Flora
Flora finishes the last snip at the back of Jack’s neck, her fingers lingering for a moment to brush away loose strands before stepping around the bench. The sunlight catches on the edge of the knife as she tucks it neatly onto the seat beside him, unused to seeing him so still without a storm coiled in the air around them. It makes her uneasy, even as it steadies her.
But then she's looking down at him—no sunglasses, no shirt, no shields—and her breath catches softly in her throat. It’s not the surprise of him, not after all this time, but the way her body still responds like he’s something she hasn’t already lost. Familiarity cuts close, and she's forced to blink against the startling blue of his eyes.
Stepping into the space between his knees, Flora lifts her hands again, combing the front sections of his hair forward with quiet precision. Her fingers are cool from the knife’s hilt, from nerves she doesn’t show. "I’m going to go see my dads," she says aloud for the benefit of anyone passing by, eyes on the sweep of pale strands in her fingers. Mateo has moved to Haulani for the time being, so I'm going to tell them they can fight again, if they want to. So long as they promise to bring me back if Dahlia rips me apart.
She doesn’t say when the Reaper rips her apart, but the word lingers just beneath the surface.
As for contingency plans, her shoulders lift in a small, helpless shrug. We have to try something, her thoughts whisper against his, soft but unflinching. I feel like this will be one of our last real chances. They won’t keep letting us push deeper into Starfall without hitting back harder. If there’s a chance to strike while they’re relaxed—laughing, celebrating—then I want to take it. She'd have invisibility and hopefully surprise on her side, after all.
But then she's looking down at him—no sunglasses, no shirt, no shields—and her breath catches softly in her throat. It’s not the surprise of him, not after all this time, but the way her body still responds like he’s something she hasn’t already lost. Familiarity cuts close, and she's forced to blink against the startling blue of his eyes.
Stepping into the space between his knees, Flora lifts her hands again, combing the front sections of his hair forward with quiet precision. Her fingers are cool from the knife’s hilt, from nerves she doesn’t show. "I’m going to go see my dads," she says aloud for the benefit of anyone passing by, eyes on the sweep of pale strands in her fingers. Mateo has moved to Haulani for the time being, so I'm going to tell them they can fight again, if they want to. So long as they promise to bring me back if Dahlia rips me apart.
She doesn’t say when the Reaper rips her apart, but the word lingers just beneath the surface.
As for contingency plans, her shoulders lift in a small, helpless shrug. We have to try something, her thoughts whisper against his, soft but unflinching. I feel like this will be one of our last real chances. They won’t keep letting us push deeper into Starfall without hitting back harder. If there’s a chance to strike while they’re relaxed—laughing, celebrating—then I want to take it. She'd have invisibility and hopefully surprise on her side, after all.
I trace the evidence, make it make some sense
why the wound is still bleedin'
why the wound is still bleedin'
Code stolen from Queen Sky
