𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

what we're fighting for 🪸 post-mission scene

The Iron Lion was quiet that night.

The others were still patching up wounds or sleeping off adrenaline crashes, but Bea found herself outside, curled up on the stone steps just outside the war room. 

Nico emerged a few minutes later, two mugs in hand. One for her. One for him.

He sat beside her without a word.

Bea's hands were scraped raw. Her curls were a mess. Nico had a stitched cut just under his brow, and his jacket was back on her shoulders like it never left.

They sipped in silence, the steam curling into the cool night.

"You meant it," he said at last, his voice a soft rasp. "Back there. When you said you want to live for that future."

She nodded, eyes fixed on the horizon. "I did. I do."

"I did too," he murmured. "When I said we'd survive it. I didn't say it because it sounded brave. I said it because... I don't think I can imagine any future where you're not in it."

Bea blinked, her lashes still dusted in dirt.

Then, slowly, she rested her head on his shoulder.

They sat like that, two tired kids with blood on their boots and a world still falling apart around them. But right now, there was peace. Right now, there was warmth.

"I think," she whispered, "when this is all over, I want a little house by the sea."

"With a wild garden," he added.

"And a door we never lock."

"And maybe a kid or two."

She snorted softly. "Maybe."

A pause.

"You really think we'll make it there?" she asked.

He looked down at her, then pressed a kiss to her dirt-smudged temple.

"I think we're already on our way."

And for a moment — a fleeting, precious moment — the war didn't matter.

Only this.

Only them.