours. "Let me have this moment with you. No words, no expectations. Just us."

You nodded, your voice caught in your throat.

And then she kissed you.

It was soft at first, tentative, like she was afraid of breaking the fragile connection between you. But as you kissed her back, all the unspoken words and unshed tears melted away, leaving only the warmth of her lips against yours.

When she pulled back, her eyes searched yours. "Is this okay?"

You smiled, your chest aching with a mix of joy and disbelief. "More than okay."

She laughed, the sound light and free. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere this time."

The two of you stayed there until the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. As the city woke around you, Cobie laced her fingers through yours, her grip firm and steady.

For the first time in a long time, the world felt whole.

<3