Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“He totally likes you.”

“He does not like me.”

“For the millionth time, Sersi, he’s completely into you!”

Sersi shook her head as they walked the London streets back to their flat. Sprite was constantly going on about how Ikaris, their neighbor two doors down, had a thing for her, which Sersi vehemently disagreed with.

Heaven knew why Sprite was so adamant about it. He was only ever friendly to them and nothing more, and Sersi was certain she’d imagined all those times she thought his eyes were on her only for her to look and find him looking elsewhere. She chalked up his staring-but-not-staring to some weird egocentric thing on her part, like the feeling that everyone was staring at you when in reality they couldn’t care less.

“Why do you think he’s always offering to help when he sees you having trouble carrying something?” Sprite said. “Or why he just happens to be around whenever you need him? Or why he always somehow finds himself in your orbit?”

“Because he’s nice…neighborly.”

“Yeah, a nice neighbor who likes you, dummy. Like, really likes you. Have you not noticed how he practically trips over his feet every time he sees you?”

Sersi sighed. “You’re delusional.”

“Who’re you trying to kid, Sersi? I don’t see why you keep lying to yourself.”

“I’m not,” Sersi said, defensive. “I just think you’re seeing things that aren’t there for whatever reason.”

Sprite shrugged. “Maybe I just like playing Cupid. Or maybe I’m just not blind to what’s right in front of my face unlike some people.”

Sersi pursed her lips but said nothing. There was no point in arguing with her. Let her keep her delusions. It’d all blow over eventually.

Just as the pair reached the building, the front entrance opened and Ikaris stepped out, stopping in his tracks and looking just as surprised to bump into them as they were.

“Sersi,” Ikaris said, eyes fastened on her. A beat later, they flickered over to Sprite as if he’d just noticed she was also there. “Sprite.”

“Ikaris,” Sprite returned. She didn’t sound smug at all.

“I’m just heading out,” Ikaris said, pointing vaguely in some direction or other. “You trying to come in? Well, obviously you’re coming in. You’re here, aren’t you? I mean—I—you can—” He visibly fumbled with his words before sagging his shoulders. “What I mean to say and would’ve said if I wasn’t a bloody idiot is that you’re free to come in, of course.” He held the door open and beckoned for them to go in, looking oddly defeated.

“Er, thanks.” Sersi was definitely feeling secondhand embarrassment, or maybe it was her own, and wasted no time brushing past him into the building. Sprite followed and Sersi was relieved that was the end of that, but then Sprite spoke up behind her.

“Hey, Ikaris, we’re having a movie night later at our place. Just us and all the snacks you can think of. Want to join?”

Sersi looked at Sprite, trying not to be obvious with her glare. What the hell was she doing?

On the other side of the doorway, Ikaris hesitated. “Well, I…” His eyes moved to Sersi, and somehow she felt the force of his blue-eyed regard like a jolt of electricity moving through her system. “I wouldn’t want to barge in.”

“You’re not barging in,” Sprite said. “We’re inviting you. We’ve been meaning to for a while now. Sersi was actually the one who brought it up before we bumped into you.”

Again, Ikaris’s eyes flickered to Sersi.

Feeling cornered, but also unwilling to admit the strange frisson she felt when he set those blue eyes on her, Sersi capitulated. “Yeah. We thought it’d be fun if we all hung out and had a night in.” She shrugged, feeling stupid. “Just an offer. You might be busy, of course.”

“Oh, no, actually, I’m free tonight. I…” Ikaris swept a hand over his hair and palmed the nape of his neck. Sersi had a weird fleeting thought of how soft his hair would feel if she were also to run her fingers through it. “Yeah. I’m game for it,” he said. “What time shall I give a knock?”

Sprite looked to Sersi for the answer, which meant Ikaris looked to her as well.

“Seven,” Sersi decided on. “Does that work for you?”

Ikaris nodded. “Plenty.”

“So we’ll see you at seven,” Sprite said. “Don’t be late like Sersi always is. Just something you should know about her.”

Sersi was unamused while Ikaris chuckled.

“It’s not a problem,” he said. “I’ll be there at seven on the dot. I’ll bring over some snacks as well.”

Sprite shrugged. “If you want. But no worries, we have plenty to go around.”

Another nod. “All right, sounds good. See you tonight, then.”

“See ya.”

As he prepared to move, Ikaris shot his gaze over to Sersi one last time. He nodded in goodbye. She gave what she hoped was a polite smile and waved before he was on his way.

“I’m going to kill you,” Sersi said to Sprite as they walked up the flight of stairs to their door.

With her hands in her billowy coat pockets, Sprite was the picture of nonchalance. “What? It’s going to happen eventually. I’m just speeding things up.”

Chapter Text

The first time he was aware of it was about two years after he and Sersi married. They were still in the Gupta Empire, living life as usual.

Ikaris had never imagined himself as a father, not even once. It’d never been a blip on his radar. The very idea was absolutely foreign to him, as much as the concept of the Celestials was foreign to a mouse. But perhaps it was something in the air that day that lent to sentimentality, or maybe it was just the way Sersi handled the children who often came up to her without reservation.

He was happy with Sersi. Truly happy. And he knew with unerring certainty that he would continue to be happy for the rest of his days if it remained just him and her. But as he watched the little girl craft a crown of flowers with her nimble fingers and place it atop his wife’s head with a shy smile, he felt a soft wave of fondness wash over him, and something in his chest squeezed. Accompanied by that in his mind’s eye was an image unbidden, swift to come and unwilling to leave. It was the image of Sersi round with child. Their child.

He saw a little one with her eyes and his hair, or perhaps it was any one of the combinations of their features. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that child, as imaginary as it was, was theirs, born from their love. The child would grow up surrounded by all the love and support they’d need, and not just from him and Sersi—because he knew deep down the Eternals were his family. And when the little one was grown, they would surely be a force to be reckoned with, and all the while they would know the love their parents had for one another.

Sersi would make such a good mother that his chest ached at the mere thought of it.

She stood up from where she’d accepted the girl’s flower crown and returned to Ikaris. “Sweet, isn’t it?” she said, fiddling with the crown atop her head.

“Very sweet,” Ikaris said as they walked through the bustling village at a meandering pace. “The children really love you, don’t they?”

“Well, I don’t know. I hope they don’t hate me. Adults I can handle, but it’s different when a child hates you, isn’t it?”

“Oh, I don’t think you need to worry about that. They like you just fine.”

“They like you, too, you know,” she said.

“Do they? That’s news to me.”

“How can they not? Some are a little frightened of you, what with the laser beams and all, but mostly they absolutely adore you. You’re a hero to them.”

He chuckled. “That’s kind of them.”

They were soon waylaid by one of the village women who required Sersi’s assistance with something. Ikaris loitered around the area, surveying the villagers going about their chores. He didn’t expect it when a small girl no older than six sidled up to him, doll in hand. They’d spoken a few times, though he wasn’t too familiar with her.

“Can I help you, little one?” Ikaris said in their language as best he could.

“Do you and Miss Sersi have a baby?” she said without preface.

“No, we don’t,” he said kindly. “Why do you ask?”

“Because I want someone to play dolls with me. My brothers and sisters are always busy.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe the other kids in the village can play with you?”

She shook her head and clutched the doll to her chest. “They make fun of me and call me names.”

“Is that right? That doesn’t sound very nice. Do they do this a lot?”

“Every time they see me.”

“Well, that’s not right. Listen.” He knelt down to stay at eye level with her. “How about this? Next time someone does that to you, how ’bout you let me know and I’ll make sure to give them a good talking to.”

“Then they’ll make fun of me more.”

He leaned forward in a conspiratorial manner. “I think you’ve forgotten I can shoot laser beams out of my eyes, little one. One reminder of that and I’m sure they’ll learn their lesson. Of course I won’t actually do it, but they don’t need to know that.” He smiled at her.

A shy smile curved its way onto her mouth. “Thank you, Mr. Ikaris.”

“Just Ikaris, please.”

She nodded shyly and went on her way.

“Well, wasn’t that cute? What was going on?”

At Sersi’s voice, Ikaris turned and saw her approaching.

“Just a small dilemma she was having,” he said. “Hopefully I’ve helped sort it out for her. If not, I’m afraid I’ve only made it worse and will need to dig myself out of whatever hole I’ve just made.” He grimaced, not exactly looking forward to that.

“See? I told you you were a hero to them.” She looped her arm through his so they could resume their walk.

Ikaris had nothing to say in response. He just knew his sudden, fanciful daydreams would remain just that. Daydreams.

None of the others except Ajak knew the truth of their existence, after all. Were they even capable of reproducing? Even if the two of them were to have a child, then what? Would Arishem make allowances for an Eternal offspring to remain with their parents for every cycle? How would the erasure and recycling of memories work in that case? He had faith in Arishem, but he didn’t know the true answer to any of those questions.

In the end, it was a nonstarter. It would be just him and Sersi, and he would truly be happy with that. After all, who was to say he’d even recall those daydreams in their next life? Who was to say he’d even still be with Sersi in that next life?

Sersi said something to him just then, and he faked a smile.

He had to make the most of what time together they had left.

It was all he could do.

Chapter Text

Babylon, 574 BCE

“It does look fun, doesn’t it? I might join in myself one day.”

At the newcomer’s voice, Ikaris startled and glanced over his shoulder to find Ajak approaching. His posture stiffened as though it was a damnable offense that his stance should be relaxed, and he turned his attention back to the party, pretending he hadn’t just spent the last ten minutes watching from the sidelines as Sersi danced with the Babylonian locals. He’d gone over to fetch himself a drink, intending to roam the party aimlessly and leisurely, when he caught sight of Sersi, her clothing illuminating a brilliant green against the firelight among the crowd of browns and muted crimsons.

During such nights of gaiety, Ikaris could often be found as a passive observer, though it was often with contentment, and he sometimes engaged in brief conversation with the locals and participated in their rituals when he felt up to it. Other times, he’d watch with amusement as Sprite dazzled the crowd with her spark-filled shows of epic heroes and their tribulations. He watched his fellow Eternals interact with the crowd and with each other, somehow gleaning new information about their characters after already having spent thousands of years together up to that point.

Out of all his fellow Eternals, however, there was one whom he found himself watching much more than was surely healthy. For thousands of years, he’d kept a tight lid on his need for her. It seemed inadequate to describe it as mere attraction. It was something visceral that took over his whole body and occupied his mind more often than not.

It’d started on the Domo when they woke up and he first set eyes on Sersi, after which he’d immediately tried to cast it out of his mind. He couldn’t afford room for self-serving desires that would only distract him from his mission for Arishem. But as the centuries passed and the yawning expanse of time weighed on them more and more, the secret part of him that yearned for things he couldn’t have grew stronger and stronger until he could no longer ignore it.

There were days when he felt he would burst at the seams from his need for her. Some moments he was so close to confessing, such as when they found themselves talking and she briefly turned away to point something out or grab something. In those moments he was overcome with the temptation to grab her hand and turn her attention back to him. To tangle his fingers with hers and hope his eyes could say what his lips could not. He could see it so clearly in his mind’s eye, his imploring her to understand the depths of his emotions. But in the end he always reined it in and later sank in the relief that he hadn’t told her. His desire for her was palpable, a living, breathing thing. The sheer intensity of it frightened him and he had no doubt it would only scare her away, too.

“Maybe next time you can be the one to ask her to dance, hmm?” Ajak said beside him, nodding to where Sersi held hands with one of the local men as they shared a dance.

They made a lively pair, and Ikaris grudgingly had to admit the man was a decent one from what he’d seen during their stay. It didn’t keep him from gritting his teeth and tightening his grip on his ceramic cup until it was no doubt on the cusp of shattering. Before Ajak’s arrival, he’d watched Sersi dance with multiple men, and every switch of partners had had him fighting to hold back a near snarl and march over so he could shove his way in between her and the other men.

He really had to get a hold of himself. He was an Eternal, for goodness’ sake.

“She seems to be doing fine as she is,” he said, relieved that he managed to sound calm when all he wanted to do was go over and grab Sersi so she’d stop dancing with those men and he could have her to himself.

He felt more than saw Ajak’s knowing eyes turn on him. “Eternals are not exempt from feeling, you know,” she said.

He wanted to bristle at her tone. She always managed to sound so calm and collected, and though he appeared cool on the outside, he was feeling anything but at the moment.

“I know,” he said. Of course he knew they weren’t exempt from feeling. How could he not when Sersi consumed so much of his own?

“Ikaris, we’ve spent thousands of years together. I’ve led you all for that long. Do you really think I wouldn’t recognize when one of you is in love?”

Ikaris froze. He remained silent, at a complete loss for words. He supposed it shouldn’t be a surprise that Ajak knew, but if she knew, who else did? Did Sersi? Had he been that transparent all along without knowing it?

He forced himself to swallow, tongue thick in his mouth. “How long have you known?”

Ajak arched an eyebrow. “Since the day after we stepped off the Domo.”

He wanted to shut his eyes in mortification.

“But rest assured, your secret is safe with me,” she said. “I can’t say for sure if the others haven’t also noticed, but as for myself, I will not tell her.” Hands clasped at her front, she turned her attention to the party. To Sersi. “No. I will leave that up to you.”

Ikaris abandoned his facade of calm and let out a shuddered breath, shaking his head absently. “It’s nothing, Ajak. Nothing to be concerned about. Nothing worth telling her.” He looked across the distance at Sersi and felt an acute ache in his chest as she smiled at the other man, completely unaware of his presence. No matter how strongly he felt, he wouldn’t tell her. He couldn’t.

“Ikaris,” said Ajak, “it is not against Arishem’s wishes for us to feel as the humans do. We are not unfeeling creatures. He sent us here knowing that, and if you find yourself in love with Sersi, it is by no mistake on his part.”

He let her words sink in.

“We have already been here four thousand years,” she added. “Do you really intend to go four thousand more without telling her how you feel? Because she has a lot of love in her to give, Ikaris, and one day, it may be too late.”

Ikaris kept his eyes forward as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder before she turned to leave.

One day, it may be too late.

He shut his eyes against the distinct ache those words caused. Loving her was torture, but seeing her in the arms of someone else—seeing her love someone who wasn’t him—would be a unique form of agony he wasn’t sure he’d be able to come back from.

It was this thought that had him filling up a second cup. By chance or design, the music came to an end to usher in a new piece, and the in-between moment allowed for Sersi to separate from her partner with a friendly parting and head right for him. At least that’s what he told himself when in all likelihood she was simply coming over for a drink.

His feet propelled him forward before he could think and he met her halfway. He held out the second cup.

“You look in need of a drink,” he said, taking the opportunity while they were face-to-face to soak her in.

She was radiant in both spirit and appearance. Everything about her sucked him in. Beautiful didn’t begin to describe her. To him, she was as otherworldly and ethereal as the distant stars in the night sky and yet as grounded and real as the soil beneath their feet. If only he reached out a mere arm’s length, he’d be able to touch her and feel the life she exuded. He longed to brush a lock of hair from her cheek just to feel the softness of her skin against his own.

She didn’t hesitate in taking the cup from his hand, and by what must’ve been complete accident, her fingers brushed his. She appeared unaffected while he had to do everything he could to maintain his composure.

“Thanks. Excellent timing you have,” she said before taking a healthy sip. Ikaris had to make a conscious effort to look away for fear of being caught staring.

“You’re having fun, I take it?” he said. He just wanted to talk to her. He didn’t care about what.

“Yeah. Aren’t we all?” She surveyed the party and all the people making merry. “They need something once in a while to forget about their daily problems.” Then she turned her attention upwards where the stars shone unfettered, and she appeared to hold back a dreamy sigh. “This planet is beautiful, isn’t it?”

He kept his eyes on her. “It is.”

She brought her gaze back down, and she looked at him. Their eyes held, and though the festivities carried on in the background, Ikaris could swear the world stopped in that moment.

He could do it. He could tell her right now. It was just the two of them and there was nothing stopping him. Even if she didn’t feel the same way, he wouldn’t have to carry on any longer with the unbearable burden weighing down on him.

He gulped in heady anticipation, took a step closer, and parted his lips. “Sersi—”

“Sersi!”

At the unexpected voice, they turned their heads to find Sprite waving Sersi over across the distance to where she sat with Kingo.

“Sersi, come here! Kingo’s being an idiot and thinks I already told the story I told tonight. You have to come here and tell him which one he’s actually thinking of! Remember?”

Sersi chuckled, shaking her head in exasperation. Meanwhile, Ikaris felt like he’d just been shaken out of a trance. He’d been so close to telling her. He didn’t know whether to be relieved or dismayed at Sprite’s interruption.

“I should probably go and help her out,” Sersi said. “You coming?”

Ikaris internally fumbled, feeling like a bug turned over on its back. He’d just been about to confess the depths of his feelings for her and now he had to converse with the others as if nothing was amiss?

He wasn’t accustomed to feeling so out of sorts. It wasn’t in his character. Except, that was, when it came to her.

“’Course,” he ended up saying, forcing what he hoped was a lighthearted smile on his face. He gestured with his cup. “After you.”

She obliged, glancing over her shoulder at him as he followed but giving no indication she suspected anything out of the ordinary.

She had no idea. No idea how close he’d come to changing everything.

Ikaris willed his pounding heart to settle and pasted a look of indifference over his features as they met up with Sprite and Kingo. Sersi helped settle the debate, though Kingo stubbornly refused to give in. Ikaris pretended to be engaged while his skin burned from Sersi’s body still standing so close to his, and his thoughts whirled with what had come so close to happening.

He told himself to be grateful it didn’t happen. For the good of the team and their mission, it couldn’t.

One day, it may be too late.

Ajak’s words pierced through his thoughts unbidden, and his stomach clenched.

He could only pray that day would never come.

Chapter Text

Sersi startled awake, her heart pounding in a way that seemed overly conspicuous and out of place in the stark silence of the dark tent. As she calmed her breathing, she took note of the warm furs beneath her skin to tether herself back to reality. They were staying with the Norse people, a group who certainly seemed able to defend themselves, but when it came to the Deviants, they were no match.

She twisted her head around, ignoring the ache in her neck from the awkward position in which she’d slept, and found Ikaris on his back, stirring awake beside her. He tended to be a light sleeper, which was good for detecting danger and bad for everything else, he’d said.

“Sersi?” he whispered. He was clearly still half-asleep, and Sersi had no desire to speak of what had woken her up in the first place.

“I’m all right,” she whispered back. “It’s nothing. Go back to sleep.” Maybe then she could lie awake by herself, trying hard to erase the remnants of her dream. If not, maybe she’d slip out from the tent and go for a late night stroll around the settlement.

Ikaris let out a sleepy groan and rolled onto his side until he curled up behind her, draping an arm over her waist. He was so warm and strong, his body heat reminding her of his strength and vitality, and when he spoke normally his voice would reverberate through her back and chest, warming her from head to toe. She felt so safe, like nothing bad could get to her. It was just too bad he held no control over the realm of dreams.

“I can feel you thinking from over here,” he whispered.

“Go back to sleep.” She hesitated for a brief moment before allowing herself to brush her fingers over the hair of his arm. “It’s just taking me a while to fall back asleep. That’s all.”

“Love.” This whisper was quieter. More intimate. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You keep thinking that hard, we’re both going to have a tough time falling back asleep.”

“I just…had a bad dream, that’s all.”

“About what?”

“Something silly. And now I’ve woken you up and now it’ll take forever for both of us to go back to sleep.” She made a poor attempt at humor, but he didn’t laugh with her.

“Want to tell me about it?” he said.

“Not really. I mean…no. Like I said, it’s silly.”

“Can’t be so silly that it woke you and is keeping you up.”

Her stomach clenched. It’d be ridiculous to say it out loud and would only make a bigger deal out of it than it was. “I dreamt…that you left.”

There was complete silence behind her.

“So you see, it’s silly,” she said. “I know you’d never do that, and…I don’t know, who can explain dreams, really? So it’s nothing.”

The silence stretched behind her until she didn’t know if he was going to speak again.

“You know I’d never do that,” he finally said, sounding solemn in a way she hadn’t heard from him in a while.

“I know.”

His arm tightened around her waist. “I mean it, Sersi.”

“I know.”

He sounded so grave as though it truly were a topic of concern to him that she was suddenly the one trying to comfort him.

“I know,” she said again, stroking his arm. As he’d felt her thinking like it was a tangible thing, she could now feel the gears turning in his head.

They remained unspeaking for the remainder of the night, and Sersi wasn’t entirely sure he’d fallen back asleep until she eventually heard his deep, even breathing behind her. Alone with her thoughts, she couldn’t banish the strange feeling in the air. It was too much to call the feeling foreboding or ominous, but something about the dream had felt so real, realer than normal.

But it was just a dream. Dreams often amounted to nothing.

So why, then, couldn’t she shake the feeling that the one she’d experienced tonight was somehow a premonition?

Chapter Text

Ikaris glanced up from his phone at the island countertop as Sersi hopped around the corner into the kitchen. He took another sip of coffee and eyed her with tired amusement as she fumbled to slip on her shoe. With her tendency to be late, it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence for her to dash around the flat in the mornings in an effort to get to the museum on time.

Though Ikaris had a few days off himself, he’d made enough of a habit of rising early that he was unable to sleep in, no matter how much he wished he could. It also didn’t help matters that Sersi had stubbed her toe in her haste to stumble out of bed that morning and uttered a harshly-whispered curse that roused him from his sleep. After a few minutes of trying to go back to sleep, he’d resigned himself to his fate and rose in his t-shirt and boxers to prepare breakfast.

Slightly out of breath, Sersi said, “Ikaris, darling, I forgot to put on the timer. Could you—”

He thrust out the thermos that contained the fresh, steaming brew.

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Where would I be without you?” She shot him a grateful look as she grabbed the thermos before bustling about the small kitchen space. “Do we have any more banana—” She cut herself off when she looked toward the countertop where Ikaris sat.

“Just some eggs, toast, and fruit,” Ikaris said. “I know you don’t have much time before you’re off. Where would you be without me, indeed?” he added with a light smile as she remained standing and scarfed down her food.

“In too much of a hurry to even take a seat, eh?” Ikaris said as he finished off the toast she’d left behind.

Sersi spoke around her food. “I’m teaching that class today. I don’t want to give the wrong impression by being late yet again. I know, I know, it’s my fault—” She looked at her watch. “Shit, I’ve got to go. Thanks for the food.” She dropped the plate and squeezed his arm before rushing to the adjoining lounge.

Ikaris rose from his seat in an unhurried manner and looked on as she grabbed her coat and purse. “Forgetting something, love?”

She twisted around, coat halfway on, and paused. “Of course. Sorry, darling.” She rushed back over and promptly cupped his stubbled face before pulling him in for a quick kiss. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Face still held captive between her hands, Ikaris held up her wallet.

“I meant this,” he said, “but I appreciate the kiss.”

Mouth pinched, Sersi plucked the wallet from his hand. “I forgot to put that back in my bag last night.”

As she turned to leave, Ikaris gripped her wrist and spun her back around to face him. Before she could speak, he cupped the back of her neck and looped an arm around her waist with a proprietary grip and swiftly moved in for another, far more lingering kiss. When he pulled back, he was satisfied to see her looking slightly dazed.

“Now that, my love, is a proper goodbye kiss,” he murmured against her lips as his hand caressed her hip. “Have a good day.”

Moments later, he smiled and went back to his coffee and morning news as she flew out the door. He looked forward to picking up where they left off later that night.

Chapter Text

“That’s what you say now, but I promise you if you just tried it more, you might like it better than you think,” Sersi told Ikaris as they sat atop a quilt in a green London park.

Ikaris grimaced and finished off the last of his fudge cone. “Don’t think so. Sorry, but nothing’s going to change my mind about this.”

“Oh, come on, people have been eating it since the dawn of time,” she said, shaking him by the arm. “You just haven’t given it a chance. Be adventurous.”

“Oi, I am adventurous, thank you very much. I just know what I like, that’s all, and I don’t like spinach. Other people are free to eat it as much as they like, but I won’t and that’s all there is to it.”

“There are so many ways to eat it, though! It’s not just the one way.”

“Agree to disagree, all right?”

“You can’t disagree about it being prepared different ways. It’s just a fact,” Sersi said, laughing.

“Well, I am, so what’re you going to do about it?” Ikaris said, unable to hold back his own smile. He’d never tell her, but he loved the sound of her laugh. There were a lot of things he loved about her, all of which were also things he’d never tell her.

They’d found themselves the only two left at the casual picnic setup after the others had gone their separate ways. The group of friends had met up for the late afternoon to take advantage of the uncharacteristically warm and sunny day. It’d never occurred to Ikaris that he might be left alone with Sersi. He’d been counting on at least one other person to stay, but then Kingo was gone too, claiming he had to meet with his agent, and that was that.

He couldn’t say he regretted being alone with Sersi, though. In fact, in his heart of hearts, it was all he wanted. But it made it infinitely harder to pretend he could put his feelings for her aside when it was just the two of them. He treasured their friendship more than she could know and he couldn’t put it at risk by doing something foolish like confessing how much space she took up in his thoughts and how all he wanted to do was hold her and how he’d love her with everything he had if only she’d let him.

But she didn’t have to let him, did she? Because it was far too late for that. Ikaris was undoubtedly, hopelessly in love, and it was all he could do to act as though he wasn’t.

He tried not to dwell on the thought as it would only bring him more sadness, and was glad for the distraction when Sersi covered a lengthy, gaping yawn with her hand. It was the substantial kind of yawn that spoke of true tiredness.

“Didn’t get enough sleep last night?” Ikaris said, picking at the leftover strawberries if only to have something to occupy his hands.

Still yawning, Sersi shook her head. “Unh-unh. Stayed at the museum late last night. Then woke up early this morning for a meeting. It’s been nonstop all day.” She shifted from her relaxed sitting position to lie on her side, head resting on her upright hand. Her head ended up near Ikaris’s lap, her dark hair a mere whisper from brushing the denim of his jeans.

“And if I fall asleep now, I’ll have a hard time falling back asleep tonight,” she said.

“Actually, did you know the second sleep cycle is a natural human function?” Ikaris said. “People would sleep for a few hours after the sun went down, wake up and occupy themselves with whatever, then go back to sleep until dawn.”

“Actually, I did know that,” she said, eyes visibly growing heavy. “I do wish life these days made it easier to fall back into that pattern, though.”

Ikaris couldn’t help his soft smile. Luckily she was too tired to see it. Even fighting back sleep, she was a vision. Maybe even more so, as it somehow felt vastly more intimate to see her this way, a side of her not just anyone was privy to.

“You falling asleep on me, Ms. Sersi?” Ikaris teased.

“No,” she said with a confidence that was entirely unconvincing.

“Right. I can clearly see that.”

“But what if I did?” Her eyes were closed now, though her head remained resting on her hand. “Would you leave straight away or be an arse and rattle me awake, telling me I should get a move on?”

He shrugged. “Well, I guess I can’t leave you now since you brought it up and all. Was just going to pack up and slink away and leave you to your drooling.”

“Shut up.”

He held in a silent laugh.

She gave another cavernous yawn, her speech slurred. “’m really tired.”

“Yes, I can see that.”

At the rate she was going, she’d be asleep in under a minute flat if she kept her eyes closed like that. If that was the case, Ikaris figured he’d get some work done since he’d brought his backpack with his laptop in it. It wasn’t even a question that he would stay.

It was, however, a shock to his system when Sersi emitted a lazy groan and shifted once again to plop her head right on his lap and settle into sleep that way, her eyes still closed but her expression giving no indication that she was doing anything out of the ordinary. Meanwhile above her, Ikaris could hardly process what was happening.

Sersi was on his lap. Sersi. Was on his lap. All right, it was just her head, but that was enough to send his head spinning and his heart jackrabbiting. She trusted him enough to fall asleep on his lap. It spoke of a certain level of intimacy he’d never allowed himself to hope for. The knowledge that she felt safe enough to do this with him filled him with a heady mix of emotions.

He imagined brushing her hair back from her face, but he would never take that risk unless she was in the deepest level of sleep with very little chance his touch would wake her. He felt he couldn’t move a muscle. Like the tiniest of movements would rouse her from sleep and the bubble they’d somehow created for themselves would pop out of existence. If he could, he’d sit there all day just so she could find refuge in him like that.

Perhaps he’d try getting some work done in a little bit, and if that didn’t work out, maybe he’d try cracking open the novel he’d also tucked in his bag. But he had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything while she lay on him like that. For now, he’d sit there and breathe in the fresh air and bask in the feel of Sersi’s comforting and dizzying warmth pressed right up against his own.

For now, he’d imagine that she was his, and that she lay on his lap not as a friend but as something much more.

Chapter Text

Ikaris tucked his hands into his coat pockets as he stepped out of the pub, feeling light and refreshed. He’d just met up with a friend for lunch and was ready to go for a little solo stroll. With his schedule having cleared up, he had plenty of time to kill and was even considering visiting some of the more touristy bits in London for the hell of it even though he’d already been in the city for years.

He was walking along the pavement, thinking of which sight to see first when for no particular reason his eye was caught by a woman walking in the opposite direction. She was too far away to make out any distinct features, but he could see she was tall and that her dark hair came down just past her shoulders. She wore a knitted cap and long navy coat and was looking down at her phone as she walked.

No surprise there, was Ikaris’s distant thought. Everyone was attached to their phone nowadays and it wasn’t like he could say he was all that much different.

Whether it was because he was spacing out or something else, he found he was still looking at her as they came closer towards each other. There weren’t many people out on the street at that time of day, making them just a few of the people around.

The woman was still looking down and typing something on her phone, though a large lamp post was directly in her path about ten steps away. If she didn’t look up soon, she’d surely run right into it.

She didn’t look up.

Now about three meters away from her, Ikaris could clearly see she was headed straight for an unsightly collision.

There was a brief moment where he hesitated. Some people didn’t take being spoken to by strangers very well, even if it meant avoiding things like running into a lamp post, because they saw the interruption as an annoyance of some sort. But he didn’t have much time to think about it further because she was headed right for it and—oh, God, it was right in front of her now—

“Miss, miss!” Ikaris quickly moved into action and jogged the short remaining distance to take her by the arm and intercept her path.

She jolted at the contact, her head shot up, and her eyes first landed on Ikaris with bewilderment before they darted over to the lamp post a mere hand’s length from her face. She reared back on instinct.

“Oh my god,” were her immediate words.

“You were headed straight for it,” Ikaris said, feeling a strange exhilaration all of a sudden. “Apologies, but I couldn’t help but think that wasn’t exactly something you had planned for today.”

“No. Oh my god.”

Ikaris became aware his hand was still around her arm. He promptly removed it. He was sure she didn’t appreciate being manhandled by a strange man. He also supposed he could’ve just called out to her instead of running over, but again, he hadn’t really been thinking. And by taking her by the arm, he could see her clearly now. And selfishly, though he would’ve done the same for anyone, he’d never been more glad to come to someone’s aid. She was stunning. And strangely familiar. Like he knew her somehow.

“I’m so sorry you had to do that,” she said, clutching her phone to her chest. “God, how embarrassing, all ’cause I wasn’t paying attention. I swear I’m not always so unobservant.”

“It’s all right, happens to the best of us,” Ikaris said. The wind blew through their hair as they unconsciously circled each other to switch sides on the pavement.

“Thank you again, if I didn’t already say that.” She slowly moved backward, nearly on her way again.

He gave a slight smile but was suddenly overcome with an odd, subdued panic at her leaving. For some insane reason he couldn’t name, he couldn’t let her get away. He wanted her to stay, to keep talking with him. He wanted her to know he existed, that he walked the earth alongside her. It was an outrageous thought, almost delusional. They were complete strangers, but something about her just felt so…familiar.

“Really, no problem. Crisis averted,” he said. With each further step she took, his internal panic grew. But what could he possibly say to keep her from leaving when she had absolutely no reason to stay?

She gave a polite, grateful smile and spun around to leave just as he opened his mouth. To say what, he had no idea.

“I’m Ikaris,” he blurted out to her retreating figure.

She twisted around, pausing in her tracks. “Sorry?”

“Er—I’m Ikaris. Sorry if I didn’t mention it before.” What the hell was he saying?

“Oh. Erm, yeah, hi, I’m Sersi. Nice to meet you. Thanks again, Ikaris, really.” She gave him an awkward smile—surely since he was being an awkward mess to begin with—and dipped her head in goodbye before turning once again.

“Sorry, but—” He cut himself off, but it was enough to garner her attention. She twisted back around and watched as he closed the distance between them.

“I’m sorry, I promise I’m not a creeper or anything,” he rambled before he could even think of what he was saying. “Ah, that sounds really bad. I swear I’m not prefacing with that to hide that I actually am or anything.”

Ikaris, shut. Up.

He wanted to squeeze his eyes shut and let the world swallow him whole. The only silver lining was that his reddening cheeks could be written off as coming from the cold weather rather than the sheer mortification he felt. Somehow, though, she hadn’t yet left running for the hills. She just watched him with widened, curious eyes.

“I just…I don’t know, I feel like we’ve met somehow before. And I swear that’s not a line or anything, I just…” He blew out a breath and thought, To hell with it. I’ve already made a raging fire dumpster of it all. Got nothing to lose now. Might as well go all the way. “I was just wondering if…if maybe you’d like to meet up sometime. For a pint or…whatever. Maybe…I don’t know, chat. Get to know each other, I suppose. If you’d like.”

The dead silence in the wake of his proposal was deafening. Sersi’s eyes were glued on him. She was clearly caught off guard, and rightly so.

He’d never been so bold as to outright ask out someone he’d just met on the street. He’d never come close to wanting to. He hadn’t ever really thought of it as a thing people actually did. But he’d done it. Bloody fool he was, he’d gone and done it. And for reasons he could completely understand, Sersi still hadn’t answered. Maybe she wasn’t even single. Or maybe it was also the fact that a bumbling, unknown man had just intercepted her on the street and was now asking her out without her knowing him at all.

After what felt like ages, Sersi opened her mouth to speak. “I…I think I could do that. Yeah.”

It took him a few seconds to process it. She’d actually accepted.

“Yeah?” he said. “Great. Great.” He’d lost all ability to be eloquent.

“I’ll probably need your number,” she said, taking out her phone.

“Right, of course.”

They exchanged numbers, and all the while Ikaris felt he was in some sort of daze, like he was watching it happen to someone else.

“Well, I should be off.” Sersi gripped the strap of her purse over her shoulder, an odd smile inching onto her mouth. “It was nice to meet you, Ikaris. I look forward to getting that pint together.”

“Me, too. It was…really nice meeting you, Sersi.” He stuck his hand out. He had the irrational urge to feel her skin against his and was grateful for the excuse of basic etiquette to do so.

She put her hand in his, and he took in the sensation as their hands shook. The contact ended sooner than he’d have liked, and he let her hand slip out of his with quiet regret.

He watched her walk away, feeling much less of that unsettling disquiet in his heart. Seeing the back of her no longer meant they were parting ways only to never see each other again in that vast city of anonymous millions. Because he would see her again.

Sersi. Sersi. Soon he’d be able to say that name again. And if he had it his way, he’d say that name for a long time to come.

Chapter Text

“What the hell, you guys? I thought you said it was Christmas-themed.” Sersi’s gaze darted around the party in embarrassment as she shrank into herself. She may have discreetly and strategically positioned her champagne glass so it was directly in front of her.

As if the tiny glass would do anything to hide the fact that she was the only one who’d showed up wearing an ugly Christmas jumper. Kingo had invited the whole group to another one of his showbiz parties at his London mansion, and as such, she was surrounded by beautiful people in glitzy attire that was a far cry from her gaudy, oversized (and not even in the cute way) red and green jumper with a giant dancing llama splashed across the front as well as functioning jingle bells. On her bottom half were ostentatious gold pleather trousers that she’d previously bought on a whim and were now seeing the light of day.

“Ah-ah, I said Christmas-themed party,” insisted Kingo, who held up a finger. “I never said anything about the attire, just that everyone should come all decked out. Besides, I thought it was understood how people usually dress for these things, and—did you not read the group chat? I swear I sent it out to everyone.”

“‘All decked out,’ but that could totally mean anything!” Sersi said. “That’s what you meant last year for our get-together. You know, kitschiness, ugly Christmas jumpers, the whole bit.”

“Uh-huh, I agree,” Phastos said. With a pointed finger at Kingo he added, “You’re just lousy at giving out info.”

“Hey, excuse me,” said Kingo, “who was the one who directed us all the way to the mountains that one time? Safely, I might add, especially since you were the one who nearly got us into three separate accidents on the way there.”

“That’s completely different,” Phastos quickly retorted.

As they continued bickering, Makkari threw Sersi a sympathetic glance.

“Don’t feel bad,” she signed. “I was confused, too, before I asked for clarification.”

“Well, would’ve been nice if I’d thought to do that,” Sersi said dryly. It wasn’t exactly the end of the world, but she’d be lying if she said it wasn’t a bit mortifying when she was at an exclusive party full of glamorous people in glamorous clothes. Even after having been friends with Kingo for some years, it was a world she was wholly unaccustomed to, and she stuck out like a sore thumb. She was only glad she had the safety net of having some of the others there as well.

“Am I missing anything?” came a familiar voice.

The group turned to find Ikaris joining the circle, a glass of champagne in hand. He, like everyone else, wore the expected and acceptable holiday attire of a fitted olive green suit over a tie-less white dress shirt. He looked stylish and debonair, and his suit went beautifully with his blue eyes, which had Sersi doing a legitimate double take.

She would never admit it to anyone, but she’d always been intensely attracted to him for reasons she couldn’t understand. Okay, so maybe she could. Those reasons might’ve been his aforementioned blue eyes, his handsome and chiseled face or his sexy tone of voice and accent. Or it might’ve also been his loyalty and devotion to people and things he cared about. Or about a million other things that coalesced to form the man who was Ikaris, the off-limits friend who’d remain just that—off-limits and a friend.

After discreetly soaking him in, Sersi was able to answer his question. “Just that apparently everyone but me got the memo about the non-Christmas jumper-themed party this was going to be.”

“Misunderstandings, they get to us all,” Kingo chimed in, waving it off. He added in a rush, “Hey, I got to make some more rounds. That new dancer I told everyone about? She’s here, and no, you may not crowd around her. You have no idea how much schmoozing it took to get her to agree to be in my next film. Everyone good here? Yes? No? Shout out if you need me.”

Phastos merely shoved him away in response, after which Kingo smoothly recovered and was off, bobbing his head to the ambient party music as he went.

Ikaris eyed Sersi’s outfit with clear amusement shining in his eyes. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice your getup. Have to say, wish I’d been that bold.”

“Ugh, shut up.” She folded her arms across her chest in a protective stance. Deep down, however, she found comfort in his warmth and presence. “I look like an absolute idiot.”

“You look fine,” Makkari signed. “No one’s even paying attention.”

Just then, multiple consecutive bright flashes of a bulb went off before their eyes and they all turned to find one of the event photographers with his camera aimed right at Sersi. No one had room to speak before he was off in search of his next subjects.

“Wha—” Sersi sputtered. “Why did he just do that? It’s not like we’re anybody interesting.”

“Sad but true,” Phastos said.

“I, for one, am glad to be considered a nobody by celebrity standards,” Makkari signed with a dry expression on her face.

“I’m sure he only came over ’cause Kingo was just with us,” Ikaris said.

“Oh, God, now I’m probably going to end up on one of those celebrity gossip sites,” Sersi said. “‘Unknown crazy woman tries to climb social ladder by crashing star-studded party.’”

“You’re thinking too hard about it, Sersi,” signed Makkari. “No one actually cares.”

“Actually, I’ve been on those sites, and let me tell you, it is not pretty,” Phastos said. “People are not afraid to be absolutely vicious when it comes to their celebrity gossip, let’s just leave it at that. You wouldn’t believe the kinds of comments people like to leave.”

Makkari pinned him with a glare. “Thanks, Phastos.”

“Great. Thanks, Phastos,” Sersi added.

“What? It’s true,” he said. “Not saying it’ll happen to you, Sersi. I mean, if anything, I doubt we’re important enough to have our photos published in the first place.”

Sersi blew out a breath. “You’re right. I’m just being dramatic. And now I’m hungry. Where’s that one waiter with the bacon-wrapped scallops? I thought I saw her around somewhere.” She craned her neck in search of her desired craving.

A half-full champagne glass was suddenly in her peripheral vision. She looked over to find Ikaris holding his glass out towards her. “What is it?” she said.

“Hold this for me?” He gestured for her to take it.

“Why?” She took it anyway.

“Just keep it safe for now, if you will. I realized I’ve forgotten something. I’ll be back.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Forgotten what?”

“Just hold on to it for me? Please?” He wore a subtle smile as he backed away from the group. If she didn’t know better, she’d almost call it a mischievous one.

Puzzled, she watched alongside the others as he disappeared into the crowd.

“He really is something, isn’t he?” Phastos said.

Sersi had no response and simply held on to his drink for the next half hour or so. She occasionally mingled with guests she deemed approachable and jolted in excitement at the sight of one of her favorite actresses standing a mere room’s length away. She ended back up in a circle with Phastos and Makkari, wondering where on earth Ikaris had disappeared to, why he’d foisted his drink on her, and why she was still holding on to it when finally Makkari’s eyes moved past her shoulder and lit up.

Sersi glanced over her shoulder and saw Ikaris parting his way through the crowd, some of the glamorous guests snickering in his wake. Because the olive green suit jacket he’d worn earlier was gone, and in its place was a ridiculously oversized red and green striped jumper complete with a plethora of dancing dinosaurs woven into the fabric, not to mention the T-Rex plushie the size of both his fists protruding from the center of his chest.

She gawked. He ignored the stares around him and made his way over looking like it was just another December night. He took his champagne glass off her hands.

“Right, thanks. Sorry to make you hold on to that for so long, but would it help if I said it’s because I trust you?” he said before taking a casual sip.

Neither Sersi, Makkari, nor Phastos said a word as they looked on. What on earth had just happened?

Ikaris licked his lips after finishing his sip and finally seemed aware of their eyes on him. “All right, enough staring, the three of you. Never seen a bloke wearing fuzzy dinosaurs on his chest, is that it?”

“Uh, not this bloke,” Phastos said, sweeping a hand over Ikaris. “Care to explain why?”

“I think it looks good,” Makkari signed with a smile. “Or rather, ugly.”

“Good, means a job well done, then,” Ikaris said. He turned his eyes directly on Sersi. “After all, can’t let you be the only one here in an ugly Christmas jumper, can I?”

Sersi stood speechless, arrested by his steady gaze and the twinkle in his blue eyes under the dim lights.

“Right,” Phastos said, drawing out the word. “We’re going now.” Without further ado, he ushered Makkari away.

Sersi was left staring at Ikaris, mouth agape. “This is what you forgot?” She broke out into laughter. “You look ridiculous.”

“Kind of the point.”

At the realization, her stomach swooped. It was akin to the feeling she’d gotten when her favorite mug, the one she’d had for over a decade and which held great sentimental value, dropped to the floor in large pieces when she closed her door after receiving a delivery only to have the sturdy package slip from her arms and to the floor, knocking the mug she’d been holding out of her hand in the process. She’d been convinced it was damaged beyond repair until one day she arrived at work to find a package on her desk, and after undoing the ribbon, she found her old mug carefully joined back together. There was no note, but she knew who it was from. She’d mourned her mug with only one person. That he went out of his way to do such things for her certainly didn’t make it easier to ignore her feelings for him.

“You’re wearing this out of solidarity with me?” she said.

He shrugged and glanced off to the side like it was no big deal. “Better you and me both than just you, I figured.”

Sersi was overcome with the fervent desire to rush at him with a hug, to just hold him to her. Instead she gave him a fond smile, feeling nothing but pure warmth washing over her. “You didn’t have to, you know. I was just being silly.”

“Well, it seemed important to you, so…” He said it so matter-of-factly.

“Where’d you even get that?”

“Stopped by the nearest shop. The hardest part was getting back into the party. Those guards don’t mess around. Also didn’t have anything in my size. But think it worked out for the best, didn’t it?” After a quick glance around, he looked back at Sersi only to find her still looking at him like he’d hung the stars in the sky. “Can I help you? I mean, if you’re going to keep looking at me like that, you might as well buy me another drink.”

“It’s an open bar.”

“Then you can keep me company whilst I get another one.” He jerked his head toward the bar and they fell into step together. “Maybe we can get another one for you, too.”

She looked down at her nearly-empty glass. “Mm, I think I’m in the mood for mulled wine tonight. I hear it’s on the menu.”

He gave a concise nod. He was so close his warm, fuzzy arm, covered by that ridiculous Christmas jumper, brushed hers as they walked. “Mulled wine it is.”

Chapter Text

They laughed as they wandered the grass hand-in-hand, talking about nothing in particular. The sky was clear, the heat manageable, and the dry brown mountains on either side nestled the lush green valley through which they walked. They were stealing time together after having helped the locals construct new shelters for their people. Everyone was in good spirits, and after indulging in freshly-picked fruit given as thanks from the locals, Ikaris had coaxed Sersi into going with him for a walk, away from the others.

As they walked the valley, Sersi feigned wanting to get away, but he grasped her hand tightly, preventing her escape. She gave a carefree laugh and he spun her around to face him, bringing them both to a stop.

He held her to him, arm locked tight around her waist. The intensity with which he focused on her was staggering. The warmth and adoration she saw so clearly on his face mingled with an unmistakeable heat that had her heart genuinely skipping a beat. It spoke of a single-minded focus, and all that honed focus was zeroed in on her.

His eyes flickered down to the small stone hanging from her neck, the one she’d transmuted to match his eyes, and he stroked it with his thumb. It’d long been a part of her now; she rarely took it off. He contemplated the necklace, and she wondered what he was thinking.

He leaned in to press his forehead to hers, his lips a hairsbreadth away.

“Marry me,” he murmured, nose lovingly nudging hers.

It took her a moment to process what he’d just said. And when she did, her body locked up, but he refused to let her get away. But it wasn’t fear that consumed her.

“I want us to be wed, Sersi,” he said, drawing back enough to look her in the eye. “I know it’s a human tradition and it would make no difference to us either way, but…” Delicately, he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Somehow I find myself growing more and more amenable to their ways the longer we stay here. And marriage is…I want to tie myself to you, Sersi, in every way a person can. And if, while we’re on this planet, that means getting married the human way, then that’s what I want. I want you to be mine, as I have always been yours.”

She gently stroked his cheek. “I’ve always been yours, Ikaris. Surely you know that by now.”

He covered her hand with his and smiled softly, a true, guileless smile. “I had my suspicions, true. Might’ve started somewhere around the hundred-year mark, possibly, but no sooner than that,” he teased. They shared a soft laugh before he spoke again, his eyes filled with such stark fondness. “And I want you to know there’s no rush. You don’t have to answer right away. I know it’s not…necessary, us being married…but I thought you deserved to know it’s something I’ve not been able to stop thinking about for a long time now.”

“Yes,” she immediately breathed out.

He paused, not having expected that. He regarded her warily. “‘Yes’ what?”

She took his face between her hands and laughed in disbelief. “Yes, you fool. Yes, I’ll marry you. In every way, in every place. I’ll marry you.”

The dawn of realization on his face, the smile that overtook his features and transformed his face, was something that would stay with Sersi for the rest of her life. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she clung tightly to him and he spun her around in their private moment of joy, just Sersi and Ikaris. He kissed her fiercely, elated with the knowledge that the desire that consumed his every waking moment would now come to be.

When they pulled back, she was moved to see a sheen had formed in his own eyes. Her beloved Ikaris, so far from the callous, unfeeling man the others liked to think he was.

He pressed his forehead to hers again like he couldn’t help it, and a laugh of pure joy and relief spilled from his lips. “My darling love. I’m forever yours, Sersi.”

“As I am yours,” she said, meaning it with every fiber of her being.

Chapter Text

She was officially being stood up. That had to be it.

She wasn’t sure what the appropriate amount of time to wait was before one definitively knew they were being stood up, but after thirty minutes with no phone call or text, she was only growing more certain she’d just been left in the dust. The only small comfort was that she was in a crowded pub on Valentine’s Day night where everyone was too absorbed in their own conversation to pay attention to the woman keeping to herself at the bar.

She considered contacting her date to see if he was perhaps just running late, but she had a strong feeling that wasn’t the case and her pride wouldn’t allow her to take the initiative only to be ignored.

Good riddance, she thought, angry at the whole situation but more so at her date. Tonight would’ve been their third time seeing each other. While the first two casual outings hadn’t produced the most sparks between them—probably even the opposite if she was being completely honest—she’d talked herself into giving him one more try.

Fat lot of good that did me.

She hadn’t been having much luck in the romance department and was convinced it just wasn’t in the cards for her. Everyone made it seem so easy and simple, finding someone, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

She nursed her drink as the air rang with sounds of clinking glass and people conversing in jovial tones, making her resent her date, her luck, and love even more.

She waited five more minutes, and with her date still a no-show, heaved a sigh and prepared to take out her money for the tab and leave.

“Sersi?”

She whipped her head around. Ikaris stood before her, looking astonishingly attractive in his brown suede jacket with a white t-shirt underneath, his brown hair tousled by the wind. His blue eyes gleamed at her under the intimate pub lighting, and she tried not to come off as obviously transfixed. There was something about the way his eyes often fixated on her that had her feeling…strange inside. It was as if she commanded all his attention without even having to do anything.

“Ikaris. What are you doing here?”

“Just out with some mates.” He nodded to somewhere over her shoulder and she followed his gaze to find a small group of guys settling into a table that had miraculously freed up near the back. “What are you doing here?” he countered, glancing around as if to spot her companions.

She pursed her lips, debating whether or not to tell him. It wasn’t exactly something she wanted to shout from the rooftops, her being stood up.

“I’m, er—was—waiting for someone,” she said. “But I’m starting to think I’ve been well and truly stood up.” She drained the last of her beer.

Ikaris looked at her with clear confusion, or rather, disbelief. “What?”

“I don’t know, maybe it’s too early to say. I mean, how long are you meant to wait with these things? Is half an hour long enough? Surely that’s long enough.”

“You mean to tell me some bloke had a date with you and chose to blow you off? Who is he?”

“We have a mutual friend. We’ve already been out a couple of times, though I suppose he apparently felt the lack of chemistry as much as I did. Could’ve at least been the tiniest bit courteous about it, but what can you do?”

Without further word, he managed to snag a free stool from a nearby group and plopped right next to her at the bar.

Sersi eyed him. “What are you doing?”

“Chatting with you,” he said like it was obvious.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Aren’t your friends missing you?”

“Eh, they’ll be all right.” He managed to catch the bartender’s attention and order himself a drink.

“You don’t have to sit with me, Ikaris,” she said. “It’s a bit pathetic, I know, being stood up, but it’s not exactly as if I’m going to go home crying about it. It’s hardly a loss.”

“You think I’m sitting with you out of pity? Oh, a bit egotistical of you, don’t you think? I’m merely here to order a drink and catch up with a friend. Purely selfish on my end, you see.” He glanced at her empty glass. “You want another one?”

She hadn’t before, but now…

“Only if it’s on you,” she said, calling his bluff.

“Never said it wasn’t.”

She fought back a smile as he asked for her order and relayed it to the bartender.

“Fancy running into you on Valentine’s Day of all days,” she said. “You making a statement by going out with a group of what I assume are single guys?”

He shrugged. “No statement about it. Just a day like any other day. And what about you? Were you and your date making a statement by going out on Valentine’s Day?”

She guffawed. “Yeah, right. No, we’d just agreed on a date going by the day of week and didn’t realize till later that it fell on Valentine’s Day.”

Ikaris studied her as her attention fell to her glass. “I’m still finding it hard to believe someone had a date with you and made the conscious decision to muck it up,” he said, voice turning closer to a murmur. A little more intimate.

Sersi laughed in dismissal out of reflex. In truth, she had no idea how to respond when he said something like that. She had no idea how to act when he was being soft and complimentary and, dare she say it, flirty. But surely she was reading too much into things. He was just being a supportive friend.

“Well, thanks,” she said. “I’ll be sure to let my next date know you said that.”

He was still studying her. She tried not to adjust herself under his stare. Part of her wished he’d stop looking at her like that while another part wished he’d never stop.

To both her gratitude and dismay, their drinks arrived just then. They thanked the bartender and she pretended to focus on her drink while Ikaris’s attention made its way back to her.

“You go out on dates a lot?” he said. His tone was hard to decipher.

“I mean, not very often, I guess. I used to, but…part of me has sort of given up on that whole thing, I suppose.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “Would it be terribly cliché if I were to say there are no good men around anymore? Apart from present company, of course.”

“Just haven’t found the right person, then.”

“Quite right. If there even is one.” She spoke in a dry tone of resignation and took a long sip of her drink. Ikaris went silent and from the corner of her eye she saw his gaze fall, like he was thinking.

“I don’t know, I think if you keep looking, you never know who you might find,” he finally said. He met her eye again. “And sometimes it turns out you don’t have to look very hard at all.” His gaze was steady. Deliberate.

Sersi’s breath hitched. Her stomach swooped and her entire body grew warm like a rash of heat had overtaken her. Was he actually saying what she thought he was saying? Could he actually mean…?

“Oi, Ikaris!”

The shout penetrated their strange bubble, and with what looked to be great reluctance and annoyance, Ikaris looked past her shoulder. In her weird daze, Sersi was a little slower to follow. When she did look, it was to find one of his friends at the table waving him over, clearly wondering what he was doing.

“Right annoying buggers they are sometimes,” Ikaris muttered, though she could tell it was with a degree of affection.

“Probably wondering why you’re ignoring them for the random woman at the bar,” she said.

“Well, usually I’d say they can wait, but in this case it’s probably best I get over there or I’ll never hear the end of it.” He rose from his stool, drink in hand.

Sersi felt a stab of disappointment. He hadn’t been obligated to come over to her in the first place, but now that he had, she felt sad to see him go. Talking with him, spending time with him, just being in his presence…it was nice.

“You coming?”

She glanced up to find him looking at her expectantly. “Wha—you want me to join you and your friends?”

“’Course. They haven’t met you yet, unless you’d prefer to remain ‘random woman at the bar.’”

“I don’t know…I don’t want to just join in uninvited.”

“You’re not uninvited, and they couldn’t care less. And trust me, a pretty woman always makes them act a fool. Makes great entertainment, really.”

Her heart skipped a beat. He thought she was pretty? It was ridiculous, and she hated to put so much stock in her appearance, but when it came from Ikaris…

“Er…all right, I guess.” She was slow to rise, only half-committed to joining him when he took her hand in his and led her across the packed room.

She pretended it was completely normal. Completely normal to have him wrap his warm, firm hand around hers like it was nothing. Meanwhile, her heart nearly pounded its way out of her chest.

Eventually they made it to the table where Ikaris introduced her to his friends, and any intimidation she felt was soon squashed when they welcomed her with open arms. At first they openly teased Ikaris for trying to chat her up, as that was how it’d appeared to them, until he emphasized they already knew each other and were friends.

Right. Friends. Just friends.

So, then, what had he meant by his statement earlier?

Sometimes it turns out you don’t have to look very hard at all.

She resolved to put it to the back of her mind, even as Ikaris wrapped an arm around the back of her chair, his denim-clad leg resting centimeters from hers. She pretended what he’d said meant nothing even as she watched his profile as he spoke to the group, and she pretended to be engrossed in the conversation when, really, she was admiring his handsomeness and thinking back to the feel of his hand wrapped around hers.

Friends. Just friends.

She wanted to groan.

She was in deep trouble.

Chapter Text

“Oh, no,” Sersi groaned from her place at the bed.

Ikaris turned his attention away from the television in the lounge and looked through the open doorway into his bedroom. “What?”

“I swore I packed my sleep shirt. That was the first thing I told myself to remember. I guess I didn’t.” She rifled through her overnight bag, double-checking.

“You need something to wear, then?”

“Yes,” she said grudgingly. She heard him get up from the sofa before he entered the room.

He sifted through his wardrobe, his back to her. “You know, I keep telling you you might as well keep some things on hand here. So you don’t have to worry if you forget.”

“I know.” It was his not-so-subtle way of saying he wanted her to move in already.

“And I don’t mean your toothbrush.” He turned back around, carrying a plain blue t-shirt.

She took it from him and pretended to be annoyed as he made no effort to hide that he was watching her take off her top to swap it with his shirt. To punish him, she thrusted her discarded top at him so he’d put it away. He merely clutched it to his front and gave her a cheeky smile.

“You look really good like that, you know,” he said.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Wearing my shirt, I mean. Especially the blue one.” His eyes roamed the length of her, from her exposed collarbone to where his shirt reached just past her hips to her bare legs in her sleep shorts.

“So you said.”

“Makes a man think certain things.” His voice turned huskier and his eyes more hooded. He moved in, dropping her discarded top on her bag.

“Like what?” She was helpless to his seduction as he wrapped his strong arms around her and nipped at her earlobe. His stubble rubbed against her cheek in a way she always found so erotic.

“Like getting that thing right back off,” he said. Before she could speak, he grabbed her around the waist, hauled her up, and tossed her onto the bed with a squeal on her end.

She watched with dizzying anticipation as he soon appeared over her, his body always managing to drive her crazy.

“You want to take that shirt off or should I?” he murmured as he hovered just above her, arms bracketing her head.

“I think that’s a job for you, Ikaris.” Her voice was slightly breathy and she stroked the taut planes of his chest.

A wicked grin curved his lips. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

Instead of whipping it off her like she expected, he took his sweet time peeling it off, teasing and savoring her, and in no time she fell into him as she always did when they were together.

She’d never been more grateful to forget her shirt.

Chapter Text

Sersi pretended not to be charmed as Thor chatted with her. As the Asgardian figure the Norse people idolized as their god of thunder, he’d come down to Earth with his father, Odin, and a small party of warriors on another brief and discreet diplomatic visit.

“And how exactly is this a diplomatic visit when the people aren’t even aware of your presence?” Sersi asked Thor as they walked.

“Let’s just say there are times my father prefers to work more behind the scenes,” he said with a cheeky smile and wink. He was arrogant and brash but also open and friendly.

The two of them were taking a walk through the woods after Thor had asked her to show him around, perhaps somewhere a little farther off from the settlement so he wouldn’t be spotted by the humans. She hadn’t missed the way Ikaris’s eyes narrowed slightly at his proposal, not to mention when Thor had kissed her hand after arriving.

“If you’re concerned about being spotted, Sprite can cast one of her illusions,” Ikaris had told Thor. “Or can’t your father wield his magic to disguise you?”

Sersi had pinned him with a look that told him he was being rude. “It’s fine, Ikaris. Sprite’s off with Druig somewhere and we wouldn’t want to bother the All-father.”

Ikaris had no retort and so she and Thor were off to the woods.

“So, forgive me if I overstep, but what exactly is Ikaris to you?” Thor said near the end of their walk. They were nearing the tree line, back at the outskirts of the settlement.

“What?” She laughed more out of reflex. Out of all topics the strapping young god of thunder might be interested in, she certainly hadn’t expected her husband to be one of them.

“It’s just, I couldn’t help but notice he was quite protective of you when I offered to go for a walk. Does he carry a torch for you? If so, I can’t say I blame him.”

Ridiculously, Sersi felt her face heat up. “Ah, no. At least not anymore. We’re married.”

Thor’s eyes widened. “Oh. I see.”

“Not expecting that?” she said, amused.

“I didn’t wish to assume,” he said. “Ah, at any rate, it’s just my luck. I must admit I had hopes of courting a lovely woman upon seeing her again.”

Sersi had absolutely no idea how to respond. She wanted to brush off his teasing and flirting since she knew he meant nothing by it, but just as she was about to speak, they cleared the woods and a figure appeared in the corner of her eye.

She turned to find Ikaris standing there in his red wool tunic and brown trousers, looking at them with what at first glance appeared to be a neutral expression, but Sersi could detect the ice laced in his glare that was directed at Thor. She paused in her tracks and Thor stopped beside her.

“Ikaris,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

“Gathering wood for the fire. Did you enjoy your walk?”

“Yes,” she said, though she resisted the urge to shift on her feet. “I showed Thor around a bit.”

Ikaris simply dipped his head in acknowledgement, then turned his gaze on Thor. “Thor, I thought you ought to know your father’s been looking for you. He wishes to return to Asgard soon. He’s already cast his magic so you can go on freely and the villagers will only see a young boy.”

“Ah. Many thanks, Ikaris. I will see you two back there, then, before we depart.” Thor nodded in parting to Sersi, a mischievous smile painting his lips, and moved past Ikaris with a clap to his shoulder, leaving the two of them alone.

Sersi wanted to sigh in exasperation. Being an Eternal certainly didn’t preclude them from certain emotions such as jealousy.

“You’re being ridiculous,” she said.

“I’m not being anything,” he said. “I’m merely out here to gather wood and happened to come upon your walk.”

She started toward the village, and he fell into step with her. So much for the supposed firewood.

“It was just a walk,” she said.

“I’m aware. I’ve nothing against walks, you know that. Only a little different when they’re with a man who’s clearly interested in my wife.”

She rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to be so jealous, Ikaris. He likes to flirt, but believe me when I say he means absolutely nothing by it.”

“Not from where I’m standing.”

“Well, you can relax. It’s not as though we’ll see him again anytime soon. I doubt Earth is a place they visit very often.”

“Yeah, he’d better not,” Ikaris muttered. Sersi threw him a look. “What? I didn’t say anything.”

Sersi shook her head. “You are incorrigible. And what about the firewood, you caveman? Whatever happened to your important task?”

Ikaris slowed to a stop, knowing he’d been caught, and sighed. “I’ll be back.”

“Make sure you don’t miss the Asgardians’ departure,” she said facetiously.

This time he was the one to throw her a look, and he was back off in the direction of the woods.

Sersi resumed her path toward the village, shaking her head.

Chapter Text

Sersi popped another meatball into her mouth as she roamed the party. Phastos and his husband, Ben, were throwing a housewarming party for their spacious new home in Chicago. The party wasn’t overly crowded, but judging by the number of people who mingled about the house, Phastos and Ben were quite the popular pair.

As she crossed the hallway, Sersi saw a woman about her age with brown hair and a yellow shawl walk briskly past her into the kitchen where she’d just been. The woman had a curious look on her face as though she was looking for something.

Sersi walked on only to find Ikaris coming in the opposite direction as well, and he was visibly nervous about something if his harried gait and the nervous glances he darted around the room were any indication.

She watched as he closed the distance, curious as to what was going on. He was making his way through the bustling family room and hadn’t noticed her. She slowed in her tracks as he drew closer, and when his eyes finally hooked on her a mere body’s length away, she raised her hand in greeting.

“Hey, Ikaris—”

The words were no sooner out of her mouth than his eyes locked on something past her shoulder and widened. Before she could get another word out, he bodily grabbed her and propelled the two of them together into the adjacent broom closet.

“Wha—”

The door swung shut. It was pitch dark inside, save for the tiny sliver of light peeking in at the bottom of the door, but it was hardly enough to make out anything. The sounds of the party filtered in without difficulty, barely inhibited by the door.

She might’ve thought the space at least seemed spacious enough to fit the two of them, but that was a stretch. Some unknown household object or other was smushed up against her back, and her entire front…was pressed up right against Ikaris.

“Ikaris, what on earth are you doing?” She couldn’t push him away no matter how much she tried. There was no give for either of them to go anywhere.

“I’m sorry, I panicked.” His rich, warm voice was so close, and he did indeed sound quite panicked. “I saw her coming and had to do something.”

“Saw who?”

“There’s this woman I met tonight who I’ve been friendly to and I’m afraid she took it as a sign of interest and now she won’t leave me alone,” he got out in a rush.

“What woman? What does she look like?”

“I don’t know, brown hair, shorter than you, yellow…” He gesticulated aimlessly in the dark. Sersi could tell from the air that whipped around from his motions, not to mention the wildly-flung finger that ended up poking into her shoulder.

“Ow! Shawl?” She rubbed her shoulder.

“Yes, shawl.”

So it was the woman she’d seen passing her by into the kitchen. Little did she know the thing the woman had been looking for, and quite zealously, was the very man she was face-to-face with in this tiny closet that had barely any room to breathe between the two of them.

“I did see her go into the kitchen,” she said. “Didn’t know she was looking for you.”

“You’ve got to help me, Sersi. I’ve managed to dodge her for the past ten minutes but I don’t know what the hell else to do here.”

“Er, tell her you’re not interested?”

“Yeah, easier said than done now, don’t you think?”

She would’ve agreed at any other time, but she’d just been yanked into a dark, cramped closet whilst enjoying a perfectly good meatball, poked in the shoulder, and there was still something—a shelf of household cleaners?—prodding at her back. Not to mention it went unnoticed by absolutely no one that their bodies were tightly flush against each other.

Even more frustrating was that distantly, she couldn’t help but notice not only how firm his chest was but also how good he smelled. Earthy and warm and cozy, like sandalwood.

“Just be firm but polite,” she said. “She should get the message.”

“Well, how would you say it?”

“I don’t know…‘I think you’re really nice, but I’d rather just stay friends.’ Or ‘I’m not really looking for anything right now, sorry.’”

“That’s got to be the most cliché line I’ve ever heard.”

“And what we’re doing right now isn’t?”

“Look, I bet you she’s not going to take any of that very well. There’s got to be something else.”

“Well, you don’t know unless you’ve tried, do you? And will you move your knee? It’s digging into my thigh.”

“Sorry, it’s not like I knew this thing would be the size of a cardboard box when I pulled you in here.”

“It’s not like you had to pull me in here in the first place.”

“I’ve got it.”

At the non sequitur, she reared her head back. Or she would’ve done if there was any space to do so. “What?”

“Pretend to be my girlfriend.”

“What?” Her eyes turned into saucers, cloaked by the dark as they were.

“Just for the rest of the night. Or until she leaves. I promise I’ll return the favor. Whatever you need.” He sounded so desperate Sersi almost felt sorry for him.

“You really think that’d even work?” she said.

“How would it not? If she thinks I’m taken, she’ll back off. Or should, anyway.”

“Then she’ll just think you’re scum for flirting with her when you were taken all along.”

“But that’s just it; I wasn’t flirting. Come on, Sersi, please. Help me out just this once and I’ll be forever in your debt.”

She made a show of thinking it over, though, again, it wasn’t as though he could see it. “That does sound tempting.”

“So you’ll do it?”

She sighed. “I guess. Now, what do fake girlfriends do, anyway?”

“I don’t know, whatever real girlfriends do.”

“Does this mean we can finally get out of this closet now?”

“Assuming we can even squeeze our way out of this thing.”

She fumbled for the doorknob and managed to grasp it only to have a warm hand fall right on top of hers. They both flinched at the unexpected contact, which was ridiculous considering how many of their body parts were already touching.

“Sorry,” Ikaris muttered.

Sersi flung the door open without ceremony—and without Ikaris’s hand—and light flooded the closet. She became more aware than ever of the sensation of her body pressed against his. All of a sudden shy, she was unable to meet his eye, and judging by the way she saw from her peripheral vision that he looked at everything but her, so was he.

They made an awkward maneuver to stumble out of the closet together, their fronts practically fused together. Once they made it back out, they realized how many eyes were on them.

“You know, when we say for you two to get a room, that’s not typically what we mean,” Gilgamesh said with a sly smile as he passed by.

Sersi’s face heated up and she adjusted her hair, belatedly realizing how that only made them seem more suspicious.

Thena approached them while Ikaris threw out casual lines of “it’s not what it looked like” to the guests still looking their way. Thankfully, everyone’s attention eventually shifted away.

“Why were you two just in a closet together?” said Thena.

Sersi opened her mouth to speak, but Thena held up a hand.

“Never mind, I don’t want to know.” She turned to Ikaris. “I thought you’d be interested in knowing you have an admirer on the lookout for you. Brown hair, yellow—”

“Shawl, yes,” Ikaris cut in. “Yes, I know, Thena, thank you.”

“In fact, looks like she’s already found you. Six o’clock.” She made a smooth retreat.

Immediately, Sersi felt a strong arm loop around her waist and tug her in right before a stubbled jaw brushed hers as Ikaris leaned in and planted a firm, lingering kiss right on her cheek.

His lips were much softer than she might’ve imagined, and again she got an up close and personal whiff of his enticing woodsy scent. But she had no time to dwell on any of that because his lips skimmed across her cheek to her ear and he spoke lowly right into it.

“Play along.”

Next thing she knew she was being spun around to face a bemused brunette. She was still lodged into Ikaris’s side, his arm clamped around her waist.

“Lydia,” Ikaris said. “You haven’t had a chance to meet my girlfriend, Sersi.”

Sersi’s mouth worked while she fumbled for something to say. She settled for an awkward, sheepish smile. “Hi, Lydia. Ikaris was telling me about how you two have been chatting. About…” She struggled to come up with a topic.

“Scotland,” Ikaris supplied, meeting her eye pointedly. “We were chatting about the last time I went back home.”

“That’s right. You were chatting about Scotland.” She gave a decisive nod and directed a friendly, perhaps even overeager, smile at Lydia.

That was an okay thing to say, wasn’t it? That she acknowledged his friendly interaction with Lydia while making it be known that the other woman knew that she knew so her “boyfriend” didn’t come off as a flirt and a cheater?

Lydia, the poor woman, still looked completely caught off guard. “Uh, yeah. I’ve…always wanted to go to Scotland.” It was clear she had much more she wanted to say, probably directed at Ikaris, but was holding herself back.

The most awkward of awkward silences fell over the trio as they each frantically searched for something to say.

Eventually, Lydia was the one to break it.

“Well, my friends are calling me, so… It was nice meeting you.” She briefly met Sersi’s eye with a strained, embarrassed smile and wasted no time brushing past them.

Sersi and Ikaris looked over their shoulders at Lydia’s retreat. Sersi winced.

“Is it weird to say I feel quite bad for her?”

“All things considered, that could’ve gone much worse,” said Ikaris. His arm was still around her waist.

“Excuse me.” The rushed voice came from a different direction. Phastos.

The pair turned back around to find him squeezing his way through the guests, right towards them. When he reached them, he tried to keep his voice low enough so others wouldn’t hear.

“What is this I hear about the two of you holing yourselves up in a closet together? My closet in my new house that I share with my husband and child? This is a family-friendly party with kids present and I don’t appreciate you playing seven minutes in heaven in the same space I keep my spare paper towel rolls in.”

“Phastos—” Sersi started.

“And since when are you two even a thing? I swear I’m always the last one to hear everything, and—whatever. Point is, I don’t need the two of you trying to christen this place for me before we’ve even finished painting upstairs, okay?”

“Phastos,” Ikaris said. “Breathe. We’re not trying to christen this place for you, all right? We were just having a chat.”

“We’re not together,” Sersi added.

Phastos took a deliberate glance at Ikaris’s arm around her waist and gave them a look of pure judgment.

As if finally aware of his arm still around her waist, Ikaris promptly removed it like he’d just been burnt and took a subtle step away. Sersi couldn’t help but be aware of how cold her side felt now that he wasn’t glued to it. When she looked sidelong at him, she got the keen impression he was avoiding her eye.

“May I ask why you felt the need to squeeze into my closet to have this little chat in the first place?” Phastos said.

“I was just helping Ikaris out of a sticky situation, that’s all,” Sersi said. “He was having girl trouble and wanted me to help him out of it. It’s all fine now. We promise, Phastos.”

“Well, that better be the only kind of trouble you two ever get into in this house.” His fervor seemed to have melted out of him. He sighed. “Listen, you guys know I’m glad you’re here, all right? I know it’s been a while since we’ve all seen each other. I have more rounds to make, but I assume there isn’t going to be anymore gossip around you two?” He gave them a pointed look.

“Scout’s honor,” Ikaris said, while Sersi gave Phastos a reassuring nod.

Phastos gifted them with one last look of scrutiny before going on his way, leaving Sersi and Ikaris standing next to each other with absolutely nothing to say. Sersi shifted on her feet and looked down at them as though preoccupied. Because her feet were very interesting, of course. She was drawn out of her inspection when a nudge came at her arm.

“Never did say thanks,” Ikaris said. His expression was hard to read.

“Oh. Right. Yeah, no problem.”

“I owe you one. Big time.”

“For life, remember?”

Another brief moment of silence.

“Well, I’ll be over there,” Ikaris said, jerking his head toward the family room where a handful of guests were.

Sersi nodded. “Yeah, I’ve-I’ve got someone I’ve been meaning to chat with as well.”

She didn’t, but she had to get away. Anything to escape the thought of how…effortless it’d felt being glued to his side. It was dangerous to dwell on how good it’d felt when he kissed her cheek. How solid and warm he was, and how she suddenly found herself hating the thought of other women being and ever having been on the receiving end of his affections.

As she moved away, Ikaris mirrored her movements.

“Catch up with you later?” he said.

She hummed in agreement. She hoped when they met up again, her mind would’ve cleared up a bit. What was she thinking, being attracted to Ikaris? That was a complication absolutely no one wanted.

Eager to get away, she spun in the opposite direction, telling herself not to look back. She could feel his eyes on her, though, even though he was supposed to have gone, too.

She was definitely going to need another drink.

Chapter Text

Tenochtitlan, 1521 CE

“Ajak will be back. She’ll fix it up,” Sersi spoke around a pained grimace.

She maintained the pressure to her shoulder with the clean cloth. With Ajak busy dealing with Thena’s attack, Ikaris had flown Sersi back to the temple and set about tending to her wound before their leader could return and heal her fully.

“In the meantime, we’ve got to stop the bleeding,” Ikaris said as he gathered the dressing for the wound. He approached the stone table in the center where Sersi sat and carefully took over where she pressed the now-bloodied cloth to her shoulder. “We can only be glad it wasn’t worse,” he murmured, brow furrowed in concentration.

“You think that was her holding back?” Sersi said. It was a terrifying thought.

“I don’t know. But we all know what Thena’s capable of.”

“What do you even think that was? I mean, what-what happened? Why would she just attack us like that? Out of nowhere? Like it was nothing?”

“I don’t know.” He sounded deadly grave. “But of all the threats I anticipated we’d face on this planet, an Eternal wasn’t one of them.”

Sersi found it difficult to swallow past the knot in her throat. The saliva in her mouth felt thick from the throbbing pain.

“She got Makkari and Phastos, too,” Ikaris continued. “Ajak healed Makkari. Don’t know about Phastos. And I saw Gil take out Thena before I flew you here. Expect they’ll all be back soon and we can figure out what’s going on.”

“I just can’t believe this happened,” Sersi said. “What if something’s wrong? What if it’s something out of our control and-and it happens again? What if…” She lifted her gaze to meet his. “What if it’s what I think it might be?”

He met her gaze meaningfully. “Mahd Wy’ry’s a myth. We’ve no idea that’s what it was. That it even exists.”

“I know. I think the same. But…anything’s possible at this point, isn’t it?”

“It’s anyone’s guess, Sersi.” His tone was just short of terse and his jaw was tight as he finished cleaning and dressing her wound. She got the distinct impression he was holding himself back.

When he was done he remained silent, glaring at her shoulder like it was a personal affront to him. She half expected his cosmic energy to shoot out from his eyes with the way he looked at her wound. Then his eyes shuttered closed, his shoulders sagged, and his head bowed as he brought his hands down on either side of her on the stone slab, caging her in.

She watched in silence, knowing he needed time to process it. She reached out to cup his cheek, and the gentle touch seemed to spur him into speaking.

“I’m only grateful that you’re all right, Sersi.” His haunted eyes lifted to meet hers, glimmering in the flickering torchlight. There was pain in them, and worry and relief. “If it’d been worse and, say, Ajak or I couldn’t get to you on time, I…” His jaw went taut along with his low, gravelly voice. “I never want to see you hurt.”

Sersi swallowed back the swell of emotion she felt at the affliction in his words and eyes and said simply, “I know.”

He covered her wrist with his hand. “If something were to happen to you…it’s something I’d rather not think about. Keeping you safe, that’s all that matters to me.”

“I’ll be okay,” she said. “You’ve already done a pretty good job of patching me up. We’ll find out what happened and go from there. And hope it doesn’t happen again.”

With his hand still covering her wrist, he held her eye, searching for more reassurance, until finally his gaze fell, and he offered a single weary nod.

Chapter Text

Aksum, Kingdom of Aksum, 427 CE

Ikaris sat atop the dirt hill, looking up at the night sky.

Down below, all was quiet. The capital city was usually awash with life during the day, but at night, when the silence stretched across the endless horizon and blanketed the arid air, he was once again reminded of how grand Earth was. Sersi had helped him see the beauty of it, but what he never failed to keep in mind was just how indifferent it was to human life. It gave life to humans, not the other way around. Humans were merely borrowing the planet.

Remembering that made it just a little easier to carry out his mission in ensuring the Emergence would one day come about.

He looked at the scene down below. Plentiful acacia trees were scattered throughout the landscape. There were palaces of stone, mud, and timber, and farther out, small houses of mud-set stone. Even in the dark, he was able to pinpoint the home he and Sersi shared on the periphery of the city’s layout. She was in there sleeping, unaware of the thoughts that plagued him.

Sometimes he and the others kept watch at night for any lingering Deviants hoping to catch the people unaware. Some nights, he was glad to do it. Other nights, he did it while part of him yearned to be with Sersi in their bed instead. And on other nights such as tonight, he trekked outdoors in hopes of shaking the unrelenting guilt from his thoughts.

He and Sersi had been married for only twenty-seven years. A mere blip on the grand scale of time. And yet every passing day carried the unspoken weight of a secret only he and one other person shared. Some days were worse than others.

Sometimes he resented Ajak. It was a resentment buried so deep within, not enough to go against her, but a resentment that slowly festered just the same.

He’d follow her. Would always be loyal. But a tiny part of him—a part he would never, ever speak of out loud—would always hate her for what she’d told him.

Before, he could’ve carried on in ignorant bliss, believing himself to be a warrior from Olympia sent to Earth on a defensive mission to keep humans safe from the Deviants. But now, he was cursed with the knowledge of their true purpose. He was burdened with the truth.

The burden he felt would not have been a burden if not for Sersi. If he didn’t love her, he wouldn’t concern himself with the end of the world. But he did love her, more than he thought could ever be possible. And he would do anything for her. Anything. But he wondered just how long he could keep lying to her.

Why had Ajak told him? Why him? Why?

“Ikaris?”

He was torn out of his thoughts. Sersi was there, having just climbed the hill.

He had no idea how he’d missed her approach. He hoped it didn’t become a habit. It would only spell trouble for everyone for him to be so absorbed in his thoughts he didn’t notice something more dangerous like a Deviant lurking.

“Sersi.” His voice was grainy, like he hadn’t spoken in days. “What are you doing up?”

“I woke up and you weren’t there.” She perched next to him and gazed outward. “I should come up here more often.”

Ikaris said nothing. He just let the breeze wash through his hair and looked out at the horizon alongside her.

“What’s wrong?” she said. Her voice was soft, easy. Perfectly in tune with the vast, hushed landscape before them.

He shook his head gently. “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

He took a long moment to answer. “Everything.”

She seemed to accept his answer and asked, “Can I stay with you?”

A piece of his heart broke. She knew he could sometimes be a solitary creature, but never would he turn her away.

“Always,” he said, tugging her in to gather her into his arms.

She nestled into him, and they said nothing for a long while. They sat alongside each other and took in the sights and sounds of the world together.

Sometimes he resented Ajak, but sometimes he was grateful, too. If not for her, he didn’t know if he’d have told Sersi how he felt all those centuries ago. And no matter how much it killed him to lie, he could never regret him and Sersi. To never have known her touch and love at all while he pined away would’ve been agony all in itself.

He was cursed, but he was blessed in some ways, too. Blessed, most of all, to have her.

His eyes fell shut and he engraved in his mind the feel of her body tucked into his. It sat alongside the plethora of memories that came from being alive for millennia, or at least from this current cycle, because who knew how many other memories he’d truly accumulated over his endless existence?

He would have to take it day by day. There were no winners in this scenario. The simplest thing would be to focus on duty, but simple and easy weren’t often one and the same.

He could only hope she’d never find out one day, and if she did, that she wouldn’t hate him for it. But that was a heavy ask when he knew how he’d feel if their roles were reversed. But their love was as fixed and immovable as an oak tree, strong enough to weather anything.

But would it be able to weather such a betrayal?

Again he wished with everything he had that Ajak hadn’t told him, or that she’d told everyone and not just him. But he knew that likely wasn’t Arishem’s wish, and above all, Ikaris had to remain loyal to Arishem.

He tried in vain to cast away his dark thoughts, both while they sat and when they descended the hill back to their house. He lay awake with her in his arms, wishing he was someone else, someone who didn’t have to worry about such things. Wishing for the first time in his existence that he could be human.

But he wasn’t human, he could never be human, and he was first and foremost a soldier. And whether Sersi knew it or not, so was she.

He lay there like that until early morning, still awake when the sun rose.

Chapter Text

Babylon, 575 BCE

She was dancing again. She spun, held hands with her partners, smiled and soaked up the celebratory atmosphere. Ikaris leaned back against the mud brick wall, arms folded across his chest, and watched. The torchlight flickered above his head, bathing him in a warm glow. Across the courtyard were dancers of all kinds, paired off or in larger groups.

On any typical night, he’d talk himself into being content to watch. He’d always want more, but doing anything more than watching would lead him down an even deeper rabbit hole he couldn’t afford to go down. But something about that night had him itching for more. Perhaps his self-control was slipping. Perhaps all his longing stares and extensive collection of observations and interactions with her had become too much to contain. But more than he’d ever desired anything apart from the woman herself, he desired to take Sersi in his arms and dance.

“Boy, am I glad you don’t stare at me like that,” Druig said from the side. He casually sidled up to Ikaris, pomegranate bouncing in his hand. Ikaris acknowledged him with a glance.

“You know, if you’re trying to be subtle, it’s not exactly working,” Druig said. He followed Ikaris’s gaze to where Sersi was still dancing.

Ikaris debated whether or not to even respond. “I’m not trying to be anything.”

“Right. I guess that’s why you only stare when she’s not looking.” Druig made a small sound of amusement in his throat.

“Is there something I can help you with, Druig?”

“No, no, not at all, I’m just a leaf drifting along with the breeze,” he said coolly. “Just…drifting.”

As his words trailed off, Ikaris followed his gaze to find him looking at Makkari across the way. She was chatting with the locals, probably asking about treasures or some such.

Ikaris’s eyes flickered between the two of them. Druig finally became aware of the other man’s eyes on him and shifted abruptly on his feet, clearing his throat.

This time, Ikaris was the one who was amused. “You’re really one to talk, aren’t you?”

“It’s different.”

“Right. Of course.”

“Look, all I’m sayin’ is it’s obvious, all right? How you feel about her. To me, anyway.”

“Why, because you find yourself in the same position?”

“No. No.” Druig had his hand clasped around his wrist and his gaze fastened on Makkari. “Makkari, she’s…it’s different with us. It’s light. Fun.”

“But you’d like it to be more.”

“Well, I do believe that’s a story for another day.” He gave Ikaris the faintest hint of a smirk. “Why, Ikaris, are we having a bonding moment right now?”

“Celestials help us if we are.” With that, Ikaris pushed up off the wall and made his way through the throng of dancers. Behind him, Druig chuckled.

Ikaris moved forward, smoothly dodging elbows and feet. Only one thing was on his mind. He knew exactly where he was going.

She was just separating from her partner when he approached. At the sudden sight of him, there was a shift in her demeanor. She was slightly out of breath from dancing, but upon seeing him, she stopped in her tracks and stared back. His heart skipped.

“Ikaris.”

He bowed his head. When he looked back up, she was still looking at him with that open but mildly awed expression that affected him so. It almost made him believe she might feel the same way about him as he did her.

“Sersi. Would you do me the honor of sharing a dance?”

“Well, I’m not exactly sure it’s an honor, but all right.”

She couldn’t know how wrong she was. Dancing with her would be the utmost honor.

Without hesitation, he smoothly moved in and clasped her hand in his as the music continued in the background. His other hand rested warmly on her back, their fronts so close they could breathe each other in. She looked back at him with an unguarded single-mindedness, like he was all that took up her attention. If only she knew how much she took up his.

They swayed to the music slowly at first, and then it was somehow agreed upon that they should start spinning more enthusiastically to the fast rhythmic pace, their locked eyes turning to smiles, their smiles turning to laughter. Her hand was so warm where it rested on his shoulder. He’d give anything to keep feeling the dizzying sensation of her touch like it was her every right.

In all the millennia of their knowing each other, they’d never touched like this. Never held each other. He’d never allowed it of himself, never dared dream of it. And now, wrapped up in the other as they were, how natural it felt, like this was how it was always supposed to be.

His chest squeezed when she rested her head on his shoulder once their dance turned to gentler sways. He cherished that she trusted him enough, felt comfortable enough to do so. He wanted to capture this moment for all of eternity, to pocket it and treasure it if it turned out there was never to be another moment like this again for the rest of his existence. If it could go no further between them, he knew with unfailing certainty he’d look back and stay in this moment forever.

Subtly, he rested his head against hers. For as long as their dance would last, he allowed himself to pretend she was his. He held her hand in his, unable to keep from stroking her thumb. If she noticed, she didn’t say anything. It was just her and him, locked in an embrace that would be as indelible as all his thoughts which she comprised.

To his great regret, the music came to an end and all the dancers around them parted. There was laughter and chatter, jovial sounds of celebration ringing through the night air. Still, he and Sersi did not separate. They stayed like that for a moment longer, their heads resting against each other, until they seemed to come to a mutual agreement to draw back enough to look each other in the eye.

They were so close he could kiss her right then and there. His eyes flickered to her lips at the very thought.

“Tell me why I’m so surprised you could dance like that,” she said.

“I suppose it’s made easier when you have the right partner.”

She said nothing, but she seemed to absorb his answer as she gently pulled out of his hold. Regretfully, he let her go, though he allowed his hand to trail down her waist as she pulled away. Already he missed her.

“Thank you for the dance, Ikaris.”

“It was my pleasure, Sersi.” He said it so evenly she couldn’t know how much he meant it. His hands itched to reach out and take her into his arms once again.

She dipped her head, an unreadable smile playing on her lips. With one last glance at him, she turned and departed. He was left watching her go.

“Have to say, good goin’, Ikaris.” A hand clapped his shoulder.

He turned to find Druig at his side as well as some of the locals looking his way. It seemed his and Sersi’s dance had attracted more attention than he’d have liked.

He gave a resigned sigh. “I gather there’s no point discouraging the gossip, is there?”

Druig chuckled. “Not a chance.”

Chapter Text

“That’ll be all for today. Don’t forget to come back next week with all your findings. Have a great weekend, everyone.”

The students packed their belongings as Sersi bid them farewell and shuffled out of the classroom. Ikaris stepped aside to make room at the doorway. With Sersi’s weekly class at the museum wrapping up, he’d come to take her out for a birthday lunch. He was ambling over to her desk, his gait nonchalant and patient, when he noticed a student had stayed behind and approached her. He leaned against one of the students’ desks, folded his arms and waited.

“This is for you, Miss Sersi,” the dark-haired boy of about thirteen ventured. He held out what appeared to be a wide, flat box of chocolates. “My mum heard your birthday was coming up and wanted to give you a small gift. As a-a thank you for, you know, getting me into science and all that stuff.”

“Oh. How kind of you, Rupert. Thank you.” She was clearly surprised but accepted the chocolates graciously. “Tell your mum I said thank you and that I appreciate it very much.”

Rupert gave a jerky nod, his posture noticeably stiff even from Ikaris’s vantage point. Ikaris stifled a snort. If he knew anything at all it was the telltale signs of a schoolboy with a crush.

“Yeah, so…happy birthday and all that.”

“Thank you, Rupert. Have a great weekend.” Sersi gave him a warm smile. Judging from the disguised amusement in that smile, Ikaris could tell she was aware of the whole crush affair if she hadn’t been already.

The boy breezed past Ikaris to leave, sparing him a brief glance.

“Hm,” Ikaris said once they were alone. “Must say I’ve never had another man be so brazen as to hit on my girlfriend right in front of me before.”

“He wasn’t hitting on me,” she said, though she failed to hold back a smile.

He approached the desk. “Might as well have been invisible. I anticipated having some competition but never imagined it might include a twelve-year-old.”

She stepped into him effortlessly when he pulled her close by sliding his arms around her waist. Hers went around his neck. “Well, you can rest easy. There’s no competition to be had.”

“Can’t say I blame him, though. I’d certainly have been the same if I’d had you for a teacher. In fact, being in this classroom alone right now is starting to give me a few ideas.”

She groaned. “Okay, let’s not even try to unpack that.”

He smiled. “You ready to head out?”

She nodded. “Just let me grab my things.” She made to withdraw from his arms but he tightened his hold, preventing her escape. He pressed their bodies flush together and playfully nuzzled her neck.

“How do you always smell so good?” he murmured. As far as he knew, she didn’t wear perfume or much of those fragrant lotions.

She laughed and attempted to pry him off, but it was a hopeless task. Just when she was about to respond, the classroom door opened and Rupert reappeared.

“Miss Sersi, I—”

They promptly swiveled their heads to face the boy, whose expression went from vaguely hopeful and shy to embarrassed and, if Ikaris had to guess, mildly heartbroken that the woman of his dreams was, in fact, taken.

“Rupert.” Sersi pulled away from Ikaris. “What can I help you with?”

“Sorry, I…I just came back ’cause I forgot to give you another of my mum’s gifts.” His face had turned noticeably red. “Erm, I’ll just place it here for you.” He hastily set a tiny ribbon-wrapped box on the closest desk before booking it out of the room.

It took Sersi a moment to register the quick exchange before she went over to retrieve the gift. Meanwhile, Ikaris did his damndest to bite back a laugh.

“Your students really do love you, Miss Sersi.”

“Shut it.” She came back with the gift and gathered her coat and purse.

“I feel quite bad for him, what with his dreams now dashed and all.”

“Important life lessons, what can I say? So, you ready to go?”

He beckoned with his head. “After you, Miss Sersi.”

“Will you stop calling me that?” she said over her shoulder as they walked.

He placed his hand on the small of her back and followed her out the door. “Don’t think I will, Miss Sersi.”

Chapter Text

Washington, DC, USA, 2014

Sersi angled her phone meticulously, snapped a picture, and examined it to make sure it was to her liking. She gazed back up at the immense marble statue depicting the sixteenth U.S. president. The stoic leader sat gazing outward as though keeping watch over his denizens. The neoclassical architecture was something with which she was very familiar from back in the days of antiquity.

“You ready to go?” came Ikaris’s voice. He approached from the side where he’d been reading the inscriptions on the wall.

“Yeah.” Sersi tucked away her phone and together they descended the numerous steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Sunrise had come upon them and the faded navy blue of dawn gradually gave way to crisp sunlight. She inhaled the fresh spring air and looked out at the National Mall. Almost no tourists were milling about at this hour, but just beyond the Mall, some people in the city were already making their way to work.

“I was thinking we could maybe extend our stay here for a day or two, really get to see the sights,” Sersi said as they began their trek around the vast reflecting pool. “What do you think?”

Ikaris shrugged. “Makes no difference to me. We’ve plenty time to kill.”

They were embarking on another trip around the world as part of their mission to travel as much of the globe as they could. Last month, it was South America. Before that, Asia. They’d already seen nearly all of it over the course of their extensive stay on Earth, but as times changed and societies along with it, Sersi desired to see things as they were in their current state. It was also a remarkably different experience seeing the world when they no longer had the prospect of Deviants at the forefront of their worries.

“Where’re we headed off to now?” Ikaris said, linking his fingers with hers. They ambled along the reflecting pool at a leisurely pace.

“Hmm, I was thinking we’d just head over to the World War II memorial over there, then the Washington Monument. Then there are some museums I’ve really been wanting to check out. Oh, and then the White House, of course. Haven’t seen that one in decades. Oh, and then I was thinking maybe the Library of Congress, and then—”

“All right, all right, slow your roll now,” Ikaris said, chuckling. “I’m fine with all that, but think we could maybe squeeze in some breakfast somewhere in the middle of all that? I’m starving.”

“You’re always starving. You’re almost as bad as Druig. Anyway, yeah, I’m hungry, too. Maybe after these two stops we can stop by someplace. Oh, hey, I’ve got some dried fruit in my bag.” She slipped her hand from his to dig through her crossbody bag.

“On your left.” The male voice came just before a huge breeze whipped past.

She looked up to find a well-built blond man blazing a trail as he ran ahead and turned the corner of the reflecting pool. Sersi eyed him as he went. Something about him struck her as vaguely familiar. Ikaris noted the man as well but didn’t say anything. They resumed their walk until the same man ran past again.

“On your left,” he said.

She didn’t know what it was, but she couldn’t help but feel somewhat acquainted with him, almost a strange kinship, which was why she didn’t think about it when she said, “Excuse me.”

To the man’s credit, he didn’t ignore her. He slowed his run, glancing their way.

“What are you doing?” Ikaris muttered beside her.

“It’s him,” was all she said before the other man planted his hands on his hips and let the other party approach him.

“Can I help you?” he said, broad chest heaving up and down from the exertion of exercise. He wore athletic pants and a compression t-shirt and had a clean-cut look to him. With wide shoulders, muscled biceps and forearms, and a taut, flat stomach, he was powerfully built. There was no mistaking him. He was Steve Rogers.

“Sorry to bother you, but…” Sersi couldn’t help the burgeoning smile on her lips. It was ridiculous seeing as she’d been on Earth for hundreds of generations before the man was even born, but she was a bit starstruck. “You’re Steve Rogers.”

The man dipped his head as though embarrassed or resigned to entertain yet another starstruck fan, or both. “Yeah. I am.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your run, but just thought I might say hi. Because…” Because no big deal, but you’re a superhero who fights off the baddies and, completely unbeknownst to you, we’re a pair of immortal beings who’ve also fought off the baddies for thousands of years without anyone on Earth, including you and your fellow Avengers, being the wiser, so you see, we have much in common.

Of course, she said none of that, which left Steve staring at her like she was the idiot he probably thought she was. But no, that didn’t seem to be the kind of person he was.

“Because…we’re quite big fans of you, Captain Rogers,” Ikaris said smoothly beside her.

“Ah. Well…thank you.” Steve nodded graciously at them both, still catching his breath a bit. “And please, it’s Steve. Don’t think I caught your names.”

“I’m Sersi,” Sersi offered with maybe a little too much enthusiasm.

Ikaris’s lips twitched in amusement. “I’m Ikaris.”

“Right, well, Sersi, Ikaris.” Steve held out a hand to them both. “It’s nice meeting you. You two visiting the area?”

Sersi and Ikaris exchanged glances. “You could say that,” she said. “It’s been a while since we’ve been here. Thought we’d get reacquainted, find out what we missed.”

Steve nodded. “Well, hope you enjoy your stay. There’s a lot to see.” Backing away, he gave them another nod and a tiny polite smile. “Nice meeting you again.” He turned in the other direction.

“Er, Captain Rogers—Steve?” said Sersi.

He stopped once again and twisted to look over his shoulder.

“I believe you’re well acquainted with Thor. If it’s not too much of a strange request, might you please tell him next time you see him that Sersi and Ikaris say hi? He’s certain to remember us.”

“And Kingo,” Ikaris added.

“And Kingo,” Sersi confirmed. “We’re old friends, you see.”

“Oh. Is that right?” The corner of Steve’s mouth tilted up. “You know Thor? Why didn’t you say anything?”

She played it off with a shrug. “Must’ve slipped my mind. Again, I know it seems pretty strange and probably something you hear all the time, but it’s true.”

“Well, trust me, the line of work I’m in, you get pretty used to strange.” He backed away again. “Have a good one.”

“Bye.” She waved and watched as he resumed his run.

“I do believe we just met Captain America in the flesh,” Ikaris said.

Sersi laughed. “The others are going to hate us when they hear about this.”

Chapter Text

“He’s looking again,” signed Makkari.

Sersi’s hand faltered from where she finished up her History of Magic essay, but she resisted the temptation to look over her shoulder. If she did, she’d only find the topic of their non-conversation one table away in the Great Hall, likely staring only because he’d neglected his own essay and was hoping to copy off hers or some rubbish. She didn’t know why he bothered. She was a chronic procrastinator, which meant her work was more often than not finished shortly before it was due, which in turn meant he’d be cutting it close for himself if he thought to copy off her. Not as though she’d ever allow it.

“Why am I not surprised?” Sersi signed and spoke. “Broom boy can look all he wants. It’s not like I’m going to give him the attention he apparently so desperately craves.”

Makkari smiled. Sersi had privately bestowed Ikaris with the name in their sixth year when he made captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team and led the team in their defeat over Hufflepuff, her house, in the Quidditch Cup. Though she refused to let Gryffindor’s win sour her love for the game, she’d still felt entitled to dub Ikaris “broom boy” out of sheer principle and loyalty to her house, not to mention her distaste for the obnoxious boy himself.

Ever since their fourth year, he’d proven to be a major thorn in her side. Always making fun of her, waiting for the first sign of a slip-up so he could point and laugh with his idiotic friends.

Now, in the first half of their final year, it didn’t seem as though things were looking to change anytime soon. He had the uncanny and unfortunate ability of finding himself wherever she was, and he was always making fun of her for the most trivial things—her school bag and the club patches she decorated it with, her wardrobe choices when they were allowed to wear Muggle clothing, the way she styled her hair when the other girls styled it just the same.

She had no idea why he was so intent on singling her out. She’d done not a single thing to him. She was no one remarkable, just another student in a sea of students, yet he seemed to go out of his way to goad and provoke her.

He was immature and rude and a huge pain in the arse. She couldn’t wait to be done with school just so she’d never have to see him again. Word was he was on the path to become an auror, whilst she was looking to become an alchemist and perhaps a professor, so it was highly unlikely their paths would ever cross again. Good riddance.

“Right. I’m off.” She rolled up her parchment and stuffed it in her school bag.

“What about lunch?” Makkari signed.

Sersi looked down at the appetizing food spread before them, not without longing. “Hopefully the shepherd’s pie was enough. If not, I’ll probably try and sneak into the kitchens later. See you later, yeah?”

Makkari nodded. Sersi draped her yellow and black scarf over her neck and headed for the entrance of the Great Hall so she could make it to Charms early for once and speak with Professor Flitwick about their latest assignment. Or she would’ve done if it weren’t for none other than Ikaris himself waylaying her before she’d even made it two steps out of the Great Hall.

He appeared right in front of her outside the grand doors, cutting her off. “Where’re you off to in such a rush?”

She rolled her eyes and attempted to step around him. “Out of my way, Ikaris.”

He stepped with her, blocking her path. “No need to be so testy, Sersi. I’m only asking a friendly question.”

“No, you’re getting on my nerves. Now move.” Her tone remained even from years of practice, and she successfully stepped around him, though she unfortunately brushed his school-issued black pullover with her shoulder. He fell into step right beside her.

Why, Merlin, why could he never just leave her be?

“Not going to lie, it’s a bit disheartening when I hear about what an apparently warm and pleasant person you are when you act this way with me,” he said lightheartedly. “Should I feel special?”

“Should I feel special for all this undue attention you like to give me?”

As they walked the ancient stone halls, she was annoyed to find several students looking their way. This was just one of the reasons she hated Ikaris so much. He knew full well their being seen together, with the dynamic of her being annoyed and him enjoying it, would only fuel gossip she wanted nothing to do with.

“Just wanted to make sure you’re coming to the match this weekend,” he said right before he did a spin to walk backwards and swerved in front of her, cutting off her path again. “Promising to be a good one, this one.”

“What’s it to you? Got some grand prank you’re planning to generously bestow on me?” She looked unimpressed.

“I’m flattered you think I’m capable of such a feat, but sorry to disappoint. Only asking ’cause I’m sure you heard about the last-minute save Gil made last match. Shame you missed it, ’specially from your own housemate is all I’m saying. Though I suppose it still wasn’t enough for Hufflepuff in the end, so maybe it was for the best you weren’t there.”

“How would you know I wasn’t at the match? Stalking me, are you?” She pushed past him. He, of course, followed.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” he said. “Believe it or not, this school’s not all that big. Not hard to miss when someone’s not at a match.”

“How terribly keen of you,” she said flatly, keeping her gaze ahead as he kept pace with her. “I’ll be sure to let everyone know you’re to be the resident Quidditch gossip.”

“Still haven’t answered my question.”

“What?” She didn’t hide her annoyance.

“You coming to the match this weekend or not?”

“I don’t know why you’re so bothered about it.”

“That a yes?”

She smirked to herself, gleefully anticipating his reaction to what she would say next. It was no great leap to believe he probably thought she was some hopeless troll, totally undesirable to everyone. She’d show him.

“As a matter of fact, if you must know, I’ve got a date this weekend.” She said it with a bit of smugness. She walked on, and it took her a second to realize he’d suddenly gone from her side. She slowed to a stop and looked back to find he’d stopped a few paces back.

He simply stared. So she stared. And they both just stared.

“A date?” he finally said. The line of his mouth had grown tight. She detected the faintest of twitches at the corner of his mouth, and it wasn’t one of amusement. He sounded so incredulous, as though the idea of her going on a date was the most unbelievable thing in the world when, in fact, it was true. She was supposed to meet Dane at Hogsmeade on the weekend for a butterbeer.

“Yes.” She squared her shoulders, refusing to feel lessened by him. “Oh, I’m sorry, am I not playing my part? Gone off script?”

He just stared, all traces of lightheartedness gone, until he seemed to register what she’d said. “Part?”

“The part you’ve no doubt carved out for me. Pathetic girl who has no hope of getting any boy to be interested in the likes of her. Hate to shatter your worldview, but not every boy is like you. There are actual decent guys around.”

“May I ask…” He slowly stalked toward her. “Who you’re going out on this so-called date with?”

She resisted the urge to step back and stood her ground. “Funny you think that’s somehow any of your business.”

They stood toe-to-toe, the closest they’d ever been. A tiny coil of his wavy brown hair drooped onto his forehead. He looked straight into her eyes, his blue gaze searing. His focus was entirely on her, and though she’d been on the receiving end of his mockery plenty times before, something about the way he stared at her now felt significantly different.

“You’re lying,” he said.

She scoffed. “Only you would think I’d lie just to big myself up in front of you. Contrary to what you think, Ikaris, I don’t care what you think about me or about anything else.”

“It’s Whitman, isn’t it?”

Her face grew hot. “None of your business.”

“I bet it is. You do know Whitman’s only into girls who are shorter than him and don’t dress like they’re on their way to Sunday school, don’t you?”

She refused to let him see how that stung. “Sure. That must be why he asked me out.”

A muscle in his jaw ticced.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have got places to be.” She breezed past him, feeling satisfied she got the last word.

What she didn’t know was that if she’d looked over her shoulder, she’d have seen an Ikaris who was left unmoving, watching her go with his lips pursed and his hand clenched around the strap of his school bag.

Chapter Text

Sersi and Thena promptly shut the doors of their unmarked Jetta and headed straight for the scene barricaded with yellow tape. While Thena wore a crew neck tee under a pantsuit, Sersi wore a button-up under her blazer and dark blue jeans. When the two partners had received the call, they were informed the incident had a high likelihood of being linked to their longstanding case centered around an organized crime network gaining power in the city’s seedy underbelly.

They approached the ritzy cliffside villa right on the ocean, one of those gated community homes at which a grand total of zero people would be surprised to learn an obscenely wealthy jet-setter lived. The vicinity was teeming with local law enforcement, evidence technicians, and firefighter paramedics, the latter of which had been the first on scene. A uniformed officer stood guard outside and, noting the detectives’ badges clipped to their belts, let the two women pass without question.

It was then Sersi glanced across the extensive cobblestone courtyard and swiftly caught sight of a familiar head. Her heart lurched.

Ikaris. His neatly-trimmed, brown-haired head was turned away. It was a head attached to strong, muscular shoulders, which led down to a strong, muscular back, which led yet farther down to a strong, muscular bottom that was much more distinguishable when it wasn’t covered up as it currently was by the charcoal gray turnout trousers of his bunker gear. He stood with a few other firefighters who’d stayed on scene after the victim was loaded into the back of the emergency vehicle and transported to the hospital.

Thena, ever the observant one, noticed where Sersi’s eyes had wandered. “See something interesting?”

“What? No, just…going to see what the update is.” Sersi managed to say this calmly and corrected her course right for Ikaris. Thena followed without comment.

The other firefighters noticed their approach over Ikaris’s shoulder, which alerted him to their presence. As they retreated he turned around, eyes instantly finding Sersi’s. Even with them squinted slightly against the sunlight, it did nothing to dull the effect felt throughout her body of having his piercing blue eyes trained on her.

He seemed to look at her for a long drawn-out moment before his eyes flickered to Thena. He gave a quick tip of the head. “Detectives.”

“Ikaris,” Sersi returned. “Heard FD was first on scene. What do we know?”

He folded his arms casually across his chest. It was a firm chest visibly defined underneath his department-issued navy blue shirt with the fire logo emblazoned on the front and “Fire Rescue” on the back. His stance also drew attention to the corded muscles in his tanned biceps and forearms, which Sersi made a concerted effort not to glance down at.

“Victim is Margot Reisman, owner of the property,” he said. “We received a call about the victim experiencing convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness. Housekeeper was the one who found her, said it happened after she ate the food she had delivered. We suspect it was poison.”

“What kind?” said Sersi.

“Cyanide.”

Thena looked at Sersi. “Falls in line with our syndicate’s M.O. Only way delivery would’ve been let in through the gate is if they seemed legit.”

“They could’ve hacked her phone and saw where she ordered from,” Sersi suggested.

“We need to find out who this delivery service was and how the syndicate got an in, if it was bribes or threats or what. In the meantime, I’ll go talk to patrol, also talk to the housekeeper.” Thena turned for the other direction as Sersi gave a nod of acknowledgment.

“I’m assuming she keeps home surveillance,” Sersi muttered more to herself once she and Ikaris were alone. She glanced over her shoulder and spotted cameras positioned underneath the eaves. “We’ll need to have a look at that.”

“This wasn’t our first cyanide call,” Ikaris said. “Your crime network’s feeling bold.”

“Lately, yeah. And now we’ve finally got more probable cause to link Reisman with them.”

“You think she’s one of them?”

“In league with them at least. When it benefits her.”

“Must’ve pissed ’em off, then, if she’s being poisoned.”

“It’s looking like it. Just hope they botched the job and she’ll pull through and talk to us. We’ll have to make a stop at the hospital later.” Sersi looked off to the side and absently watched the other responders going about their jobs. Her mind was fastidiously at work trying to put together her and Thena’s next steps and all they’d have to do, all the people they’d have to question. She knew they were in for a long winding road, one that included caffeinated nights and plenty of overtime. But they’d been after this syndicate for years and she wouldn’t rest until she cut them at their jugular.

She might’ve been a bit more concerned if she had someone waiting for her at home. It wasn’t false to say it could be difficult for a detective in the organized crime division of a major city’s police force to juggle a healthy balance of work and home life. Some were able to manage it. Others weren’t. As for her, it was just her in her one-bedroom flat. It was better that way. Safer. Less complicated.

She dated, had flings, but nothing ever stuck. Her last boyfriend, Dane, had been tolerant in the beginning, but then her work hours became too unpredictable, too consuming. He was a good guy, and at one point she could even see a real future with him, but the straw that broke the camel’s back was when she missed another dinner they’d been planning for weeks. He broke it off by wishing her no ill will—wishing her the best, even—and saying he truly wished things could’ve worked out better between them.

It was then she considered going back to patrol just for the more stable hours. But she liked what she did and told herself the right man would accept her, work hours and all. Of course there should always be some compromise on both ends, but overall, the right person would understand what her job demanded.

With bitterness, she’d asked herself if she would be in her situation if she were a man. Women had dealt and still dealt with their male partners’ long work hours for ages. Of course, it didn’t mean the women were happy about it, but the ones who stayed—or were forced to, she thought with disdain—dealt with it all the same. Had Dane expected her to be home more simply because she was a woman? If it was her own choice, that’d be one thing, but for it to be an expectation based on outdated gender norms was entirely another. But upon further reflection, she knew that wasn’t the case with Dane, and so if there was anything to hold against him in good faith, it couldn’t be that.

At first she told herself she could find a guy with whom it might work out, until eventually she convinced herself there was no use even trying. Even if something she delved into went as far as marriage, which she found unlikely, half of all marriages already ended in divorce. There was no point. Even if she was intensely attracted to the man in front of her who’d already not once, but twice, asked her out.

They’d met a couple of years back on another call, after which he showed up at the police station. She’d been leaving the building after her shift to find him leaning against his car, and after asking if something had happened, she discovered he’d been waiting for her. Then to her even greater surprise, he proceeded to ask her out. She thought back to their initial encounter at the scene but couldn’t think of anything to give her the slightest impression he’d been interested, which spoke to his professionalism, she supposed. While unbelievably flattered, she reminded herself with grimness of all her previous experience with relationships and declined. He was visibly disappointed, but all in all was respectful of her decision and seemed to take it in stride.

The second time he asked her out was a year later at a fundraiser barbecue the firefighters had thrown together with invites extended toward Sersi’s station. She’d been grateful their subsequent encounters after his initial attempt hadn’t been awkward and that he didn’t seem the type to harbor resentment over her rejection. But she certainly hadn’t expected him to try again. She was chatting with one of the other firefighters when Ikaris joined in, casually asking after her. Then the other firefighter left, leaving the two of them alone, which apparently Ikaris saw as another in. She was instantly flustered—because there he was, an incredibly attractive man asking out a woman who’d already turned him down once, and there she was, a woman who badly wanted to say yes but knew she shouldn’t.

Once again, she declined. And though he was still disappointed, he once again seemed to take it in stride.

That was it, she’d thought. Surely he wouldn’t attempt to ask her out again. Maybe he’d even finally start avoiding her out of sheer awkwardness.

He didn’t. He remained perfectly courteous and professional on the somewhat rare occasions they met up again. But he indeed did not ask her out again. Sersi told herself that was a good thing.

She was still deep in thought when his voice sliced through her awareness and she cut her gaze toward him. She’d never say it out loud, but she had a sincere weakness for his voice. It was a smooth, rich baritone with a slightly gritty quality, and his accent was, to put it plainly, extremely sexy. In her view, if all men went around sounding like he did, the world would be a far more tolerable place.

“What?” she said, realizing she’d missed what he said.

His lips curled up in suppressed amusement before he retrained his features. The faint smile remained in his eyes, however. “Was just asking if you’re all right. You wandered off for a moment there, looking more pensive than usual. Slippery case, I gather.”

Something in her belly fluttered at the thought of him noticing her enough to know how pensive she usually got. “Slippery’s one word for it. And I have a feeling it’s going to stay that way for a while.”

Hesitating, she glanced across the courtyard to where Thena spoke with the shaken housekeeper. A part of her was loath to part from Ikaris, but another more rational part knew the longer she stayed with him, the more it’d be a test to her strength. She was drawn to him like she’d never felt with anyone before, but she couldn’t act on it. She’d made that mistake enough times.

She was just about to escape him, ready to move away when he spoke up.

“Hear Thena and Gil just got back from their honeymoon,” he said, referring to one of the firefighters from another station who’d recently married Thena. She also had the strange feeling he’d sensed her ready to leave and was trying to keep her with him.

“Yeah. St. Lucia.” She didn’t know what else to offer. The air between them thrummed with a weird energy. She had to get away. She quickly glanced over her shoulder. “Well, I should probably g—”

“I’d really like to get to know you better, Sersi.”

She whipped back around to lock eyes with him and froze.

“I know I’ve already asked twice,” he continued, “and I know I shouldn’t keep at it if you’re clearly not interested, and I swear I’m not usually that person, but…I don’t know, I just can’t stop thinking about you. These past couple of years knowing you, of running into you now and again have…sort of been living rent-free in my head if I’m being honest.”

She stared at him with lips parted, heart pounding, and blood racing. His expression was earnest and without guile as his eyes searched hers.

“There’s…there’s something about you, Sersi. I’d really like to get to know you better, and maybe…” He paused. “And I know we’re on the job, but it’s the only time I can ever see you, as I don’t keep any social media, and…” There was an underlying apprehension there, something she hadn’t noticed when he’d asked her out before. “I completely understand if you’d like me to stop once and for all. Last thing I want to do is make you feel uncomfortable. But I just…don’t know, thought I’d give it one more shot on the off chance you might change your mind. Or maybe not.” Looking uncertain, he broke off eye contact and scratched the back of his head. “Anyway, er, feel free to ignore me and whatnot.” He gave her a halfhearted parting nod and turned to walk away.

Against all reason, the view of him walking away sent a pierce through her heart. If she were being truthful with herself, she’d be able to admit she didn’t like the idea of only possibly coming across him on those rare occasions they were at the same scene. She didn’t like it at all. Although she’d told herself it was for the best she didn’t pursue anything with him, the very real prospect of him leaving her alone once and for all had deep, hot regret slicing through her, because deep within, Sersi knew it wasn’t what she wanted. With him, she wanted so much more.

“Wait,” she called out without conscious thought when he was halfway gone.

He twisted around at her voice, appearing somewhat guarded, like he couldn’t allow himself too much hope. Now that she had his attention again, she had absolutely no idea what to say.

Her mouth opened and closed before the words finally came out. “I’ll think about it,” she eventually told him.

It was like a spark of light flashed across his face, however subtle. He did his best to rein it in, either so as not to get his hopes up too much or to play it cool in front of her. With his lips tipped upward, he nodded in acknowledgment, and giving her one last weighty glance, he walked away.

Sersi felt peculiar in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. It wasn’t the dread of jumping headfirst into an inevitably doomed relationship. Rather, it was a mixture of sheer lightness, like she was floating, and the nerve-wracking anticipation of starting something with someone she was intensely attracted to. With someone she inexplicably, viscerally wanted. She’d told him she would think about it, but something deep within her already knew what her answer would be.

No, she didn’t think she’d mind getting back to him so much after all.

Chapter Text

New York City, USA, 1876

“That was unbelievably exhilarating,” Sersi said as they entered their apartment. “The next one truly can’t come soon enough.”

Ikaris helped her out of her coat before removing his bowler hat and his own morning coat, which left him in a black waistcoat over black trousers and her in an indigo princess line dress with a high neckline. In line with the fashion du jour, he also wore a full beard.

“You know how these things are,” he said, hanging his coat up by the door. “Slow as a tortoise this world is. These types of changes never happen overnight.”

“It’s just…so disheartening to think this is only just the beginning,” she said with a shake of the head. “That these women will likely never live to see the fruits of their labor. If they’ll even come to fruition at all.”

“They will,” he said with quiet assurance. “It will just take some time is all.”

“Well, that’s one thing we seem to have plenty of.” Her gaze remained cast downward for a long beat. Then she moved toward the kitchen, expression still marred by her heavy thoughts. “Tea?”

“I’m all right, love.” He followed her into the small kitchen.

They’d just arrived back from a women’s rights convention, a small one that wasn’t likely to hit the newspapers. The gathering had called for more than just the typical women who were allowed into the larger conventions, and men had also been welcome to attend. Though their numbers had been unmistakably low, Ikaris had still been satisfied to see he wasn’t the only man in attendance.

He leaned against the table as he watched his wife fill the copper and brass kettle at the coal-burning stove. How she remained a champion of the people when not only was she denied a whole slew of rights and privileges based on nothing but her sex, but also when the majority of those around her wouldn’t welcome her into their homes based purely on what she looked like, he would never understand. That she could even be subject to such things made his blood boil. When it came to himself, he didn’t care what came upon him. But when it touched Sersi, it was an endeavor to tamp down the violent part of him that thirsted for blood—one of the things he shared in common with humans.

“It’s just…” Sersi began from the stove, back facing him. “Every time I think we’re about to take one step forward, we take twenty steps back. And it makes me so angry these are steps we even need to be fighting for in the first place.” She abandoned her task and braced both hands on the unlit stove, head slightly bowed in an emotion all too familiar to him. Weariness. But while he was old friends with that emotion, he didn’t like seeing it on her.

He approached from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close in a warm, solid embrace. Her arms came to rest on his. He took care not to step on her dress, and keeping her body flush to his required some maneuvering given the bustle of her skirt, but as the trends were calling for the bustle to reduce in size from that of previous decades, he was able to manage.

He pressed a soft kiss to her clothed shoulder and murmured, “And these are the people we’ve protected. These are the people you love so dearly.” He knew it probably wasn’t the right thing to say, but it was what he felt.

“They oppress, they torture and kill, they rape. They do every horrific thing imaginable to one another,” she said, voice sober.

“And yet after all these years, you still hold out hope for them.” He rested his chin on her shoulder, unencumbered as it was by her coiled-up hair.

“They’ve gotten this far,” she said wryly. “Despite all their impediments, they’ve managed to make it where they are now. They’ve clearly got a long way to go, but is it not an improvement in some aspects from before?”

“In some aspects, perhaps.”

“Then perhaps that in itself points to a better future.”

He breathed out a faint, humorless chuckle. “Here I am, amongst the people because it’s required of me, and here you are, amongst them because you wish to be.”

“Are you saying you wish to live in the countryside again?”

“I’m not saying I wouldn’t.”

She relaxed her head so it fell back gently against him. “Maybe we will move away. Live in solitude.”

“I’ll go wherever you go, Sersi.”

Her cheek brushed his as she smiled a little smile. “If only all the people of this planet were fortunate enough to have someone like you.”

“Oh, I somehow suspect many of them wouldn’t want someone like me,” he said. His voice then turned markedly quieter. “It’s you they should want, Sersi. Someone who strives to be good in the face of adversity. Someone who sees the bigger picture. You’re the kind of person they need more of in this world. Perhaps then they can finally make their way to being the people you hope they can be.”

She twisted in his arms to face him, remaining in his hold. “I fight to feel that way because I know they can be better.”

“Can they?” he countered softly.

“Maybe not now…maybe not in a hundred years,” she said with a peculiar sadness in her eyes. “But if Arishem sent us to this planet, there’s got to be at least something to these people, don’t you think?”

He blinked. And was stunned to realize he’d never looked at it that way, not in all their time on Earth. To him, the humans, and likely the races of every other planet he’d been on, hadn’t been selected for the Eternals to defend based on any merit of their own, but merely on their worth as Celestial fodder.

“I suppose you got me there,” he said.

“I’ve always got you, Ikaris. Haven’t you figured that out by now?” She mustered a wan smile and gently pulled out of his hold.

She left the kitchen, and he picked up the task of heating the kettle on the stove. Her words played in his head.

It wasn’t unusual to find himself in disbelief when it came to Sersi’s thoughts on the human race. How she could still see the good in them, he didn’t understand. They were such primitive beings, so bogged down in war and conflict, crime and violence, greed and materialism, and all the things the lesser civilizations spread all throughout the cosmos had yet to overcome. They had feeble minds and laughably poor memories, whether inherently, willingly or both, allowing history to repeat itself time and time again. They were foolish and short-sighted to an astonishing degree. They liked to think themselves so advanced and civilized, yet what truly advanced society allowed for such inequity and suffering in so many of its people? If not for Arishem, he would not wish to step one foot on this planet.

While they were there not only to defend the people against the Deviants but also to help build a better world, there was only so much they could do. The humans had to learn on their own. They were in their mere infancy as a species, and they very well might die out that way if they didn’t learn from their mistakes. They were too fundamentally flawed that he wasn’t certain they could ever change. Times changed, social mores evolved and devolved, but humans by and large remained the same. If by some miracle they were able to conquer their flaws and achieve a peaceful and harmonious world, he would truly be surprised.

It was true there were good ones, decent ones, ones who were just trying to get by in this complicated world without bringing harm on others. It wasn’t them he judged. It was simply that the worst of their kind were a blight on them all, and it was a stain difficult to erase.

He’d experienced his own share of conflicts with humans. Though not great in number, they came more often as time went on and they could no longer simply live freely as themselves among humans, as otherworldly beings with gifts that hailed from the stars. They’d gone so far as to influence human folklore and mythology, but as recorded history became more ubiquitous, Ajak preferred to make more of an effort to blend in while aiding humans more discreetly so as not to completely reveal themselves to future societies that would later look back on the recorded histories of ancient cultures. As a result, as they took to wearing human clothing and integrating themselves deeper into society, many of the locals mistook them as average humans, susceptible targets to human misbehavior.

Just recently he’d been walking the streets of Lower Manhattan when he was accosted by a group of men looking to steal his personal effects, and violently so. He’d hardly flinched when they appeared before him, and he’d been unable to hold back a weary sigh that said he had better things to do than expend his energy on mortal men a hundred times weaker than him. But if they forced it on him, the consequences would be on them. Thus, with him exerting only a tiny fraction of his strength, it took a mere three seconds of him flicking their knives away, twisting their arms and pinning them against the brick building before they tripped over themselves and scampered away like the vermin all across the city.

Then they’d tried again, this time with a bigger group, presumably out of wounded pride from being bested by one man against many. Again, it took nothing on Ikaris’s part to best them, though he did make sure they heard when he had their heads crushed against the brick that should they come anywhere near that part of the city again, or should he even hear of them bothering anyone anywhere, he’d be coming to pay them a visit. Word presumably got out because he was never bothered again, nor were any of the inhabitants in the surrounding five-block radius. What was more disheartening was that as far as the totem pole went, those men were still very much on the low end of being the worst humanity had to offer.

Yet despite all his misgivings, mingled somewhere with his disbelief at Sersi’s faith was a swell of admiration for her unwavering love for the people of Earth. And if not unwavering—because certainly there were times her faith was continuously tested—then enduring. Some might call it a weakness on her part, a ludicrous sentiment to hold on to after so long, but Ikaris was able to acknowledge it took no small feat of strength to continue seeing the good in humanity. It spoke of a certain fortitude, a tenacity of spirit, a hope and optimism many beings lacked. It was not naive idealism, not denial or willful blindness to all their faults, but a strength that emerged to come out on top precisely because of all the millennia of witnessing the things humans could do to one another and all the ways they could be. She’d witnessed firsthand all the darkness and evil in the world and still she was able to find the pockets of light, the moments of redemption, however few and far between they were in Ikaris’s view. There was a kind of earned wisdom in such a perspective, one he was able to admit he had neither the level of care nor resolve to aspire to. And while he did not always agree with her view of humanity, he respected it. He’d seen more than enough of the world to know that opposite the darkness, there had to exist light.

How beautiful a balance they offered one another, he thought. Her love of the humans kept him from remaining too distant and detached; his pragmatism helped her in always keeping one foot on the ground. They were complex beings with nuance, however, so their distinctive traits did not mean those were the only ones they inhabited, nor that they never contradicted themselves, nor that they never exhibited characteristics one would think was more in line with the other. All their years on Earth had ensured layers upon layers of complexity that colored their perspectives. But then again, perhaps the longevity of their stay had also afforded them to peer through a different lens, to acknowledge a simple overarching truth that was more easily gleaned after existing for thousands of years: that sometimes, the more things changed, the more they stayed the same.

He respected Sersi’s continued vivacity, her appreciation for life. He found wonder in it. It would be so easy to fall prey to the ennui of an immortal life. If not for the Deviants and Sersi herself, he felt sure he would’ve succumbed to the indescribable weariness long ago, of being trapped in the monotony of a mind-numbing, seemingly endless existence. He wondered if in any of his previous incarnations he’d eventually grown to feel such languor.

But as it was, he knew his existence would not be endless. Knowing the true purpose of their mission, he also knew his time with Sersi on this planet would one day come to an end and that he had to make every day count, because only Arishem knew the moment those days would cease to be. Then they’d start again somewhere new as they’d done for millions of years, and who knew if Sersi would be there for him to meet and fall in love with and cherish all over again?

He was sometimes able to distract himself from such thoughts, but when he wasn’t, he felt himself slip deeper into that unspoken, private despair little by little, day by day, as inescapable and sure as his enduring love for Sersi herself. It ate away at him. It’d eaten away at him for centuries. He didn’t know how much longer he could go on keeping the true reason for their existence a secret.

Sometimes he imagined what their lives would be like if they were human and had only human worries. They might travel for some time before putting down roots somewhere with wide open spaces where he could fly without worry, or maybe by the sea or mountains, though they couldn’t be too far removed from society lest Sersi feel isolated. It was possible he was wrong and they’d choose to settle down in a city. Still, they’d keep a beautiful home, a garden. Perhaps even a family.

Human or not, he knew one thing with certainty: whatever corner of the earth they found themselves in at any particular moment, it would not be his home. His home would not be tied to a single place or period, but a person, for Sersi was his home, and only the most exigent of circumstances could ever sway him into willful separation…a precipice that in the darkest corners of his mind he feared he’d already stepped one foot in.

So he chose to distract himself some more, which had only grown more difficult after the Deviants were gone and all he could do was wait for the Emergence. Thus, he distracted himself with the literature, the social causes, the politics, the conflicts, the technology, the science and medicine. He’d depend on Sersi’s light to combat the darkness in himself. And he prayed it would be enough to keep from slipping deeper into that despair.

He gathered the tea leaves to place into the pot, grateful to have something to occupy his hands. He could hear Sersi shuffling around in the other room, likely to resume doling out her correspondence with the other women who’d arranged the convention. And all the while, as he stared blankly at the teapot, he was able only to think, She doesn’t deserve this.

“Oh, Ikaris?”

Like he’d been snapped out of a trance, his head turned at the sound of her voice from the other room.

“Yes?” He did his best to sound natural.

“I forgot to tell you—I’m supposed to be helping Mr. Liu at his shop all next week. His nephew’s come down with something. That all right?”

“Yeah. ’Course.” Nothing unusual to ask. They always made sure to let the other know where they would be.

“Got anywhere with that tea? I know I just left it there.”

“It’ll be a while.” It felt as though something was stuck in his throat, it’d become so difficult to speak. He cleared his throat discreetly. “Kettle’s hardly boiled.”

“Remember not to leave the leaves in too long this time.”

“As you wish, madam.”

He was so mired in his thoughts he didn’t notice her entrance until she came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, echoing what he’d done with her just minutes before. His eyes fell shut when her cheek came to rest along the back of his neck. She was so warm and steady, a bastion of comfort. His heart. His home.

“Mm,” she hummed in contentment. “You’re wrong about earlier, you know. When you said people wouldn’t want someone like you. You’re the kind of person they need in this world, too, you know. And I’m grateful you’re here with me.” She pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “Love you.”

Then she slid her arms from around his waist, giving it a small squeeze, and retreated from the kitchen once again. Ikaris busied himself with menial tasks while he waited for the water to boil, trying and failing to force all thoughts from his head. He had to live in the here and now, to be present for Sersi always, for she deserved nothing less.

But she also deserves the truth, which you can’t give her, an inner voice said.

He would do anything for Sersi, give her anything. But the one thing he couldn’t give her was this. Not only because of the pain it would bring, but because Arishem’s design was bigger than either of them. Than all of them. And as each day passed and the chasm grew wider, it only felt more impossible to reveal what he knew and for how long.

The water was boiled before he knew it. He immersed himself in the oh-so human, but now somehow comforting task of preparing tea. When all that was left was to wait for it to steep, he no longer had reason to stay in the kitchen. He left to join Sersi, dropping a soft kiss on her forehead as she wrote her correspondence. He grabbed a book off the desk and flopped onto the sofa, and as he couldn’t help but glance over once more at his wife and studied her, he told himself the only thing he need concern himself with was making sure he didn’t leave the tea leaves in too long.

It was a dangerous game he was playing, but so, too, were the stakes.

Chapter Text

He was cute. Very, very cute. He had kind eyes, a nice smile, and an overall attractive face and build. He was endearing and charming in his own quirky way, funny, clever, and completely into her. She could definitely see herself wanting to spend more time with him. Dane was exactly the kind of boy who would be a good boyfriend.

Sersi was certain of this more than ever as she sat across from him at a small square table in the back corner of the Three Broomsticks. The inn was packed with witches and wizards and filled with the din of chatter and clinking glasses. The candle sconces that hung upon the walls and wooden pillars offered a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of a warm, crackling fireplace, a perfect backdrop for a casual get-together between friends or a date between young hopeful lovers.

“I think you’d be quite good as an alchemist,” Dane said before sipping his butterbeer. “You’re a natural at it, I reckon. You were pretty much top of the class last year in Alchemy. This year, too, I think.”

“Oh, well, thanks,” Sersi said, giving a demure smile. “I just think it’s fascinating, you know? Turning the very matter of something into something completely different, and in a different way from transfiguration, you know? So many things could be achieved with the simple act of transmutation, it’s mind-boggling.”

“‘Simple,’” Dane said. “Hmm, well, we’ll leave that to your ilk, then. The rest of us will have to bore ourselves with the more prosaic magical arts like history.”

Sersi smiled. “I think you’d make a quite charming professor.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, really, anything’s got to be better than Binns at this point, hasn’t it?”

“Not sure if I should mind having such a low bar to compete with or if I should be grateful,” he said, at which they shared a small laugh.

Sersi watched another young witch squeeze her way through the throng of people standing at the bar. “I’m actually surprised it’s this packed. I assumed everyone would be at the match.”

“Think everyone’s just had enough of Gryffindor winning this entire season, really,” Dane said. “Hopefully Ravenclaw’s giving them a run for their money this go ’round.”

“Hufflepuff almost did,” Sersi said with a noticeable amount of bitterness.

“Yeah, which came as a shock to just about everyone, didn’t it?” When he saw how Sersi took offense, he added with a mild wince, “Now, I really hope you don’t take this the wrong way, Sersi, but…in a match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, it’s not exactly a wildly unpredictable outcome, is it?”

She was half-outraged. Dane was a Ravenclaw, whose own team hadn’t been doing so hot, either. “You take that back.”

He gave an exaggerated shrug, playfully contrite. “I don’t make the rules, Sersi.”

“We’re just having a few bad seasons, that’s all. Just watch, the second we graduate is when Hufflepuff finally regains its glory. Then we’ll have the highest number of players to go into the professional league like before and we’ll see who has the last laugh.”

“Hey, I’m not trying to claim anything,” Dane said with his hands up in surrender. “You guys did catch that Snitch against us that one time. But anyway, I think the match is over at this point. I see some of the team coming in.” He nodded over her shoulder.

She turned and saw a small group of quidditch players piling in through the entrance, freshly changed out of their uniforms and wearing Muggle clothing.

“The Gryffindor lot look a bit too happy,” Dane muttered. “Looking like Ravenclaw didn’t do so well against them, either.”

Sersi was about to turn back around with a retort when her attention was caught by the next player to come in through the door. Something in her chest immediately lurched and she whipped back around to face Dane.

“They’d better not bloody gloat,” he said, still eyeing the players who approached the bar.

Sersi’s once easy demeanor had taken a sudden downturn, her shoulders now fraught with tension. “Well, who really cares about them?” she muttered before occupying herself with her drink.

They carried on with their conversation, with Sersi all the while doing her best to ignore the fact that broom boy Ikaris had just walked in. He was now occupying the same physical space as her, and it wasn’t exactly a large space. The only marginal comfort was that the place was filled to the brim and it’d be difficult to spot her unless he was actively looking. She’d give her right leg to avoid having to interact with him and was glad for having chosen a seat that faced away from the bar and any empty tables.

She did her best to focus on Dane, but most irritatingly, her skin prickled with awareness knowing Ikaris was near. Her blood rushed more quickly through her veins and her senses were on high alert. She suddenly became hyperaware of the rickety wooden chair on which she sat and the condensation on her glass that wet her fingers. She even had the craziest sense that he’d somehow seen her and was boring his eyes into the back of her head at that very moment.

She was ready to ask Dane if he wanted to go someplace else, another shop in the village, perhaps. Before she could speak, Dane’s eyes darted away and focused on something right over her shoulder and her stomach was flooded with dread right before a third chair was pulled up to the table, right in between her and Dane. Ikaris plopped down on the chair which he’d placed backwards, the insufferable oaf.

He set his drink down, looking between them. “Mind if I join? It’s a bit crowded in here, impossible to find a seat.”

“Ikaris,” Dane said by way of greeting. He sounded somewhat guarded but not hostile. As far she knew, they didn’t have any relationship to speak of. She didn’t even know if they ever talked. They existed outside each other’s circles.

Sersi sat as stiff as a board and wondered how on earth he’d even spotted them. But of course—he must’ve seen Dane and remembered how he’d figured out that she’d be out with him instead of at the match. But why would he even remember something like that unless it was simply so he could do his usual thing and bother her? She found herself desperately wishing she’d brought a coat so she could’ve flung it across the table and over Dane’s face the second she saw Ikaris come in. She’d have come up with some sort of explanation after stealthily but hurriedly dragging him out of there.

Ikaris’s eyes slid from Dane to her, and it was no doubt entirely calculated. “Sersi. I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” His tone was even, could even be misconstrued as friendly, but his eyes told a different story. They looked right into hers, daring her to react.

She did, and openly glared. “You are, actually. Dane and I chose this table to spend time together alone. A bit rude to just come up and invite yourself to someone’s table, don’t you think?”

“Well, figure we’re all mates here, aren’t we? And what, you’d rather I fight to shoulder my way through the post-match crowd over there? Didn’t see you in the stands, by the way.”

She gritted her teeth to keep from going off on him in front of Dane.

“I had better things to do,” she said, pasting a phony smile on her face and turning to Dane. “You know, I was about to say we should head out, anyway. Maybe we could go somewhere else, and that way, Ikaris’ll have the table.” She was itching to gather her things and silently urged him to go along with it.

“No need to leave on my account,” Ikaris smoothly cut in, never taking his eyes off Sersi. “Simply wanted to drop in and say a quick hello.”

“No, it’s all right, we can go,” Dane said before looking at Ikaris. “You can have the table, mate. We’ve been here a while, anyway.” He rose to his feet. “I’ll get the tab, Sersi.”

“No, it’s okay,” she said, immediately getting up as well. “At least let me get my half.”

And for the love of Merlin, don’t leave me here alone with Ikaris.

“Please, Sersi,” he said, “I’d like to pay. I’ll be right back and then we can head out.” He moved away, and her insides knotted with every step he took. Maybe she should just go up with him, anyway.

Without looking at Ikaris, she grabbed her bag and was about to make a dash for it when he spoke up.

“You know, it’s considered bad form in some places to leave your companions hanging so abruptly.”

She halted in her tracks and took the bait. What was it about him that had her acting so out of character?

She spun around to face him. He was still sitting, looking up at her coolly. She braced a hand on the table so she looked down at him.

“You’re talking to me about manners? It’s also considered bad form in most places to interrupt a date, especially when you already know full well about it. Bother me some other day, Ikaris. I’m not in the mood.”

He rose smoothly to his feet until he stood chest-to-chest with her. His face was nearly right in hers, reminding her of the sheer presence he always emanated. They were in a crowded room, and somehow the world had narrowed down to just the two of them. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew there were likely at least a few people staring, and she knew it would only be more gossip fodder, but in the moment, she was past caring.

She hated him for how collected he was. She detested his smarmy self-confidence and how he would never admit what an absolute arse he was. Guys like him thought they owned the world and that they were entitled to treat people as they wished with no consequence. She would’ve hoped he was in for a rude awakening once they left school, but the sad truth was that sometimes it was no different out in the real world.

“I’ll bother you whenever I feel like it, Sersi,” he said in a low, serious voice that couldn’t be heard by others. “And you’d better believe the next time I do, it won’t be on some sham of a date.”

“Oh, so just because a boy happens to like me it’s a sham? Grow up, Ikaris.”

“It’s a sham because Whitman’s a bloody bore and you know it. Thought even you’d have better taste than that.”

“Shut up. He’s not a bore, and even if he were, I’d rather have a bore than a—”

“A what?” he said in that same low voice.

“An egotistical prick who makes a hobby of harassing girls for years when they’ve done nothing to him.”

“Who says you’ve done nothing to me?”

“What?”

“What makes you so sure you’ve done nothing to me?”

“Because unlike you, I don’t feel entitled to bully people based on absolutely nothing but their mere existence. Or is that it? Is it just my presence that somehow offends your delicate sensibilities?”

“Who knew you could be so astute, Sersi? Well done, then, you.” He said this mockingly, of course.

“I’m done with this, Ikaris. I’m done with you. Leave me alone or I’ll report you to McGonagall or Sprout.”

They stared each other down. Sersi had enough presence of mind to take note of their surroundings and created a little distance between them. With how crowded the pub was and how plenty of other people were stood up, she hoped their showdown hadn’t stood out too much. It had probably looked like a simple heated debate.

Ikaris kept his eyes fixed on her as she inched back. She wanted to shove him and tell him to just stop looking at her all the time.

To her disbelief, an almost undetectable smile appeared on his lips. Like he was amused by her.

“I’ll see you in class, Sersi. Have fun with your date.” He said the word “date” like it was a big joke. He picked up his drink and moved away for his teammates at the bar. “Nice outfit, by the way.”

Another jab. What was wrong with him? She had on a sensible wool jumper, jeans, and brown boots. It was a perfectly normal outfit that every other girl wore, for Merlin’s sake. He just loved to nitpick everything about her, didn’t he?

She was still seething by the time Dane reappeared, which was only about five seconds after Ikaris had gone. She hated Ikaris for putting her in this mood, for coming up to them in the first place. But she needed to spite him, and to do that, she couldn’t let him ruin her date.

As for the rest of the year, she’d go out with Dane again, hopefully become official with him, finish her last year, and wipe her hands clean of Ikaris once and for all.

She was done wasting her energy on him.

Chapter Text

“You guys, we really shouldn’t. We’re going to get in trouble for trespassing,” Sersi said as they approached the old dilapidated house.

“Lighten up, Sersi,” Sprite said. “Practically everyone in town’s been here. We’re not doing anything new or anything.”

“Excuse me, I’m not going to lighten up when we’re committing a crime. We really shouldn’t be here. Your parents are going to have a fit if they find out I let you come here.”

Sprite was Sersi’s colleague and friend’s daughter whom she’d used to watch on occasion when the girl was younger. Nowadays Sersi saw Sprite not as often but still now and then, such as that weekend when Sprite was staying with Sersi while her parents, who both worked as scientists at the same museum as Sersi, were gone on a joint business weekend.

All had been going perfectly fine earlier in the evening, and then Sersi brought Sprite along for a dinner with her old friends, Makkari, Druig, and Ikaris, that had already been planned weeks ahead. Everyone in the group was also well-liked by Sprite’s parents, so the latter had been fine with Sprite tagging along when Sersi texted them about their plans.

Dinner turned out to be filled with a bit more rambunctious energy than she’d expected, then fast forward to Druig, Makkari, and Sprite ganging up on her to go check out the old abandoned house on the outskirts of town, with Ikaris sitting back in his seat with zero protests, and there they were.

“Where’s your sense of adventure, Sersi?” Druig said as he opened the gate of the heavily weathered picket fence outside the house.

It was a modest eighteenth-century two-story colonial home that had certainly seen better days. The once-white exterior was coated with decades of grime, the windows were boarded up, and the lawn was completely overgrown with weeds and grass. If that hadn’t been enough for the eerie factor, it of course also had to be dark outside when they got there.

“This is completely reckless, you guys,” Sersi said, falling behind when the others crossed the lawn. “I can’t believe you’re actually trying to do this.”

“I don’t suppose anyone’s thought about the possibility of running into squatters,” Ikaris said. He came up behind Sersi as he spoke and stopped right beside her at the fence. He was a bit too late in speaking up, in her opinion, but she’d take it. She couldn’t deny the noticeable measure of comfort and safety she felt with him next to her.

“Nah, we won’t be running into any trouble,” Druig said from right outside the door. Makkari stood at the ready next to him, her phone whipped out and shining with its beaming light, as all of theirs were.

The light afforded Sersi a decent view of her face, which spoke of a thirst for adventure. Of course Makkari would be just as eager as Druig and Sprite to venture into some creepy, decrepit house like it was something exciting. Ikaris was the only other sane person around besides Sersi, though again, he could’ve been a bigger help before they’d even made the journey there.

“Some pals of mine hang out here often enough and they say they never see anyone,” Druig continued.

“Or so they think,” Makkari signed.

“Well, we’ll find out, won’t we?” Druig spoke and signed back. “Now, we ready to get this show on the road or what?”

“Come on, you guys, we’re not teenagers anymore,” Sersi said, still hanging back at the gate. “This sort of thing isn’t cool anymore.”

“Speak for yourself,” Sprite said as she climbed the front steps to join Druig and Makkari. “You may not be a teenager anymore, but I am. And I still get to have fun.”

“Ooh, you hear that, Sersi?” Druig said. “Sprite just called you old.”

“You’re not exactly a spring chicken anymore either, are you, Druig?” Ikaris said.

“Technicalities.” Druig turned to Makkari. “You like to do the honors, milady?”

Sersi wasn’t exactly able to see how Makkari got the door open, seeing as she was turned toward Ikaris in a mild panic. “They’re not actually doing this, are they? They’re mad! Oh my god, I’m going to get in such deep trouble for this.” She turned back to the others. “Sprite, get back here!”

Her words fell on deaf ears, considering the girl had already gone in with the others and elected to ignore her.

“Oh my god, Ikaris, what am I going to do? If she gets hurt or gets some sort of disease in there, I’m in it. Her parents are going to kill me. I’m going to go to prison. I’m—”

“Sersi, breathe.” Ikaris took her arms in a firm grip and maintained steady eye contact with her. The physical contact did funny things to her. “They weren’t lying when they said most everyone in town’s been here before. Everyone knows everyone comes here. No one cares because they’ve all done it.”

“Then what if they run into someone while they’re in there and it causes some sort of trouble?”

“People have come here before, but it doesn’t mean they come here all the time,” he said. “I know I mentioned squatters, but I don’t think there’s a high chance of anyone else being in there. And if there are, we’ll deal with it. You have to admit, does take you back to the old days a bit, doesn’t it?” He looked back at the house with a glint in his eye.

“Oh, God, not you, too,” Sersi said. “Am I the only sane one around here? I really think I am.”

“I’ll stay out here if you do, Sersi. But if you go in, you won’t be alone, either.”

Sersi was just about fed up with being the only rational person there. Without bothering to think, she threw her hands up in exasperation and stomped across the grass to the dark, open threshold.

“Forget it. Might as well go in if only to grab Sprite and get out. This is ridiculous.”

She heard the footfalls of Ikaris behind her. She promptly stepped into the dark house with him right on her heels and held up her lighted phone in order to spot the others. She and Ikaris stood in the foyer right by the stairs and had a vantage point of the small hallway and the drawing room just past the wooden archway. As expected, the interior was devoid of furniture apart from the occasional hutch or some such covered with linen, and the hardwood floor was blanketed with a thick film of dust.

“Guess no one’s been here for a while,” Ikaris said behind her, surveying the room with the light of his own phone.

“Where are they?” she said. “Guys? Where are you?”

“In here,” Sprite called back unseen.

“Where?” Sersi was already on the move.

“In the dining room.”

She tried to follow the sound of Sprite’s voice and ventured deeper into the house, emboldened by having Ikaris right behind her. Eventually they came upon a spacious room nestled between the kitchen and sitting room, smaller than the main drawing room at the front of the house but still sizable. There were shadows cast along the wall by the multiple beams of light from their phones, but she was able to make out the faded and peeled damask wallpaper and how there was nothing in the room except for the large rusted chandelier hanging from the ceiling as the main centerpiece.

The rest of the group was gathered in the room. They didn’t pay attention to Sersi and Ikaris as they entered, instead gazing up at the chandelier.

“What is it? What’s going on?” Sersi looked up at the light fixture.

“Welcome to the main attraction, ladies and gentlemen,” Druig said, his light shining upwards. “I give you: the red string room. And this here’s the famous chandelier.”

“What about it?” An unpleasant feeling erupted in the pit of Sersi’s stomach. If they were about to tell her this house was haunted…

“You don’t know?” Makkari signed. “Everyone in town knows.”

“Sersi’s the newest to the area out of all of us, remember?” Sprite said. “Besides, she tends to be way behind on this kind of stuff in general.”

Sersi didn’t even care enough to be offended. “What’s this about the chandelier? Should we even be here right now?” She looked to Ikaris, who’d moved back to lean against the wall and had his arms folded, looking as casual as if it were their local pub.

“You want to tell it or should I?” Sprite asked Druig.

“Okay, what’s going on, guys?” Sersi said. “Sprite, we really should get out of here.”

Druig chuckled. “Relax, it’s nothing bad, Sersi. Quite the contrary, I’d say.”

“It’s a really good story,” Makkari signed in an attempt at reassurance. “Really well-known around here.”

“So what’s the story, then?” Sersi didn’t bother feigning disinterest. Her heart was beating a mile per minute.

“Local legend has it that about 150 years ago, there were these two people, a woman and man,” Druig began. “They were deeply in love but weren’t able to be together because their families didn’t approve. They frequently met up in secret, and the woman would always talk about a specific chandelier she’d want to keep in their home should they be able to stay together, and the man promised to get it for her. But that day never came, seeing as they were eventually caught. They were forbidden to see each other ever again and the woman was forced to marry another man who cared little for her. As for the first man, he vowed to remain unmarried the rest of his days. If he couldn’t have her, he didn’t want anyone. And when he acquired this house, he installed that chandelier she’d always talked about even though she wasn’t there. To him, it was a part of her he would always have with him.

“She eventually grew gravely ill in her middle age, but he was able to come visit her at her bedside for the first and last time. As he’d always remained her true love, she told him not even death could keep them apart and that they’d see each other again on the other side. She’d learned of the Eastern folklore that spoke of red threads of fate and destined partners and told him she believed that was how they were connected, that they each had a red string tied around their little fingers connecting them to one another and that as long as he remembered that, he could be content in this life and take his time in meeting her again. When she died, he mourned her the rest of his life, always wearing a thin red string around his little finger. He lived to see old age, and as the tale goes, he knew when it was his time, and after one last meal in this very room, he sat back in his chair right underneath this chandelier, looked up calmly at it, and closed his eyes one last time, knowing he was going home at last to see his love. He still had the red string around his finger when he was later found by a relative. So now, story goes that whenever two people who are bound by fate—two soulmates—meet beneath this chandelier, it gently swings with no external force guiding it, as if confirmation that those two people are meant to be together.”

It was silent after he spoke, and it took a moment for Sersi to realize he was done. She’d been so wrapped up in his storytelling. A tale of soulmates bound by fate. So very romantic and thought-provoking…and so very fantastical.

Sprite broke the silence. “Pretty cool story, right?”

“I think it’s beautiful,” Makkari signed, “to know there’s something more to this universe than we can see. It’s something we can still feel if we really take the time to listen. It makes you believe in something bigger…in magic.”

“Magic is, after all, science that we just don’t understand yet,” Druig said.

“Arthur C. Clarke,” Sprite chimed in.

Sersi shook her head. “I think it’s a great story.” She shrugged. “But that’s all it could be. A story.”

“First your sense of adventure, now your sense of imagination.” Druig came over and playfully hooked an arm around her shoulder. “Whatever happened to the Sersi we used to know?”

“Life happened,” she said with a mild shrug, though she was only half-joking. “Happens to the best of us.”

“Then looks like I’m not lined up to be one of the best.” He let her go and strode out of the room, telling the rest of the group, “I’ll be explorin’ the rest of the house.”

Makkari passed Sersi on her way out of the room, giving her a small understanding smile, and then Sprite was moving past, until only Ikaris was left. He’d remained silent the whole time, and he was still standing back against the wall, arms folded.

“Well?” Sersi said. “And what about you? Do you believe that story?”

“I’ve heard it before.” He eased away from the wall and shrugged, sticking his hands in his pockets. “It’s a nice story, a nice thought…but in the end, like you said, it’s just a story.”

She couldn’t ignore the tiny niggling part of her somewhere deep down that was somehow saddened to hear him say it.

She nodded. “It’s ridiculous, right? For people to even believe that. Not like I’m not a believer of true love, but…”

“A bit much,” he finished for her.

What followed was a peculiar beat of silence. The very air around them seemed to change. His gaze fluttered to the wall past her shoulder like something had caught his attention, but then his eyes abruptly came back to hers like nothing was amiss.

“Well, guess we’d better get a move on, then,” he said. “Suppose you want to fetch Sprite and go on home?”

“Yeah.” She hoped she sounded natural.

Finally, he turned to leave and she was able to look over her shoulder to see what he’d been looking at.

When she did, her heart dropped to her stomach and her throat seized up.

The shadow on the wall behind her was moving. She looked up to find its source and saw that up above, ever so gently, the chandelier swung from side to side, when it’d been irrefutably clear that it was completely immobile when everyone else was in the room just minutes prior.

She whipped back around as she followed Ikaris out of the room, and she pretended she hadn’t just seen what she knew in her heart she had.

It was because of a draft. It was something, something, anything.

Because it was just a story. Just a story.

Wasn’t it?

Chapter Text

Sersi peeled back bits of her beer bottle’s label absentmindedly, but it didn’t keep her eyes from occasionally flickering up then very quickly back down at the sight of Ikaris across the bonfire. She was perched on a log while he stood laughing and generally having a merry old time chatting with a lovely woman named Rosie. She was the cousin of Druig, who’d apparently invited her to the beach bonfire in hopes of matching her up with Ikaris. In terms of appearance, the woman was everything Sersi wasn’t, and in terms of personality, she seemed to really be hitting it off with Ikaris if his audible laughs and easy smiles were any indication.

He never laughed like that with Sersi, never acted quite so human and companionable, never looked at her like he looked at the other woman. With Sersi, he only ever fixed her with those strange impassive stares when she said anything to him at all. He’d quirk his eyebrow in silent judgment whenever she tried to banter with him, leaving her to swiftly move on to someone else so he wouldn’t see the faltered smile she quickly had to mask.

He always managed to make her feel like an open book. She felt like he could see right through her, and she hated that he was able to make her feel so vulnerable when she couldn’t get a single thing in return from him. He always had the upper hand, the higher score on the imaginary scoreboard of their interactions. It had gotten to the point where every time she even smiled around him it felt like something he could hold over her, a weapon he could use against her.

It was a fairly new sensation. She figured she was a generally pleasant person who got on with others easily. It was impossible to be liked by everyone, but she didn’t think there was much reason for someone to actively dislike her, either. And while she’d grown more secure in herself as she got older, there was no avoiding those intense bouts of insecurity that cropped up as they did for anyone else, and what those insecurities screamed was that Ikaris did not like her. At all.

For whatever reason, the man simply did not take to her. Maybe he found her overall demeanor grating or affected. Maybe he thought she was trying too hard. Maybe she’d done something to him she had no idea about. Whatever it was, her very existence seemed to offend him.

So of course it was ordained from whatever higher power must’ve hated her that they should be part of the same friend group.

While they ran in the same circles, they were more on the periphery of each other’s individual spheres. It made it a lot easier to avoid having to interact with him directly, but also a lot harder to avoid seeing him at all. He was always there in the same physical space and at the edge of her awareness, though that edge had worked its way further and further in until it disappeared completely and he’d managed by no will of his own to break through her mental boundaries which said, Ikaris shall not enter.

The truth was she wasn’t just aware of him and where exactly he was when he was nearby; she was hyperaware. Her skin always prickled with heat when she knew he was near, his presence like a hot poker on her skin. Her traitorous heart whose rhythm would always skyrocket when he was near seemed to know him as well.

It was pathetic to have him take up so much space in her thoughts when she might as well not exist in his eyes. It wasn’t like she needed his approval, but he always made her feel like she was doing something wrong when, rationally, she knew she was being perfectly normal by making an effort to be friendly. He was the rude one.

It didn’t matter anymore in any case. She no longer tried to be friendly. If he wanted to be a dismissive, standoffish jerk for whatever stupid reason, she’d send those same vibes right back.

“Come walk with me.”

Sersi’s head jerked up at the male voice, and she was suddenly wrenched back to the crisp, clear sounds of the world, of the crackling fire, the waves crashing against the shore, the indie rock playing from someone’s speakers at mid-volume in the background. Druig stood over her, one booted foot casually braced against the log she was perched on.

“What?”

“Come walk with me,” he repeated, jerking his head in the direction of the water. “The fire here’s startin’ to make me feel a bit heated. I’m thinkin’ I need to take a breather, get some more of that fresh ocean air.”

“Could it have something to do with your thick leather jacket?” she halfheartedly teased.

“It completes the look,” he deadpanned. “But you’re right. Hey, you cold? Maybe you could use it, keep it safe so these morons over here don’t spill their beer on it.”

She was about to decline, but then reconsidered. It was summer, but the nights got chilly on the beach. The blanket she’d been using earlier in the night had since been passed to Thena, who sat on another log chatting and roasting marshmallows with Kingo and Phastos. Sersi had been okay without the blanket for the most part until a few minutes ago when she’d started feeling the chill again.

“Sure, why not?” She accepted the black motorcycle jacket when Druig shrugged it off.

“Now how’s about that walk?” he said. “I was thinkin’ we’d just walk along the shore, turn back whenever we feel like it.”

Again, her initial response would’ve been no—she didn’t feel up to doing much anything—but the simple truth was she didn’t want to have to spend another second with her stomach in knots by pretending not to pay attention to Ikaris standing across the fire giving Rosie so easily what he could never give her.

“Yeah. Sure.”

She set her drink down in the sand and stood, sliding on Druig’s jacket, which was already warm from his body heat and more comfortable than she’d expected. They circled the fire and made for the shore, which meant moving into Ikaris’s field of vision. Sersi made a conscious effort to keep her head forward as they passed the happy couple, but if she were delusional, she would’ve sworn she saw from the corner of her eye how Ikaris’s eyes flickered her and Druig’s way and stayed there for an unnecessarily prolonged amount of time.

She welcomed the cool ocean breeze against her face when they made it away from the fire. She pretended the heat radiating from her skin had nothing to do with feeling a certain pair of eyes on her as they’d left.

She often thought she felt him looking at her, but it wasn’t like there would be any reason for him to. He hated her, so why waste his precious eyesight on someone he didn’t like? Still, there were times when she could’ve sworn her eyes would involuntarily flicker his way only to catch his gaze averting so quickly she must’ve imagined it. The only rational explanation was that it was all in her head.

“You know, we should start doin’ these bonfire things more often,” Druig said, dragging Sersi from her thoughts. “Good atmosphere, good music, good food. Jury’s still out on the people.”

She hummed in what she hoped sounded like agreement and stuck her hands in his jacket pockets as they walked the shore with its lapping waves. Druig must’ve felt satisfied seeing how his matchmaking skills were coming to fruition with Ikaris and Rosie, though why he was the least bit interested in Ikaris’s love life she couldn’t imagine.

“You met Rosie earlier, didn’t you?” he said.

She gave a tepid nod, then, just in case it was too dark for him to see, added, “Yeah. I can see why you thought Ikaris and her would be good together. They seem to really be hitting it off.”

“Wait, what?”

Her head snapped his way. Her eyes had adjusted to the dark and she could make out enough of his features to see he was confused.

“What?” she said.

“What do you mean I thought Ikaris and her’d be good together?”

“Well, Gil said you brought Rosie along to set her up with Ikaris.”

His features screwed together to form a look of vague disgust. “Well, Gil just likes to say random shite half the time, doesn’t he? Don’t know how he ever came to that conclusion. I didn’t bring Rosie to hook her up with Ikaris. I’d never subject anyone to that kind of horror, least of all me own cousin. I brought her along ’cause she moved to the city recently and I thought she might want to meet some new people. Her and Ikaris?” He gave a short laugh. “Someone paint me a picture of something I’d hate even slightly less.”

Sersi mulled over the new information. She was angry with herself for finding the tight knot in her stomach had slightly loosened at the knowledge that Ikaris wasn’t being set up, although it didn’t stop him and Rosie from still getting on, apparently.

“He is rather…gruff, isn’t he?” she said, hoping to disguise her resentment.

“That’s one way to put it. But even I have to admit he has his moments.”

“Well, I wouldn’t know,” she muttered.

“You talkin’ about how the man always acts like he’s never heard of social skills whenever he’s around you?”

She turned to Druig, caught off guard. “What?”

“What, you think I never noticed?”

“I…” She had no idea what to say. On one hand, she was glad she wasn’t the only one to see what a knob Ikaris was, but on the other hand, she was also embarrassed by it, because the only one he acted like that with was her.

Druig leaned in a little closer as they walked, as if divulging a secret. “Let me get you in on a little somethin’, Sersi. I’ve known him for a while, and now, I’m not speakin’ for all the other lads out there, but when it comes to that one, I’m thinkin’ he acts like that because he doesn’t know how to act when he’s around you. You know him, all serious and ‘look at me, I’m Ikaris and I’m all intense’ and whatnot. But the man’s desperate for you, if you really care to know.”

It felt like something had gripped her chest.

Desperate for you.

It was laughable. Druig was downright delusional.

“Desperate for me to go away,” she said ruefully.

Druig chuckled.

“I’m serious.”

“I know, Sersi.” He shrugged. “Maybe I am as well.”

“I don’t even want to talk about him anymore,” she said decisively, then motioned to their surroundings. “Look, we’ve already gone pretty far. Let’s turn back.”

They headed back towards the bonfire, with their conversation comprising topics other than Ikaris, much to her gratitude. They’d nearly made it back to the outskirts of the gathering when a recognizable figure intercepted their path.

“Enjoying a late night stroll together, were you?” Ikaris said, sounding annoyed.

“So what if we were?” Druig said.

Ikaris stared pointedly at him for a long beat. Then he tipped his head back towards Rosie, who sat with the others by the fire. “Your cousin’s been wondering where you are. She’s had a bit much to drink and was wanting to head out.”

“Duly noted.” Druig turned to Sersi, motioning to the jacket she still wore. “Key’s on you, Sersi.”

“Oh. Right.” She slipped off the jacket, keenly aware of how Ikaris watched her every move. “Thanks for letting me borrow it.”

“Always glad to keep you warm, Sersi.” Druig draped a friendly arm over her shoulder and patted her upper arm. He removed his arm and led them as they headed closer to the bonfire.

She followed right on Druig’s heels and did her best to ignore the chill in the air. She knew Ikaris was right behind her and she wanted to ignore his presence as much as she could.

“You’re cold. Take my coat.” His voice came from behind her unexpectedly. He didn’t sound overly enthusiastic making his offer, either.

“I’m fine,” she said in a flat voice, still facing forward.

“Just take my coat, Sersi.”

She ignored him. She’d already decided she would head out as well, so she’d be out of the cold soon enough.

He sighed behind her. “You’ll take Druig’s coat, but you won’t take mine.”

That he would be even the least bit surprised at that astonished her. She spoke again in monotone. “I’m not cold.”

He didn’t say anything after that.

They eventually made it back to the bonfire. Druig made sure Rosie was stable, which she was, before leaving with her. Sersi tried to be subtle about announcing her departure to the others, but Ikaris caught on.

“I’ll walk you back to your car.” Again, he didn’t sound quite so enthused.

“I’m fine,” she said, and shouldered her bag.

He looked mildly exasperated, like he wasn’t in the mood to argue. “It’s dark, Sersi.”

“I know my way back to my car, Ikaris.”

“Just let him walk you back, Sersi,” Thena said coolly. “You know how Ikaris can be.”

Actually, no, she didn’t. Not in this way. He’d never once bothered to play the gentleman with her, so why was he all of a sudden acting like he cared about her safety?

“I’m really fine.” She spoke brusquely but tried toning it down when addressing the rest of the group. “Bye, guys.”

She spun in the opposite direction, turning on the light from her phone to guide her way back to the car park. She was walking down the sandy path behind some shrubs when she heard the footfalls behind her. She whipped around to find Ikaris catching up.

“What are you doing?” she said. “I’m fine.”

“Just let me walk you back to your car, Sersi.” He was unwavering, like nothing would deter him.

She spun back around and continued walking, the whole time stewing in her bewilderment. If he really wanted to walk her, fine. She’d let him waste his own time and energy and they could be out of each other’s hair the sooner they got it over with.

He remained a few steps behind her until they reached her car. The scant lampposts scattered about afforded some light, and the pebbles crunching beneath their shoes was the only sound to be heard.

There, you’ve walked me, she thought as she unlocked the car. Now you can go.

She could still feel him behind her as she opened the door. Why was he still there? The whole situation was surreal and bizarre.

She was sliding into the seat, not planning on sparing him another glance, when he spoke.

“Sersi…”

Something in his voice had her looking up. Her hand was on the door handle, ready to shut the door. He took a step forward and gripped the top of the door before she could close it, though she sensed if she insisted on closing it anyway, he wouldn’t stop her.

His face was unreadable as he looked down at the ground, then at her.

“Sersi…” he said again.

“What is it? I have to go.”

“Just…hold on.” He paused, trying to gather his thoughts.

Sersi looked up at him, really taking him in. She’d never seen him like this, vulnerable, and so out of the blue.

She saw something resolute pass over his face before he looked directly at her.

“I don’t want to go on as we have been, Sersi.”

She was left speechless. There was no misunderstanding his words. All of a sudden, for no particular reason, he wanted to call a truce. But more than anything, she was angry with how he had the audacity to do such a thing when he was the one who’d started it all in the first place. He thought everything should be done at his say-so. Ice her out—do it on his terms. Call for peace—do it on his terms. All the while, keep her in the dark. She wouldn’t have had such a problem with him extending an olive branch if it weren’t for the fact that she had no idea what prompted him to treat her so differently to begin with.

“And how exactly have we been ‘going on’?” she prodded.

“You know how.” He at least had the decency to look contrite as he once again averted his gaze to the ground. “And I don’t want to do it anymore. I really don’t.”

God help him, he actually sounded sincere.

But still. No apology? No explanation?

“No detail of what exactly brought on this sudden change of heart?” she said sarcastically.

Again, he took a moment to answer. “I can’t…I’m not exactly sure I want to get into all that at this particular moment.”

So that was how it was going to be. Would there ever be a particular moment that was right for him? She couldn’t be sure with him.

“Well, then I’m afraid you’ll have to try a bit harder next time if you really want to patch things up.” She tugged on the handle and he didn’t stop her.

The door shut on him right before she started up the ignition. He stepped back from the car to get out of her path, but he did so looking like he was on autopilot.

She steered in the opposite direction and pulled away. The lampposts afforded her a dim view of him through the mirror. He was still there, his posture not as stiff and upright as she was used to seeing on him. She’d even go so far as to say he looked defeated.

She was immediately second-guessing her decision. Had she been too hasty? Should she have just accepted his olive branch and demanded clarification at another time? Wasn’t peace all she’d wanted with him after all?

The man’s desperate for you.

Druig’s words came to her abruptly. She scoffed, even as something wound together tightly in her chest. What he’d said was impossible. They weren’t children anymore. This wasn’t the school yard. They were adults. If he actually liked her, he should at least know not to treat her like he hated her. Shouldn’t he?

She knew she wouldn’t be able to stop from pondering over this, so she didn’t bother telling herself never to think of it again. Still, she’d go on, and the rest would be on him. If he really wanted to broker peace, the ball was in his court. It was his move.