The portal hanging high above the city surged with energy, something the residents of the seaside hub below were used to, crackling intensely and sounding as if a million cars were misfiring. Unlike before, the energy was silvery white, sparking like an slowly flowing electrical current. A beam of light similar to lightning shot out and a figure was hidden within the light, falling gracelessly out of the sky and to the city below. The figure slammed into the pavement of a bustling midtown, encased in a field of striking white energy that emitted like smoke from around their body and also from intensely glowing eyes. The figure landed kneeling into the intersection, narrowly missing a delivery driver and incidentally causing a few minor collisions. A choir of honks and shouts that turned to screams soon filled the area as people abandoned their cars, just as the figure stood up. The eyes remained slight for a few moments more as they looked around, one hand moving to grasp the hilt of her broadsword pressed against her spine, and the other angling up in an offensive pose to shield her chest. As the slight debris cleared and the energy dissipated, one Eden Valentino stood tall and high, panting as she whipped her head around. Confusion and fear pulled taut at the wrinkles and scars of her aged face, and not only that but blood and grime of all sorts coated her battle armor. A visible wound was on her side, healing slowly before your very eyes with a dulled sizzling, her right side completely exposed and showing off old wounds and tight muscles. The 6’5 woman was breathing hard as she tried to make sense or where she was- when she was. “What year is it???? What year is it?!” Her barely accented voice called out to the civilians fleeing, desperate for an answer and hoping it was the right one. Yet she didn’t recognize this skyline, she didn’t recognize these stars, that she could barely see due to light pollution and the portal above. “When am I?!”
Keiko had been out running errands, an arm holding up a reusable grocery bag laden with food, the other twiddling with her phone. The sound of honking and screaming caught her attention and she went on guard, looking around in time to see the portal discharging and she cursed quietly. If she could get to her car quick enough she could get the fuck out of here before things went sideways. Realizing how close she was parked to the noise and smoke, she moved quickly, unlocking her passenger door and setting her groceries down before hurrying to the drivers side.
It was the tone of the voice that made her freeze, and her heart sunk in her chest. Who ever it was, they were frightened, and out of sorts. Old habits forced her to square up, and those in the area that had begun to take in the situation would find Keiko trying to herd them away. "Don't pay it any mind." She called to a gaggle of college students filming the situation. "You know damn well that people are disoriented when they wind up somewhere they shouldn't be."
As Eden began talking again, realization sunk in and her eyes went wide. She knew that tone, she knew that voice---she knew that person. That was one of HER people. Turning slowly, the rubber soles of her shoes crunched over asphalt and broken glass, and she held her hands up defensively. "Who the hell are you for starters?" She called. Skrull were tricky...one couldn't ever be sure if they knew who they were dealing with.
It was the tone of the voice that made her freeze, and her heart sunk in her chest. Who ever it was, they were frightened, and out of sorts. Old habits forced her to square up, and those in the area that had begun to take in the situation would find Keiko trying to herd them away. "Don't pay it any mind." She called to a gaggle of college students filming the situation. "You know damn well that people are disoriented when they wind up somewhere they shouldn't be."
As Eden began talking again, realization sunk in and her eyes went wide. She knew that tone, she knew that voice---she knew that person. That was one of HER people. Turning slowly, the rubber soles of her shoes crunched over asphalt and broken glass, and she held her hands up defensively. "Who the hell are you for starters?" She called. Skrull were tricky...one couldn't ever be sure if they knew who they were dealing with.
Eden jolted after some that were running, grabbing a woman by the wrist and pulling her back a bit too hard. “I-I am sorry! I... I did not mean to. I need... please what year is it? Did I succeed? Can I save them? Please, please tell me,” the older woman begged, much to the terror of the other. The stranger wrenched her wrist free and took off screaming, leaving Eden to glance around in a panic, fearing the worst. When Keiko approached her, she would whip around unsheathing her sword and pointing it at the woman. Then she stopped and stared at her, incredulously. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the events of just a few minutes ago flash before her eyes: her getting wounded and beginning to bleed out, Keiko going to seal the wound shut but having to raise the wall of ice to protect her troops, then failing and then... dying in her arm as the plasma bombs dropped around them. No, no... this cannot be right... she should be younger if I succeeded... Eden thought to herself, yet as she repeated it she began to mutter it aloud. Then, “Keiko? How are... you’re alive?” Her face was shattered and then she took note of the defensive position and raised her sword again pointing it at Keiko. “I just watched you die. You cannot be her. Who are you and where am? What time am I in?” Her voice was steady again but the arm holding her blade shook, causing the blade to shake. She was much older than her previous counterpart by a good decade and it showed on her face and in her scars.
As Eden spoke to her, she shook her head. There was no way unless....the timelines converged again....Her mouth went dry, and she took a deep breath in, trying to quell the shaking in her hands. "When I was fifteen years old you and I got into a fight and you called me a refrigerator. You put me ontop of the fridge to keep me from following you. I used to chase after you because I wanted to follow the senior members. You would always yell at me to stay behind because I would get in the way." She continued to approach her slowly, her hands held up in surrender.
"I saw YOU die when I was twenty. You grabbed a bomb implanted on a sentinel when you worked for X-Comm and you ran off with it to save people. YOU died. I took over the scouts with Iris." Her voice began shaking as she got within just out of range of the sword. "You broke your back and stuck in a wheelchair. We were just kids when we got stuck in all this. You always swore you were better than me. You used to yell at me for crying all the time. When we got taken into the Skrull ship, you fought your ass off." As she spoke, she took in Edens appearance, and how it mildly mirrored her own, down to the silver streak in her own hair. "You died, in my timeline. I went back, and fixed my own. You died saving me, and thousands of other people..." As Eden asked what time she was in, her voice shakily rattled off the year.
"I'm thirty five. That puts you at what....fourty?"
"I saw YOU die when I was twenty. You grabbed a bomb implanted on a sentinel when you worked for X-Comm and you ran off with it to save people. YOU died. I took over the scouts with Iris." Her voice began shaking as she got within just out of range of the sword. "You broke your back and stuck in a wheelchair. We were just kids when we got stuck in all this. You always swore you were better than me. You used to yell at me for crying all the time. When we got taken into the Skrull ship, you fought your ass off." As she spoke, she took in Edens appearance, and how it mildly mirrored her own, down to the silver streak in her own hair. "You died, in my timeline. I went back, and fixed my own. You died saving me, and thousands of other people..." As Eden asked what time she was in, her voice shakily rattled off the year.
"I'm thirty five. That puts you at what....fourty?"
Stared and stared and stared, both eyes seeing but moving rapidly back and forth; the right was all white and marred by the M shaped scar, the left the same mercury color. “And then we began to train together. So you would not hold us back anymore. I-“ she lowered her sword and then sheathed it so quickly, moving to step closer to Keiko. “You rarely ever listened to me, especially when we grew older. You would not let me lead alone, even though you knew what the burden of leadership meant...” Eden whispered, her voice harsh like metal grinding against each other. “Iris? She is... alive?” She asked quietly, raising her voice to go on. “I watched all of you die. You were the last. You... you sacrificed yourself for me. You told me the Resistance needed me more than you. But I...” she trailed off, staring desperately and hopefully at Keiko, a strange blush darkening her cheeks. “Forty... but we have not celebrated birthdays in quite some time, I am afraid.” She stepped even closer, a hand rubbing the back of her head before she winced and placed her opposite to her still healing side. “You are really Keiko? But you are not mine, are you?” Her eyes were extinguished of the hope and were sad, mournful even.
"I didn't want you to go through it alone. You confided in me once that the weight of leadership was like bricks weighing you down in an ocean. But you never cracked, you never let anyone see you weak. Do you remember the night in the tree house when you cried at your desk? When you didn't know what to do?" Keikos chances were slim, but she unbuttoned the top two buttons of her blouse and showed an old faded X-Scout tattoo on her collarbone. "I told you that you'd never be alone dammit. But you tried."
Swallowing hard, Keiko shook her head. "There's almost noone left. Alan died years ago....with the Skrull invasion. Iris passed away, Evka too. I'm one of the only ones left." Running her hand through her hair, she slowly began to relax. "I didn't want you to do it alone. You wanted to compete in the Olympics. But not because you wanted to, but your dad made you." Her voice was shaking, and her head shook. "You're not from my timeline, are you Eden. You're not...." Her voice broke, and she scrubbed violently at her eyes.
"We both manipulated it to get where we are. Suprise. But no...I'm not your Keiko...and you're not my Eden." Reaching a hand out hesitantly set it on her arm, giving it a squeeze. "We stopped celebrating birthdays when our friends started dying." Removing a hankie from the breast pocket of her blazer, she passed it to her. "I watched everyone go too. It felt like it happened way to often than not..." Her eyes flicked to eye up Edens injured side. There were very little traces of the excitable young girl that she was was, even the happiness that she usually exuded seemed to have been sucked away.
"We should get you out of here, if you trust me. I can get you out of the public eye so we can get you filled in properly."
Swallowing hard, Keiko shook her head. "There's almost noone left. Alan died years ago....with the Skrull invasion. Iris passed away, Evka too. I'm one of the only ones left." Running her hand through her hair, she slowly began to relax. "I didn't want you to do it alone. You wanted to compete in the Olympics. But not because you wanted to, but your dad made you." Her voice was shaking, and her head shook. "You're not from my timeline, are you Eden. You're not...." Her voice broke, and she scrubbed violently at her eyes.
"We both manipulated it to get where we are. Suprise. But no...I'm not your Keiko...and you're not my Eden." Reaching a hand out hesitantly set it on her arm, giving it a squeeze. "We stopped celebrating birthdays when our friends started dying." Removing a hankie from the breast pocket of her blazer, she passed it to her. "I watched everyone go too. It felt like it happened way to often than not..." Her eyes flicked to eye up Edens injured side. There were very little traces of the excitable young girl that she was was, even the happiness that she usually exuded seemed to have been sucked away.
"We should get you out of here, if you trust me. I can get you out of the public eye so we can get you filled in properly."
Her eyes widened just slightly as Keiko spoke, her brain processing everything almost as soon as the syllables formed. “I-“ she started, visibly uncomfortable with her moments of weakness being laid out so bluntly. “You really are Keiko,” she stated, all doubts pushed aside. She had only ever confided in Keiko and Iris in this way and it had taken so many years, much more for her to warm to Keiko.
Eden sighed eyeing the tattoo, recognizing it all too well from stolen glances that she had only just realized she had never had to steal. “That is still a ridiculous tattoo,” she stated, not an attempt at humor more so than a statement.
The discomfort came back as Keiko began to cry, a hand moving out and downwards as she went to scoop up the smaller woman. It was something she had done countless times, the movement so obviously well practiced in the reflexive nature. She held her in a fireman’s carry, easily supporting her against her strong and firm body. “I am Eden Neva Montoya Valentino. I was an X-Scout. I was a Marine. I was a leader of a Resistance. I have not belonged to myself in many years now. I am no one else’s Eden any longer, I suspect,” she murmured confidently, it a bit wistfully. She gazed down at the younger woman, then turned her attention away.
“Where will I take us?” She asked as she fixed her gaze resolutely away, her jaw squared as a familiar fire filled her gaze.
Eden sighed eyeing the tattoo, recognizing it all too well from stolen glances that she had only just realized she had never had to steal. “That is still a ridiculous tattoo,” she stated, not an attempt at humor more so than a statement.
The discomfort came back as Keiko began to cry, a hand moving out and downwards as she went to scoop up the smaller woman. It was something she had done countless times, the movement so obviously well practiced in the reflexive nature. She held her in a fireman’s carry, easily supporting her against her strong and firm body. “I am Eden Neva Montoya Valentino. I was an X-Scout. I was a Marine. I was a leader of a Resistance. I have not belonged to myself in many years now. I am no one else’s Eden any longer, I suspect,” she murmured confidently, it a bit wistfully. She gazed down at the younger woman, then turned her attention away.
“Where will I take us?” She asked as she fixed her gaze resolutely away, her jaw squared as a familiar fire filled her gaze.
"Of course I'm really Keiko. I'm just not the Keiko from you're timeline." She explained. At the comment at her tattoo, she rolled her eyes and buttoned her blouse back up, pulling her blazer back over her shoulders in a smooth motion. "At eighteen I thought I was the hot shit. Are you really going to hit me for that low of a blow?" Her tone was teasing and she arched up an eyebrow and gave a small smile. She wiped her eyes again, trying to gain her composure, only to freeze and stiffen up as Eden grabbed her and lifted her.
"You've got all that right. But thats...not something you should linger on. I lost my Eden years ago. I'm guessing you lost...well...your Keiko." Eden had left more of an imprint on the woman than it seemed right away, and Keiko paused to take in the M shaped scar over her eye. "You'll need to tell me how you got that...but if you'll put me down, I can just drive you back to the loft. You can stay with me. I'll fill you in on everything." If she wanted to be put down, she didn't show it right away, going as far as to loop an arm around the back of Edens neck for stability.
"You've got all that right. But thats...not something you should linger on. I lost my Eden years ago. I'm guessing you lost...well...your Keiko." Eden had left more of an imprint on the woman than it seemed right away, and Keiko paused to take in the M shaped scar over her eye. "You'll need to tell me how you got that...but if you'll put me down, I can just drive you back to the loft. You can stay with me. I'll fill you in on everything." If she wanted to be put down, she didn't show it right away, going as far as to loop an arm around the back of Edens neck for stability.
Stiffened a bit and almost dropped Keiko, her throat working in overtime to keep the bile down. “I-I,” she stammered uncharacteristically, trying to start, “it felt like moments ago. Perhaps it was. I held you like this and then...” her tongue felt like sandpaper as she tried to find the words. It was so soon, maybe even too soon.
“Drive...?” And then she glanced around the now deserted intersection, sirens beginning to blare in the not too far away distance. “Yes, cars... you must still have the ability to drive in this...” she trailed off again, not sure what to call this world. She began to walk in the direction Keiko had came from, staring at the cars as if they were something out of a museum.
“You would let me cohabitate with you?” Eden asked, shock coloring her voice as her dark grey eyebrows furrowed together. She shifted to hold Keiko in on arm, since her arms were significantly longer than the average person, supporting her underneath all the same.
Idly she touched the scar on her eye. “I received this during a rescue mission to save you. And then you had to return to save me,” she would slowly set Keiko down, offering her a crooked (mostly due to the scar on her lips) and definitely rusty smile. “That was our... how did you put it? Our thing. We did that quite often. You even mentioned it when...” and then she trailed off again, staring into the distance as if looking for the words to finish the sentence. Yet none came, and she just breathed quietly, lips pressed together in a scarred, grim line again.
“Drive...?” And then she glanced around the now deserted intersection, sirens beginning to blare in the not too far away distance. “Yes, cars... you must still have the ability to drive in this...” she trailed off again, not sure what to call this world. She began to walk in the direction Keiko had came from, staring at the cars as if they were something out of a museum.
“You would let me cohabitate with you?” Eden asked, shock coloring her voice as her dark grey eyebrows furrowed together. She shifted to hold Keiko in on arm, since her arms were significantly longer than the average person, supporting her underneath all the same.
Idly she touched the scar on her eye. “I received this during a rescue mission to save you. And then you had to return to save me,” she would slowly set Keiko down, offering her a crooked (mostly due to the scar on her lips) and definitely rusty smile. “That was our... how did you put it? Our thing. We did that quite often. You even mentioned it when...” and then she trailed off again, staring into the distance as if looking for the words to finish the sentence. Yet none came, and she just breathed quietly, lips pressed together in a scarred, grim line again.
"Hey hey hey...." She let Eden hang onto her and she reached a hand up and held Edens chin in a gentle grip forcing her to look at her. "Eyes on me. Take a breath. You're alright." She interjected firmly. "When I fixed my timeline and got my actual legs back, I started driving yes. We've got a lot to talk about." In all honesty she was tired and her blood sugar was probably low, the support was a godsend.
"Of course you're going to stay with me. Where else? And with who?" Once Eden had let her go, she turned, grabbing her arm. "You're still Eden...I'm still Keiko." Taking a slow breath in through her nose, Keiko shook her head, pulling an elastic band from her pocket to pull her hair from her face. "And if she cared about you as much as I do, of course we'd be going to my loft. I wouldn't have you staying anywhere else."
As they got closer to her SUV, she hit the key fob and the doors unlocked. Looking up to Eden again as she explained how she gained her scar, and nodded.
"Sounds like something I'd say, and sounds like something we'd get ourselves wrapped up in." If her swoon was visible, she tried her damndest to ignore it and blamed it on her blood sugar. Moving her groceries into the back seat, she gestured to the passenger seat and climbed into the drivers seat. "Dont worry about getting anything dirty. It's not a huge deal."
"Of course you're going to stay with me. Where else? And with who?" Once Eden had let her go, she turned, grabbing her arm. "You're still Eden...I'm still Keiko." Taking a slow breath in through her nose, Keiko shook her head, pulling an elastic band from her pocket to pull her hair from her face. "And if she cared about you as much as I do, of course we'd be going to my loft. I wouldn't have you staying anywhere else."
As they got closer to her SUV, she hit the key fob and the doors unlocked. Looking up to Eden again as she explained how she gained her scar, and nodded.
"Sounds like something I'd say, and sounds like something we'd get ourselves wrapped up in." If her swoon was visible, she tried her damndest to ignore it and blamed it on her blood sugar. Moving her groceries into the back seat, she gestured to the passenger seat and climbed into the drivers seat. "Dont worry about getting anything dirty. It's not a huge deal."
Eden fixed Keiko with an inscrutable expression when she touched her jaw, which surprise surprise was also scarred like the rest of her. When Keiko continued to speak she listened interjecting, “No, no you could drive... we just...” words failed her once more. How do you explain to someone that cars and roads hadn’t been around for a decade or more. Another time.
She stared into the car, recognizing it obviously but still unable to fully process the normality of it. “You can go grocery shopping here?” The older woman asked, dumbfounded. Of course, she meant it in the way that she was questioning the normalcy of it all, the convenience of it all. Not having to go on supply runs, not having to go scavenge and scour abandoned factories and grocery stores like rats.
“Were cars always this small?” She asked as she contorted her body to fit into the passenger seat. Her hand still knew how to look for the seat adjuster but again, her movements were stiff and almost unsure.
She stared into the car, recognizing it obviously but still unable to fully process the normality of it. “You can go grocery shopping here?” The older woman asked, dumbfounded. Of course, she meant it in the way that she was questioning the normalcy of it all, the convenience of it all. Not having to go on supply runs, not having to go scavenge and scour abandoned factories and grocery stores like rats.
“Were cars always this small?” She asked as she contorted her body to fit into the passenger seat. Her hand still knew how to look for the seat adjuster but again, her movements were stiff and almost unsure.
"Im going to guess that when--not where-- you're from things are a lot harsher." Keiko buckled up once Eden had wrestled in and she pulled out of the parking space, heading away from the sirens. "I still have a shitty pancreas. I need to go to the market once a week. I don't get out much without company so its the only time to myself I get."
It was almost comical watching Eden fit her too-tall figure into the seat. "No. You've always just been extremely tall. Incase you forget about your affinity for putting me on tall shelves and refrigerators thinking that it would stop me." As Eden was getting situated she kept her speed slow so she could get comfortable. "Take your time." Her voice was gentle. "I know that this is culture shock, and you're still out of sorts. We don't have to rush, and you set th pace. THough---" she paused, becoming visibily upset again--"you always were good at bossing me around. I guess its time you take some time to rest yeah?"
It was almost comical watching Eden fit her too-tall figure into the seat. "No. You've always just been extremely tall. Incase you forget about your affinity for putting me on tall shelves and refrigerators thinking that it would stop me." As Eden was getting situated she kept her speed slow so she could get comfortable. "Take your time." Her voice was gentle. "I know that this is culture shock, and you're still out of sorts. We don't have to rush, and you set th pace. THough---" she paused, becoming visibily upset again--"you always were good at bossing me around. I guess its time you take some time to rest yeah?"
Eden fidgeted in the car, her knees far too high as she tried to get more comfortable. Well, as comfortable as her sword and battle gear and her own stiffness would allow.
“Yes, my world was Hell. Once I left for War, I never left. I brought it home with me. Or so it seemed,” she responded, not offering up any details. If this world was not on the brink of war she did not wish to bring that particular fight with her once again. Yet, she glanced out the window. “I do not know how I arrived here. I was attempting to do something I had never tried before. Something that only our most powerful allies had ever tried,” she went on, gazing out the window as they drove, memorizing the scenery around her as soon as she saw it.
Her face edged back towards Keiko as she smirked, the gesture familiar on her face and de-aging her by more than twenty years. “I was attempting to run faster than time itself,” and then the smirk sank into a grimace within a second of its appearance.
She let the moment rest for a moment before huffing out almost indignant but not quite, “well, at least I have always had my height.” Again, she wasn’t trying for humor. Yet it seemed to always find her.
“It is not quite a culture shock as it is a living memory,” she replied, looking around the car now and gauging the technology as best as she could. “It was the same year in my world. Yet it is so different.”
Her lips edged into a smirk again as she looked at Keiko. “I think you secretly enjoyed my assertive attitude. Unless you are more different from...” the older woman sobered a moment, her mind still drifting back to what felt like twenty minutes ago.
“I did not... ‘boss’ you around so much towards the end. We were equals. We were co-leaders. We were so much...” the Latina pinched her lips shut, her sharp as glass cheekbones flushing again. It would not do well to romanticize a past that was still so present. Especially when... it wasn’t as romantic as it could’ve been.
“Yes, my world was Hell. Once I left for War, I never left. I brought it home with me. Or so it seemed,” she responded, not offering up any details. If this world was not on the brink of war she did not wish to bring that particular fight with her once again. Yet, she glanced out the window. “I do not know how I arrived here. I was attempting to do something I had never tried before. Something that only our most powerful allies had ever tried,” she went on, gazing out the window as they drove, memorizing the scenery around her as soon as she saw it.
Her face edged back towards Keiko as she smirked, the gesture familiar on her face and de-aging her by more than twenty years. “I was attempting to run faster than time itself,” and then the smirk sank into a grimace within a second of its appearance.
She let the moment rest for a moment before huffing out almost indignant but not quite, “well, at least I have always had my height.” Again, she wasn’t trying for humor. Yet it seemed to always find her.
“It is not quite a culture shock as it is a living memory,” she replied, looking around the car now and gauging the technology as best as she could. “It was the same year in my world. Yet it is so different.”
Her lips edged into a smirk again as she looked at Keiko. “I think you secretly enjoyed my assertive attitude. Unless you are more different from...” the older woman sobered a moment, her mind still drifting back to what felt like twenty minutes ago.
“I did not... ‘boss’ you around so much towards the end. We were equals. We were co-leaders. We were so much...” the Latina pinched her lips shut, her sharp as glass cheekbones flushing again. It would not do well to romanticize a past that was still so present. Especially when... it wasn’t as romantic as it could’ve been.
As Eden continued telling her what her home was like, her hand reached down and set itself on the taller womans, giving it a gentle squeeze. Her thumb ran over Edens knuckles and her jaw tightened. "You always did try and go as fast as possible...and then faster. I admired it as a kid." Squeezing her hand again, there was an ever familiar warning tone from Keikos waist--her pump waited for noone.
Leaning down while driving, she reached past Eden and popped the glove box, removing a box of skittles, and dumped a handful into her mouth. "You were never one for sweets form what I remember, but by all means help yourself." She passed her the box, turning her attention back to driving.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through all that...much less seeing people we cared about die." Swallowing heavily, the sugary candy weighed on her tongue. "When I went back in my timeline, I was still on the Skrull ship and if it hadn't been for Hrodrich, I would've stayed there. The Skrulls sent a sleeper agent to impersonate me. Started a relationship with Jon and everything." Her voice shook, and she wiped her eyes on her sleeve again. They drove in silence for a short while, the only noise were the tires on the road.
There was the break in the sadness as she caught Eden smiling, and she shook her head. "You being assertive was always something I enjoyed...so shut up." Her cheeks flushed pink. "If you MUST know, just because we were both awkward and in the closet doesn't mean I didn't care about you any less but..." she realized she'd been nearly interrupting her, and fell silent. "We were involved, weren't we?" Keiko questioned quietly. "Romantically I mean."
Thumping her hand on her steering wheel hard enough to jolt the horn, the small woman exhaled slowly out of her nose. "At least she told you before anything. My Eden...she never knew. And I regret it every goddamn day." Her eyes flicked to the side again, taking her in. "You look good though, Eden. Really. All things considered I just.....fucking hell."
Leaning down while driving, she reached past Eden and popped the glove box, removing a box of skittles, and dumped a handful into her mouth. "You were never one for sweets form what I remember, but by all means help yourself." She passed her the box, turning her attention back to driving.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through all that...much less seeing people we cared about die." Swallowing heavily, the sugary candy weighed on her tongue. "When I went back in my timeline, I was still on the Skrull ship and if it hadn't been for Hrodrich, I would've stayed there. The Skrulls sent a sleeper agent to impersonate me. Started a relationship with Jon and everything." Her voice shook, and she wiped her eyes on her sleeve again. They drove in silence for a short while, the only noise were the tires on the road.
There was the break in the sadness as she caught Eden smiling, and she shook her head. "You being assertive was always something I enjoyed...so shut up." Her cheeks flushed pink. "If you MUST know, just because we were both awkward and in the closet doesn't mean I didn't care about you any less but..." she realized she'd been nearly interrupting her, and fell silent. "We were involved, weren't we?" Keiko questioned quietly. "Romantically I mean."
Thumping her hand on her steering wheel hard enough to jolt the horn, the small woman exhaled slowly out of her nose. "At least she told you before anything. My Eden...she never knew. And I regret it every goddamn day." Her eyes flicked to the side again, taking her in. "You look good though, Eden. Really. All things considered I just.....fucking hell."
Eden stared down at her hand, watching Keiko’s with a look of bemusement on her features. She jerked her hand away, uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. A strange look of guilt darkened her features as she crossed her arms over her chest, fidgeting more in the car as one leg bounced so quickly the motion blurred. She stared out the window again as she listened to her companion.
However, the rustling drew her attention and she happily took the candy, studying it intently. “No, however we did not have such luxuries after a time. I used to try and scavenge such things for you and the children. What few children were left after the initial bombs,” she murmured almost conversationally, distracted by the treat. She thought of all the faces she left behind and ate a handful slowly, savoring the artificial flavors. It would not do to pass up what would have once been a rare opportunity.
She choked on the last one, slamming a fist into her chest to free up her lungs. After the coughing subsided she rasped out, “Skrull?” Her eyes shifted to the window again. “I murdered your Skrull. Iris’ as well. I...” she drifted off again, gripping the thigh that wasn’t shaking, the one closest to Keiko.
She glanced to Keiko and her eyes widened almost cartoonishly at the expression on her face. “C-closet? I... I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered, even going so far as to use contractions something she rarely did.
Eden looked like a caged animal, not quite glaring at Keiko but staring at her with such intensity, her face tightening as she inhaled sharply through her nose. She turned away again, pulling herself in tighter.
“No. We never had the chance to be. We were too busy saving each other and burying our friends and allies. And then you died. I did not know until you...” she paused, her voice catching, but she kept her head turned defiantly away.
“I did not know for certain what might have been until you died.”
She exhaled, trying to relax her tense body but unable to. Which wasn’t unusual for her.
Eden cut her eyes back to Keiko, needing to... “No, I am sure she knew. I knew. Deep down I knew. There simply was not... there was not enough time for it to happen naturally without a push.”
The tension broke slightly at Keiko’s compliment and Eden actually barked out a deep, harsh laugh. “I do? I am covered in blood. I am old now... older than our heroes were.”
She furrowed her brow, studying Keiko intensely, her good eye moving rapidly up and down. “The hair... is that for me? Or for the other?” She asks. “It looks preposterous.”
However, the rustling drew her attention and she happily took the candy, studying it intently. “No, however we did not have such luxuries after a time. I used to try and scavenge such things for you and the children. What few children were left after the initial bombs,” she murmured almost conversationally, distracted by the treat. She thought of all the faces she left behind and ate a handful slowly, savoring the artificial flavors. It would not do to pass up what would have once been a rare opportunity.
She choked on the last one, slamming a fist into her chest to free up her lungs. After the coughing subsided she rasped out, “Skrull?” Her eyes shifted to the window again. “I murdered your Skrull. Iris’ as well. I...” she drifted off again, gripping the thigh that wasn’t shaking, the one closest to Keiko.
She glanced to Keiko and her eyes widened almost cartoonishly at the expression on her face. “C-closet? I... I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered, even going so far as to use contractions something she rarely did.
Eden looked like a caged animal, not quite glaring at Keiko but staring at her with such intensity, her face tightening as she inhaled sharply through her nose. She turned away again, pulling herself in tighter.
“No. We never had the chance to be. We were too busy saving each other and burying our friends and allies. And then you died. I did not know until you...” she paused, her voice catching, but she kept her head turned defiantly away.
“I did not know for certain what might have been until you died.”
She exhaled, trying to relax her tense body but unable to. Which wasn’t unusual for her.
Eden cut her eyes back to Keiko, needing to... “No, I am sure she knew. I knew. Deep down I knew. There simply was not... there was not enough time for it to happen naturally without a push.”
The tension broke slightly at Keiko’s compliment and Eden actually barked out a deep, harsh laugh. “I do? I am covered in blood. I am old now... older than our heroes were.”
She furrowed her brow, studying Keiko intensely, her good eye moving rapidly up and down. “The hair... is that for me? Or for the other?” She asks. “It looks preposterous.”
Keiko didn't protest when Eden yanked away, if she was annoyed or upset it didn't show on her features. Putting both hands back on the wheel, her fingers drummed along the leather. The SUV continued into a more populated area, parking in a parking garage. She showed her ID to the gate guard, and pulled into her parking space. "You always did take care of me. I'm assuming that after the end of the world insulin wasn't readily available."
At the mention of her imposter, Keikos face darkened and her jaw went tight. "The Skrull tried to ruin my life. They failed." She turned to look at Eden, watching her carefully. "You know what the term "In the Closet" means, Eden. And judging by your reaction I'm right. It's not a bad thing. You're still one of my closest friends. That's not going to change." As Eden tensed up, Keiko reached out to set a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry. I wish that you never had to deal with that. None of us knew what we were signing up for." Pulling away to give her space, her mouth tilted up in a gentle smile. "Lets not rush too fast into things. You need a shower. I need to fix dinner. You're here, I'm here, we have a life time of things to catch up on."
Letting Eden size her up, she pushed her bangs out of her face. "We're both older than our heroes now. It's a sign we're good at what we're doing. But yes, you look good, you've always looked good." Her cheeks went pink at the comment about her hair and Keiko laughed, giving her a gentle, good natured shove in her passenger seat. "Yes I did it for you. I idolized you when we were kids...if you didn't know how much I cared about you growing up after you...." the happiness left her face for a moment. "After *it* happened, I did it. And then went on to the Olympics. For both of us."
Pulling away, she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the drivers side door. "Come on. We're going to the top floor. We'll take the private elevator." She pointed to the elevator near the car.
"Nobody is going to bother us."
At the mention of her imposter, Keikos face darkened and her jaw went tight. "The Skrull tried to ruin my life. They failed." She turned to look at Eden, watching her carefully. "You know what the term "In the Closet" means, Eden. And judging by your reaction I'm right. It's not a bad thing. You're still one of my closest friends. That's not going to change." As Eden tensed up, Keiko reached out to set a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry. I wish that you never had to deal with that. None of us knew what we were signing up for." Pulling away to give her space, her mouth tilted up in a gentle smile. "Lets not rush too fast into things. You need a shower. I need to fix dinner. You're here, I'm here, we have a life time of things to catch up on."
Letting Eden size her up, she pushed her bangs out of her face. "We're both older than our heroes now. It's a sign we're good at what we're doing. But yes, you look good, you've always looked good." Her cheeks went pink at the comment about her hair and Keiko laughed, giving her a gentle, good natured shove in her passenger seat. "Yes I did it for you. I idolized you when we were kids...if you didn't know how much I cared about you growing up after you...." the happiness left her face for a moment. "After *it* happened, I did it. And then went on to the Olympics. For both of us."
Pulling away, she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the drivers side door. "Come on. We're going to the top floor. We'll take the private elevator." She pointed to the elevator near the car.
"Nobody is going to bother us."
The older woman cut her eyes around, obviously not quite pleased with the whole security situation. After what happened in her universe, her paranoia was heightened. She almost missed what Keiko said as she scoped out everything. “You never had to want for anything. I was able to scavenge faster and much more efficiently than the others. I nearly always found what I was looking for,” Eden replied confidently, her arrogance long gone it would seem, exchanged instead for a well earned sense of self-possession.
A glare burned through her gaze now as she turned and stared almost petulantly at her driver. It wasn’t quite that, though, and she almost seemed insulted. “Of course, I know the meaning of the colloquialism. But that- that would have had us murdered back in my time. Any difference would have been punished. I cannot simply-“ the older woman cut herself off, feeling her familiar temper flaring back to life. Well, her long time friend always did have that effect on her.
“It is not something that is easily gotten rid of,” she added tersely, her chin jutting up.
It’s not that she was ashamed or uncomfortable it’s just...
“I do not know this world or its biases. I do not know what is abhorred or valued. So you will excuse me if I am not racing to hold the fastest Pride Parade.”
Her confidence waned at the mention of her looks. She hadn’t been vain in her youth but she had known she was attractive, not in the typical way sure but she had always been fit and strong. Keiko would feel that each time she touched Eden, how solid and taut she felt.
“You have only seen a small sample of my scars. They are worse. I was once shot twenty times by a government agent. Barely managed to dodge in time to stave off any life threatening injuries,” she commented, not quite self-deprecatingly but more so an acknowledgement of what her body has been through. However, she blushed again which caused a small and fleeting dark cloud of anger on her face. “Well, at least I am still in the best shape of my life.” One more acknowledgment.
Any other comments about their relationship were placed inside a large box in her head, her mind musing over them as she moved to fellow Keiko.
“I will only stay tonight. I need to return to my world. My people still need me. Not only that but this is... far too surveilled for me to be comfortable with.”
A glare burned through her gaze now as she turned and stared almost petulantly at her driver. It wasn’t quite that, though, and she almost seemed insulted. “Of course, I know the meaning of the colloquialism. But that- that would have had us murdered back in my time. Any difference would have been punished. I cannot simply-“ the older woman cut herself off, feeling her familiar temper flaring back to life. Well, her long time friend always did have that effect on her.
“It is not something that is easily gotten rid of,” she added tersely, her chin jutting up.
It’s not that she was ashamed or uncomfortable it’s just...
“I do not know this world or its biases. I do not know what is abhorred or valued. So you will excuse me if I am not racing to hold the fastest Pride Parade.”
Her confidence waned at the mention of her looks. She hadn’t been vain in her youth but she had known she was attractive, not in the typical way sure but she had always been fit and strong. Keiko would feel that each time she touched Eden, how solid and taut she felt.
“You have only seen a small sample of my scars. They are worse. I was once shot twenty times by a government agent. Barely managed to dodge in time to stave off any life threatening injuries,” she commented, not quite self-deprecatingly but more so an acknowledgement of what her body has been through. However, she blushed again which caused a small and fleeting dark cloud of anger on her face. “Well, at least I am still in the best shape of my life.” One more acknowledgment.
Any other comments about their relationship were placed inside a large box in her head, her mind musing over them as she moved to fellow Keiko.
“I will only stay tonight. I need to return to my world. My people still need me. Not only that but this is... far too surveilled for me to be comfortable with.”
Keiko set about to gathering her groceries, balancing them on her hip. "You always did take care of me." Focusing on gathering her purse and bag, she locked her car, heading to the elevator. "You don't have to hide anything here. The world today....they're more accepting of people like us. In more than just mutation." Leading Eden to the elevator she swiped her card and the doors opened. Hitting the top button, they began the slow rise up.
"You'll have to tell me about your escapades while I make dinner. Though Im not suprised you dodged the bullets. You'll feel better after a shower." Hugging her grocery bag to her chest, Keiko avoided staring at the taller woman, her face still pink. "Do you even know how to get home? How are you going to do it?" She asked quietly.
"I own this entire building. Noone is going to be here that I haven't cleared." As the doors opened, outside three men in suits were awaiting her, lingering in the hallway. She spoke in Korean, waving in greeting and Edens name came up several times, and the men nodded in greeting to her.
Unlocking her door to the apartment, she stepped in, and the six locks that followed clicked shut. It was a large apartment, done in muted earthy colors, a kitchen off to the side, large overstuffed couches and a television on the opposite side. Her bedroom behind the living room, and a large bathroom was to the side, the door opened. Setting the groceries on the counter she removed her blazer, bending down to pick up a fat, old calico cat. "Im assuming you remember Sushi?" Keiko asked.
"You can leave your things in my bedroom. THere's clean towels in the bathroom, I have some sweats and shirts that will fit you they uh..." she trailed off, suddenly very invested in petting her spoiled cat. "They were yours. I held onto them. I can cook dinner while you're cleaning up."
"You'll have to tell me about your escapades while I make dinner. Though Im not suprised you dodged the bullets. You'll feel better after a shower." Hugging her grocery bag to her chest, Keiko avoided staring at the taller woman, her face still pink. "Do you even know how to get home? How are you going to do it?" She asked quietly.
"I own this entire building. Noone is going to be here that I haven't cleared." As the doors opened, outside three men in suits were awaiting her, lingering in the hallway. She spoke in Korean, waving in greeting and Edens name came up several times, and the men nodded in greeting to her.
Unlocking her door to the apartment, she stepped in, and the six locks that followed clicked shut. It was a large apartment, done in muted earthy colors, a kitchen off to the side, large overstuffed couches and a television on the opposite side. Her bedroom behind the living room, and a large bathroom was to the side, the door opened. Setting the groceries on the counter she removed her blazer, bending down to pick up a fat, old calico cat. "Im assuming you remember Sushi?" Keiko asked.
"You can leave your things in my bedroom. THere's clean towels in the bathroom, I have some sweats and shirts that will fit you they uh..." she trailed off, suddenly very invested in petting her spoiled cat. "They were yours. I held onto them. I can cook dinner while you're cleaning up."
Strong and bare arms reached out and grabbed the grocery bag, carrying it easily in one arm. It just seemed like the polite thing to do.
She harrumphed slightly, looking up at the ceiling of the elevator. “That is easier said than done. I am old now... old habits... ah something about dogs. I do not know, I never learned every American phrase,” Eden replied, discreetly peeking inside the bag to see what else was in there.
“Wait, dinner?” She asked, her mouth clumsy around the word. Rations she was used to. Eating what they could find on the go, she was used to. Giving Keiko extra of her rations, despite the fact her metabolism was much faster, she was used to.
Eden watched the exchange, still stuck on dinner and her rusty Korean not doing her any favors. She instead moved to focus on the apartment as they walked in, feeling and looking horribly out of place. It hammered home her next statement. “I do not belong here and my people will be missing me. They must think I also was killed in battle. They need me more than I am allowed to be needed by anyone else,” she paused as she looked towards the kitchen, moving to set the bag down with care. “The other you always understood this. That I was not... able to...” the words were hard now that she fully understood, and she struggled. “I believe that is why nothing ever happened. She knew that I needed to put the war first. Yet... she was as foolish as ever,” Eden stared off to the side, through the windows and out onto the city. “The amount of times we risked everything to save each other. Yet we never risked others to do it... perhaps that was why...”
She trailed off, glancing down at the cat that began to brush against her legs. Eden startled at that, remembering yet just barely. She nudged it curiously with her foot but left it alone aside from that, glancing towards the bedroom and making a quiet and surprisingly slow escape to it. The shower turned on seconds later.
She harrumphed slightly, looking up at the ceiling of the elevator. “That is easier said than done. I am old now... old habits... ah something about dogs. I do not know, I never learned every American phrase,” Eden replied, discreetly peeking inside the bag to see what else was in there.
“Wait, dinner?” She asked, her mouth clumsy around the word. Rations she was used to. Eating what they could find on the go, she was used to. Giving Keiko extra of her rations, despite the fact her metabolism was much faster, she was used to.
Eden watched the exchange, still stuck on dinner and her rusty Korean not doing her any favors. She instead moved to focus on the apartment as they walked in, feeling and looking horribly out of place. It hammered home her next statement. “I do not belong here and my people will be missing me. They must think I also was killed in battle. They need me more than I am allowed to be needed by anyone else,” she paused as she looked towards the kitchen, moving to set the bag down with care. “The other you always understood this. That I was not... able to...” the words were hard now that she fully understood, and she struggled. “I believe that is why nothing ever happened. She knew that I needed to put the war first. Yet... she was as foolish as ever,” Eden stared off to the side, through the windows and out onto the city. “The amount of times we risked everything to save each other. Yet we never risked others to do it... perhaps that was why...”
She trailed off, glancing down at the cat that began to brush against her legs. Eden startled at that, remembering yet just barely. She nudged it curiously with her foot but left it alone aside from that, glancing towards the bedroom and making a quiet and surprisingly slow escape to it. The shower turned on seconds later.
"Old dog can learn new tricks. That's the phrase, Eden." She set pans on the stove, removing chicken from the butchers paper it was wrapped in and began cutting it up on a cutting board with a knife. Pausing to remove her blouse, she had on a white wifebeater beneath it, and it was then Eden could se the effects of Keikos own journey.
Electric burn scars ran up her arms, a deep healed wound here, a stab wound there, all healed and old. "And yes, dinner. I need to eat, those candies won't hold my sugar up forever." Pausing to look her up and down, her face was...suprisingly very tired. "I figure it's been a while since you've had a hot meal. Let me do this yeah?" She began dumping various seasonings onto the meat and washed her hands.
"We spent most of our teens and twenties always putting a war first. Even growing up....which is why most of our friends died before they were old enough to rent a goddamn car." Her voice was a low grumble, and she turned the television on low with the remote on the counter. "If she was anything like me, she probably had been in love with you for a while but knew that you always put the mission before yourself. So she didn't want to take it away from you and be a liability." Keikos jaw tightened up ad she grabbed her meter from next to the fridge, setting out supplies to check her levels. "Because when you love someone you want them to be safe. And you don't want them to get hurt so you do everything in your power to make sure that they stay safe."
As Eden headed into the bathroom, Keiko grabbed a glass of water and chugged it down. "Because when you fucking love somebody you don't want them to die from it." She muttered to noone in particular. Setting to finishing cooking, she mixed rice and chicken in a skillet, adding some microwaved veggies and grabbed two bottles of gatorade from her fridge. She quickly changed into sweats and one of her old x-scout tee shirts, she set out a clean change of clothes for Eden outside the door, and curled up on the couch to wait.
Electric burn scars ran up her arms, a deep healed wound here, a stab wound there, all healed and old. "And yes, dinner. I need to eat, those candies won't hold my sugar up forever." Pausing to look her up and down, her face was...suprisingly very tired. "I figure it's been a while since you've had a hot meal. Let me do this yeah?" She began dumping various seasonings onto the meat and washed her hands.
"We spent most of our teens and twenties always putting a war first. Even growing up....which is why most of our friends died before they were old enough to rent a goddamn car." Her voice was a low grumble, and she turned the television on low with the remote on the counter. "If she was anything like me, she probably had been in love with you for a while but knew that you always put the mission before yourself. So she didn't want to take it away from you and be a liability." Keikos jaw tightened up ad she grabbed her meter from next to the fridge, setting out supplies to check her levels. "Because when you love someone you want them to be safe. And you don't want them to get hurt so you do everything in your power to make sure that they stay safe."
As Eden headed into the bathroom, Keiko grabbed a glass of water and chugged it down. "Because when you fucking love somebody you don't want them to die from it." She muttered to noone in particular. Setting to finishing cooking, she mixed rice and chicken in a skillet, adding some microwaved veggies and grabbed two bottles of gatorade from her fridge. She quickly changed into sweats and one of her old x-scout tee shirts, she set out a clean change of clothes for Eden outside the door, and curled up on the couch to wait.
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