Human Tendencies

Chapter 19: GV

This morning when Jack woke up, he realized he was not alone as he found that Lumen had joined him in bed and was hugging him like a teddy bear.

"...Lumen?" Jack asks softly.

"Mmm... GV..." Lumen mumbles in her sleep.

"She must be dreaming." Jack chuckle softly as he attempts to pry Lumen off of him.

"...Huh?" Lumen mumbles as she opens her eyes. "Oh, Jack... Uh..."

"Don't worry about it. You were just dreaming." Jack replies as they both get out of bed and do their normal morning routines. Once that's all done the two head to classes where they meet up with the posse that defended them last time to announce the news.

"You're leaving for your world today?" Kate asks.

"Yep, I'm not from here, and I must get back to my world." Lumen replies. "But not before I spend one last day with you all."

"We'll miss you." Emily says. "How about we take a big group selfie?"

"I'll take it." Jack says as he and the girls try their best to fit in. The selfie that Jack takes is frameworthy, and by Lumen's request, she and Jack get a picture taken together by one of the girls who had brought along one an instant camera. The picture develops quickly, showing Lumen and Jack staring into each other's eyes as he carries her bridal style.

"This is so cute!" Kate says. "I swear you two could be mistaken for a couple or something!"

"But this just shows how close we are." Jack and Lumen chuckle.

"How about this? After class, we'll throw a going away party for you. How's that sound?" Emily asks.

"Ah, you don't have to!" Lumen says. "But if you wish, you may." And so after classes, the girls took Jack and Lumen out with them for a big group picnic as the girls spend time chit-chatting while Jack makes use of his lightning powers to put a spin on his cooking.

"Maybe I can utilize the flashfield." Jack chuckles to himself as he finds himself staring at many fish fillets, all of them with at least one dart stuck in them. "Time to make some fish jerky!" He proclaims as he surrounds himself with a sphere of energy. It's large enough that the lightning zaps all the fillets evenly but small enough that the girls don't get caught by any stray bolts. Once Jack's satisfied that the fish is at the perfect condition he dissipates the flashfield and eats one of the fillets. "Come over and give it a try!" The girls do come over and their eyes light up, making Jack chuckle a little bit.

"Those lightning powers of yours can sure serve a lot of purposes!" Kate chuckles.

"This is actually something that GV said was his favorite. I can see why, oh my goodness!" Lumen says, savoring the fish.

"Who is this GV guy? Your boyfriend?" Emily asks.

"No, he's like a brother to me." Lumen replies. "Back in my world he was the one that saved me from being held hostage by this greedy company who wanted to use my power for their own good."

"Whoa." Kate says. "Say did you and Jack ever record a duet?"

"We sure did. The song is called "Best Friend", and it was hard to find an instrumental version but here you go." Jack replies as he pulls out his phone and plays the recording. It's a very bubbly and upbeat song, but the spin that Jack and Lumen put on it amazes the girls nonetheless.

"I know it sounds a little childish but who cares? This was so well done!" Emily says.

"Thank you!" Jack and Lumen say simultaneously as they continue to enjoy whatever the girls had brought for the picnic. After the festivities are over the girls bid their farewells as everyone heads home, and with that, Jack and Lumen head home themselves to prepare for one last song.

"It's called "Parallel World", for a good reason. Let's hope this works." Lumen says as Jack slips off his band so his powers don't act up, and Lumen sings. Like the songs she's sang before, it's upbeat and one that could drive anyone to keep on fighting no matter what happened to them. Halfway into the song Lumen's butterfly wings emerge and when the song finally ends, a wormhole has opened, one that will take Lumen has confirmed will take her back to her world.

"Well, it's time for us to part ways." Jack says. "But not before I forget all of the wonderful memories I made with you, just spending time with you alone made me feel happy."

"And I can't help but say the same thing." Lumen replies. "Before I go, I want to give you something, something I've been working on when I had free time." She adds as she presents Jack a necklace with a series of sapphires shaped like a butterfly.

"Thank you so much, Lumen." Jack says as the two share a tender hug. "You still have that picture of us right?"

"Sure do." Lumen says she produces said picture before putting it away. "I remember asking you this question before... Would you like to come with me? I mean you don't have to, but if you'd like, you can."

"I'm afraid I have to decline." Jack says.

"I understand... I'm going to miss you so much." Lumen replies as she hugs Jack one last time. "Well, goodbye Jack."

"Goodbye Lumen, no, Joule." Jack says. "Stay safe out there." He finishes as they let go and Lumen heads through the wormhole. As the wormhole closes behind Lumen, Jack looks back at what he was gifted and what reminded him of everything: the ring that gave him his Azure Striker septimal powers, and the necklace that Lumen made. "I have a feeling I won't be able to access these powers anymore, but this ring, and this necklace, are more than enough of a reminder that I went on this adventure. I'm pretty sure she's thinking the same thing with her ring." He says softly as he looks at the necklace once more, thinking of his friend from another world.

The End