Josie stands in front of the aubernette in her forest green suit, holding her hands in hers tightly.
"I need to go."
"Please, don't go. What if Slater kills you?"
The question lingers in the air for a second like cold water hitting both of their faces, but Josie knows that she has to go to take down the man who killed her parents. She has to avenge them. Josie knows she is dark, that she carries it with her wherever she goes. But Hope, Hope is kind and sweet and gentle. And so god damn innocent.
Josie has known this since she saw her for the first time, chewing on the end of a red pen while doodling on the side of her calendar. When Hope saw her she dropped the pen at Josie's feet. Josie handed it back to the stammering girl, then proceeded to hand her a laptop with bullet holes in it.
Needless to say, Hope has always held a warm place in Josie's heart. If you asked the brunette she would tell you that the auburn-haired woman was the only one from keeping her in the dark. She found herself trusting Hope with her life, literally. She was shot and got herself to the back of Hope's car, to which Hope rambled about going to the hospital.
Josie opens her mouth to say something, then thinks about the words she wants to say.
"You know how he said he took the woman I love?"
"And he took Penelope."
"He took the wrong person."
A beat passes.
And another.
"Oh."
"So that's why I need you to be safe from harm, and I need you to help me get rid of Slater."
Hope nods sadly while looking down at the short pumps that she wears every day despite being part of a vigilante group. Though, she claims it's cause she works on computers all day so there's no need to wear other kinds of shoes. Though Hope knows that the reason she wears them every day is that Josie got them for her after they almost got blown up in a restaurant. They made it out Hope's favorite pair of heels didn't.
Josie lifts the girl's head making her look Josie in the eyes, behind the dark green mask that makes her brown eyes pop with golden streaks if you look at them just right. Josie's thumb caresses across Hope's lips then over her jaw.
"I promise I will find my way back to you, Hope Mikaelson. Do you trust me?"
"You know I do, Josie."
"Then trust me when I tell you that you're all that I think about when I wake up in the morning and lay my head on the pillow about to sleep. I think about you every second of my day because I love you, Hope. I always will."
Hope's silent tears run down Josie's leather sleeve making the tiniest puddle on the floor.
"I love you too, Josie."
Then something that surprised both girls, Josie steps forward planting a firm kiss on the aubrnette's lips feeling the soft curve of Hope against Josie is something she thought about every day. The way their lips would fit together like the missing puzzle piece in the hardest puzzle in the world.
As their breath shortens out they catch their breath, but neither moving from their spot. Josie secretly slips a small syringe into Hope's small hand, shutting it around the plastic tube filled with a clear liquid.
"That seals my promise to you. Now, I need to go."
Josie turns around walking away, missing the part where Hope tries to reach for her again. The auburn prayed to whoever would listen that Josie would come back to her because she doesn't think she could live without her.
