The return trip to the apartment took a bit longer than expected, Keiko needing to stop at a corner store to pick up her much needed medication refills, and a few other minor things for the apartment. Having both Ryan and Eden with her seemed to calm her normally frayed nerves, a sense of normalcy settled over her. Burrowing deeper into her oversized hoodie, (Edens hoodie now?) she pulled her hood up and climbed back into the SUV.
"They raise the damn prices every year I swear. Got some stuff for some snacks, some pain reliever creams for you Eden, I want to take a look at your side again."
Heading back into the car garage, and stopping to briefly talk with an older Korean man he waved at the two taller women smiling happily and greeting them in broken English.
"Ji-yoo was the former owner of the building before my uncle bought it. And now its mine. He lives here rent free with his grand children."Keiko explained. "My uncle was going to kick him out. Once the morlocks get settled here as well they'll have better access to food and medical care."
Leading them back up to her apartment, and unlocking the door she kicked her sneakers off, stooping down to pick up Sushi and cuddling him close. "Lock the door behind you?" She called over her shoulder.
"So that was this universes Elsa huh? Cadmus looks good too. I don't remember if his brother survived in my timeline..."
"They raise the damn prices every year I swear. Got some stuff for some snacks, some pain reliever creams for you Eden, I want to take a look at your side again."
Heading back into the car garage, and stopping to briefly talk with an older Korean man he waved at the two taller women smiling happily and greeting them in broken English.
"Ji-yoo was the former owner of the building before my uncle bought it. And now its mine. He lives here rent free with his grand children."Keiko explained. "My uncle was going to kick him out. Once the morlocks get settled here as well they'll have better access to food and medical care."
Leading them back up to her apartment, and unlocking the door she kicked her sneakers off, stooping down to pick up Sushi and cuddling him close. "Lock the door behind you?" She called over her shoulder.
"So that was this universes Elsa huh? Cadmus looks good too. I don't remember if his brother survived in my timeline..."
The older and taller woman remained mostly quiet as they left the underground city. It seemed that Eden had been the most reluctant to leave, visibly uncomfortable with the topside world. When they returned to the surface, she actually jumped at the reintroduction to the loud bustle of the city, her spine straightening as rigid as it could go.
“You assume that they would want to live here with you,” she said as she dutifully locked the door behind her, allowing Keiko and Ryan in before she did so.
“Free amenities can only go so far. Living below is as much a statement as a necessity,” she explained, her voice as distant as her gaze. She was staring past them both, out the window.
“You have too much notoriety,” she huffed, moving to stand closer to the window, to brood probably.
It was definitely obvious she didn’t want to be here. She had been the last to turn and leave, reluctantly following after her... friends.
“Perhaps we should go to that cabin, Ryan,” Eden suggested, tone clipped. Purposely excluding Keiko.
“You assume that they would want to live here with you,” she said as she dutifully locked the door behind her, allowing Keiko and Ryan in before she did so.
“Free amenities can only go so far. Living below is as much a statement as a necessity,” she explained, her voice as distant as her gaze. She was staring past them both, out the window.
“You have too much notoriety,” she huffed, moving to stand closer to the window, to brood probably.
It was definitely obvious she didn’t want to be here. She had been the last to turn and leave, reluctantly following after her... friends.
“Perhaps we should go to that cabin, Ryan,” Eden suggested, tone clipped. Purposely excluding Keiko.
Ryan herself seemed mildly uncomfortable with the idea of returning to Keiko's apartment, having made sure to thank Elsa for her kindness and reassure her that she would like the cabin and would be back to see them all. A farewell was directed towards Cadmus as well before she followed the other two women out, lagging back behind them a bit. Initially the shock of seeing them had been overwhelmed by the joy of seeing her friends alive even if they weren't her friends, but it had been quickly hindered by their attitudes. From what she could tell, they were both putting on a cool front to keep calm in the face of an overwhelmingly situation, particularly after the trauma they had both seemingly suffered. Still, it made Ryan uncomfortable and her desire to be with them had mellowed.
She was quiet on the ride as well, temporarily following the lead of the other two as they made their way to Keiko's home, stopping only briefly to nod to the gentleman in the parking garage before hurrying her way in. The door was locked and she was left promptly pinching at the bridge of her nose as she listened to the women. It was awkward. She could agree with that to the highest extent, but Eden's tone finally brought a twitch to her face.
"No." Um.. What? Did Ryan of all people just say... No?
"No," she repeated again, a heavily stern quality to her tone as she turned to the others. "You," she gestured to Eden, "Are going to sit your ass down in that chair over there, and have your side looked at." A slender finger with a chipped black painted stiletto nail was extended authoritatively towards a nearby chair, her expression daring Eden to oppose. To emphasize her point she moved her body between the door and the other two, her hand dropped readily at her side.
"Your intentions are genuinely wonderful Keiko but Eden has a point. Many of the Morlocks live underground because they don't feel comfortable above ground, not simply because they have a lack of access to housing... Below ground they're safe, they're welcome. I think it would be lovely to open your building up to the Morlocks who wish to come to the surface, but more so they need help getting a steady stream of supplies. To make the opening of your building more effectively taken advantage of perhaps you could open it to the Morlocks, and then to the displaced ..EDE's.. Who are in need of housing as well." Shoulders rose and fell in a small shrug as she watched the two of them, her lips pursed tightly.
She was quiet on the ride as well, temporarily following the lead of the other two as they made their way to Keiko's home, stopping only briefly to nod to the gentleman in the parking garage before hurrying her way in. The door was locked and she was left promptly pinching at the bridge of her nose as she listened to the women. It was awkward. She could agree with that to the highest extent, but Eden's tone finally brought a twitch to her face.
"No." Um.. What? Did Ryan of all people just say... No?
"No," she repeated again, a heavily stern quality to her tone as she turned to the others. "You," she gestured to Eden, "Are going to sit your ass down in that chair over there, and have your side looked at." A slender finger with a chipped black painted stiletto nail was extended authoritatively towards a nearby chair, her expression daring Eden to oppose. To emphasize her point she moved her body between the door and the other two, her hand dropped readily at her side.
"Your intentions are genuinely wonderful Keiko but Eden has a point. Many of the Morlocks live underground because they don't feel comfortable above ground, not simply because they have a lack of access to housing... Below ground they're safe, they're welcome. I think it would be lovely to open your building up to the Morlocks who wish to come to the surface, but more so they need help getting a steady stream of supplies. To make the opening of your building more effectively taken advantage of perhaps you could open it to the Morlocks, and then to the displaced ..EDE's.. Who are in need of housing as well." Shoulders rose and fell in a small shrug as she watched the two of them, her lips pursed tightly.
Clearing her throat, Keiko turned on her keurig, and set her pill bottles with the small tower of other medications next to her fridge. "Probably don't want to. However, given that the morlocks seemed to be universally shunned and forgotten about in every timeline, I figured given my resources I might be able to offer some help." Edens tone was noted, and Keiko immediately began pulling away from the two of them, feeling like an outsider. She knew those tones, used to hearing them from Eden growing up.
Go away Keiko. You're annoying, Keiko. We're doing something and you're just going to get in the way, Keiko.
"The only noterity I have is killing someone that was willingly and actively attempting to suppress mutants. And those that worked under him a greatful that I took that chance. However Im aware that its not for everyone." Setting Sushi down on the counter, the fat cat wound its way around Edens ankles again, purring like a machine. The short woman glanced to Ryan, and out of the plastic bags, Keiko removed several numbing creams, and a tin of tiger balm. "Take that, if you're leaving tonight. It'll help your side with the pain, Eden."
Grabbing a water bottle she set two more out for the other women to grab, and she perched herself on the counter. "They're welcome to the building. I only have one or two floors being used right now." Crossing her legs, she began fiddling with a pill box, the tremors in her hands starting up again and causing the tables in the plastic case to rattle around.
"I know you two are going to go off and do your own thing. Don't let me stop you." It was odd for her to feel like she should be arguing, but on the other hand these were two of the most strong willed people she knew. There was a warning beep from her insulin pump and she silenced it. "Can I fix you two something to eat before you go?" Fishing out her pills one by one it would seem she was on a slew of things now a days.
As Ryan spoke up, Keiko held a hand up. "I don't want to force anyone feeling uncomfortable. I've got the medical training for it but you and I both know she's self sufficent. I don't want anyone feeling cornered, especially you two. I give you both spare keys if you want to come back?"
Clearing her throat again she slid down and headed to Eden and repacked the medical items in the bag and set them nearby Eden. "I can look at it now, or you can do it yourself. But you said it yourself you need to heal." Smiling up at her, something still seemed incredibly broken in Keikos behavior, but she was pulling away all over again. "Just try to keep in touch with me until you find a way home?" Glancing back to Ryan, she turned and hugged her arms to her small frame. "And you're welcome here any time. It's...been good to have familiar faces around again."
Go away Keiko. You're annoying, Keiko. We're doing something and you're just going to get in the way, Keiko.
"The only noterity I have is killing someone that was willingly and actively attempting to suppress mutants. And those that worked under him a greatful that I took that chance. However Im aware that its not for everyone." Setting Sushi down on the counter, the fat cat wound its way around Edens ankles again, purring like a machine. The short woman glanced to Ryan, and out of the plastic bags, Keiko removed several numbing creams, and a tin of tiger balm. "Take that, if you're leaving tonight. It'll help your side with the pain, Eden."
Grabbing a water bottle she set two more out for the other women to grab, and she perched herself on the counter. "They're welcome to the building. I only have one or two floors being used right now." Crossing her legs, she began fiddling with a pill box, the tremors in her hands starting up again and causing the tables in the plastic case to rattle around.
"I know you two are going to go off and do your own thing. Don't let me stop you." It was odd for her to feel like she should be arguing, but on the other hand these were two of the most strong willed people she knew. There was a warning beep from her insulin pump and she silenced it. "Can I fix you two something to eat before you go?" Fishing out her pills one by one it would seem she was on a slew of things now a days.
As Ryan spoke up, Keiko held a hand up. "I don't want to force anyone feeling uncomfortable. I've got the medical training for it but you and I both know she's self sufficent. I don't want anyone feeling cornered, especially you two. I give you both spare keys if you want to come back?"
Clearing her throat again she slid down and headed to Eden and repacked the medical items in the bag and set them nearby Eden. "I can look at it now, or you can do it yourself. But you said it yourself you need to heal." Smiling up at her, something still seemed incredibly broken in Keikos behavior, but she was pulling away all over again. "Just try to keep in touch with me until you find a way home?" Glancing back to Ryan, she turned and hugged her arms to her small frame. "And you're welcome here any time. It's...been good to have familiar faces around again."
The speedster shot a rather petulant glare at Ryan, and did not follow the order. Her arms crossed over her chest and she would return the stare while Keiko talked. Well, mostly.
She had her face turned away from Keiko but, her ear was turned her way and heard everything just fine.
“Ryan, perhaps you should go on ahead. To the cabin,” Eden now suggested in a gentler, yet still firm tone. Her gaze was now turned on Keiko, face still unreadable but any chill gone from her features.
“Keiko,” she started, walking over to her where she was perched on the counter. Of course, Eden was still much taller than her. Each hand placed itself next to Keiko’s legs as she leaned down.
“I am... I am sorry. You are not unwanted here. This is not like before,” she said gently, if a bit uncomfortably. Yet her discomfort didn’t seem paramount as she tentatively met the younger woman’s gaze.
Eden leaned back and pulled up her shirt, the cut on her side already healing. All that remained was new scar tissue and bruising. “It is fine. See? I heal much faster.”
She leaned back in, moving one hand to rest on top of Kei’s head. “It is a kind idea. We just need you to realize the reality of their situation. You cannot force your generosity onto anyone. They have to be willing to accept it. But you can still try, yes?”
And she would smile stiffly, her face clearly still not used to it.
She had her face turned away from Keiko but, her ear was turned her way and heard everything just fine.
“Ryan, perhaps you should go on ahead. To the cabin,” Eden now suggested in a gentler, yet still firm tone. Her gaze was now turned on Keiko, face still unreadable but any chill gone from her features.
“Keiko,” she started, walking over to her where she was perched on the counter. Of course, Eden was still much taller than her. Each hand placed itself next to Keiko’s legs as she leaned down.
“I am... I am sorry. You are not unwanted here. This is not like before,” she said gently, if a bit uncomfortably. Yet her discomfort didn’t seem paramount as she tentatively met the younger woman’s gaze.
Eden leaned back and pulled up her shirt, the cut on her side already healing. All that remained was new scar tissue and bruising. “It is fine. See? I heal much faster.”
She leaned back in, moving one hand to rest on top of Kei’s head. “It is a kind idea. We just need you to realize the reality of their situation. You cannot force your generosity onto anyone. They have to be willing to accept it. But you can still try, yes?”
And she would smile stiffly, her face clearly still not used to it.
Ryan's eyes narrowed at Eden as she refused to sit down. Stubborn broad... So typical of her. Still, Ryan gratefully accepted the bottle of water when it was offered, and settled in for a moment as Eden took her approach. It wasn't what she had been instructed to do but it was, by far, an acceptable substitute.
She waited a few moments, watching closely to make sure that they were indeed settling in and being kind to each other before Ryan gave a curt nod. This is what she wanted them to do. A slight break in the conversation was approached with a gentle clearing of her throat before she nodded at the two of them. "Sort your shit.. Stop getting all cold and emotionless. It's creepy and sad, and you guys aren't enjoying it. Catch up with each other, spend some time together. I'm gonna find my cabin.. But I'll be back, promise. Thank you for your help, both of you."
Another nod was given, though this one was more gentle, grateful.. There was gratitude and the slightest reach of a smile in her gaze as she turned on her heels and walked right on out the door unless she was stopped. Those two needed time together and she knew it... They'd been traumatized, they were quite alone before this pile of chaos began, but... There was a point where neither of them had been alone. They'd had that connection, that comfort and company. Ryan? Now she was used to alone.. It hardly bothered her anymore, even as she made her way out into the streets to locate her cabin, leaving her friends to ever so slightly tug on her heartstrings.
She waited a few moments, watching closely to make sure that they were indeed settling in and being kind to each other before Ryan gave a curt nod. This is what she wanted them to do. A slight break in the conversation was approached with a gentle clearing of her throat before she nodded at the two of them. "Sort your shit.. Stop getting all cold and emotionless. It's creepy and sad, and you guys aren't enjoying it. Catch up with each other, spend some time together. I'm gonna find my cabin.. But I'll be back, promise. Thank you for your help, both of you."
Another nod was given, though this one was more gentle, grateful.. There was gratitude and the slightest reach of a smile in her gaze as she turned on her heels and walked right on out the door unless she was stopped. Those two needed time together and she knew it... They'd been traumatized, they were quite alone before this pile of chaos began, but... There was a point where neither of them had been alone. They'd had that connection, that comfort and company. Ryan? Now she was used to alone.. It hardly bothered her anymore, even as she made her way out into the streets to locate her cabin, leaving her friends to ever so slightly tug on her heartstrings.
Keiko was futzing with her pill case, zoned out in her own safe apartment before realizing Eden was upon her. Freezing up, her breath caught in her throat at the proximity and having left her guard down. Exhaling shakily, she tipped her head to look up at Eden and she nodded and still struggled to keep her demeanor as calm as possible. "You've done nothing wrong, Eden. I just---" She went quiet, setting her pill case aside. "I just want to make sure you're safe this time. I know you'll need to go home. I just want to make sure that you get there."
As Ryan spoke up, her face paled a bit more and she glanced down, examining the womans shoes. "I uh....I wrote my number and address for the place on that paper you gave me. Let me know if you want a spare key. I can get you one...yeah?" Her voice was shaking at this point, and she gave a weak smile. "Come back soon...okay? Don't be a stranger. It's really good to have you back. I missed you."
As she left, her attention turned back to Eden and she took in her side, reaching a hand out to breifly touch the healing scar tissue, running the tips of her fingers over the healed wound. "I just worry. It all happend so fast last time, I don't want to see you get hurt while you're here. I know it's not like before. I know that...I do I just..."
She broke all over again, reaching her hand down for the hand that wasn't on her head, and briefly reached up to touch the scar over Edens eyebrow, before pulling away sharply. There weren't tears, at least night right away. "I understand. They'll come if they want. There's just...so much. I need you to understand that I'm just finally in a position where I can finally help these people." She was shaking, looking up at the taller woman with apprehension. "You need to do what you need to do to get home. I'll be here to help you however I can."
As Ryan spoke up, her face paled a bit more and she glanced down, examining the womans shoes. "I uh....I wrote my number and address for the place on that paper you gave me. Let me know if you want a spare key. I can get you one...yeah?" Her voice was shaking at this point, and she gave a weak smile. "Come back soon...okay? Don't be a stranger. It's really good to have you back. I missed you."
As she left, her attention turned back to Eden and she took in her side, reaching a hand out to breifly touch the healing scar tissue, running the tips of her fingers over the healed wound. "I just worry. It all happend so fast last time, I don't want to see you get hurt while you're here. I know it's not like before. I know that...I do I just..."
She broke all over again, reaching her hand down for the hand that wasn't on her head, and briefly reached up to touch the scar over Edens eyebrow, before pulling away sharply. There weren't tears, at least night right away. "I understand. They'll come if they want. There's just...so much. I need you to understand that I'm just finally in a position where I can finally help these people." She was shaking, looking up at the taller woman with apprehension. "You need to do what you need to do to get home. I'll be here to help you however I can."
Eden turned her head over her shoulder, eyes narrowing and jaw set as she glared at Ryan.
“There is nothing to sort,” she said dismissively, lips set into a grim pout.
Huffing, she turned back around to Keiko, still very much in her space. She startled slightly when Keiko touched her wound, the muscles contracting around the touch.
Not from pain, to clarify.
She cleared her throat, shoving her shirt back down hastily.
“I will be fine. I... when I was running, I saw every Eden in every timeline. It was so disorienting. In every single one I died. In my timeline, I survived every single event that killed them. I think that must count for something,” she said, trying to be reassuring.
She still wasn’t very good at it.
“Keiko, you realize I do not want to leave you, yes? I have to leave here. I want to leave here. That does not mean I want to leave you. The mission comes first, always. That does not mean I wish it did not have to. I may be...”
Eden pinched her lips together, brows furrowed as her good eye flicked back and forth so quickly.
“I may not be... very warm. But I am still human. Well... not but...” she was struggling to find the words. “I do feel things. I have always felt the most when with you...”
She was somehow closer, not looming over Keiko but definitely leaning very heavily over her now.
“I am being strong for both of us. If I let you have your way, my home will not survive. And for what? Love? How selfish would that be of me? That would be a death sentence for all of my people. One slip, could mean their genocide,” she said calmly, her one good eye vibrating glass as she met the younger woman’s.
“There is nothing to sort,” she said dismissively, lips set into a grim pout.
Huffing, she turned back around to Keiko, still very much in her space. She startled slightly when Keiko touched her wound, the muscles contracting around the touch.
Not from pain, to clarify.
She cleared her throat, shoving her shirt back down hastily.
“I will be fine. I... when I was running, I saw every Eden in every timeline. It was so disorienting. In every single one I died. In my timeline, I survived every single event that killed them. I think that must count for something,” she said, trying to be reassuring.
She still wasn’t very good at it.
“Keiko, you realize I do not want to leave you, yes? I have to leave here. I want to leave here. That does not mean I want to leave you. The mission comes first, always. That does not mean I wish it did not have to. I may be...”
Eden pinched her lips together, brows furrowed as her good eye flicked back and forth so quickly.
“I may not be... very warm. But I am still human. Well... not but...” she was struggling to find the words. “I do feel things. I have always felt the most when with you...”
She was somehow closer, not looming over Keiko but definitely leaning very heavily over her now.
“I am being strong for both of us. If I let you have your way, my home will not survive. And for what? Love? How selfish would that be of me? That would be a death sentence for all of my people. One slip, could mean their genocide,” she said calmly, her one good eye vibrating glass as she met the younger woman’s.
She nodded dumbly along, her eyes searching every scar, every mark on Edens face. She seemed to be more so focused on committing every bit of the living, breathing Eden infront of her to memory. "I know you will. Because you're strong. I just want you to know that when you're around me you don't have to be all the time..." Her voice went quiet and she moved her hand up to gently touch the side of Edens cheek tentatively. "Seeing you almost die all those times growing up, and then you actually dying was devastating. You were the one person in my life that never changed, you were a rock. It was a constant that I could count on."
Swallowing hard, her mouth was dry, and her hand pulled away, settling uselessly in her lap. "I know you don't want to leave me. I don't want you to leave either but..." A shaky exhale followed, and she nervously licked her lips. "The mission always comes first. I never knew what mission you were on then, but I know this one at least. Your mission is always going to come first." Having Eden this close after so many years of being cold, she finally felt some semblence of warmpth seeping into her bones.
"You said it yourself." Keiko laughed grimly. "You run hot." It was a lame joke, but it was one she had to try and break some of the tension with it. "You've always been human, and I'm glad I just...Eden you always made me feel things. Good things. Its why I followed you around so much...when I got older I'd just bother you for the sake of it." She was rambling, her cool and distant demeanor quickly dissolving as her hand reached out to set itself on Edens shoulder.
"I knew even when we were younger that you'd be there. You always kept me safe. Let me help you feel safe." At this point Keiko was certain her heart was going to explode through her ribs with nerves. "I know I'm not your mission, as much as I want to be, your people will always come first. And I accept that. I'm not that selfish. Love is something but I know your mind will always focus on the mission. Let mine be getting you back to where you need to be."
Her pump blared again quietly, and she swore under her breath. "I know communication was never our strong point. We're working on it even now. But you're right. I can't doom your people for the sake of us. So I want to go back with you."
Swallowing hard, her mouth was dry, and her hand pulled away, settling uselessly in her lap. "I know you don't want to leave me. I don't want you to leave either but..." A shaky exhale followed, and she nervously licked her lips. "The mission always comes first. I never knew what mission you were on then, but I know this one at least. Your mission is always going to come first." Having Eden this close after so many years of being cold, she finally felt some semblence of warmpth seeping into her bones.
"You said it yourself." Keiko laughed grimly. "You run hot." It was a lame joke, but it was one she had to try and break some of the tension with it. "You've always been human, and I'm glad I just...Eden you always made me feel things. Good things. Its why I followed you around so much...when I got older I'd just bother you for the sake of it." She was rambling, her cool and distant demeanor quickly dissolving as her hand reached out to set itself on Edens shoulder.
"I knew even when we were younger that you'd be there. You always kept me safe. Let me help you feel safe." At this point Keiko was certain her heart was going to explode through her ribs with nerves. "I know I'm not your mission, as much as I want to be, your people will always come first. And I accept that. I'm not that selfish. Love is something but I know your mind will always focus on the mission. Let mine be getting you back to where you need to be."
Her pump blared again quietly, and she swore under her breath. "I know communication was never our strong point. We're working on it even now. But you're right. I can't doom your people for the sake of us. So I want to go back with you."
Sighed fretfully, staring down at her friend. “You are still... healing yourself. You are not... you are not as strong here as you were there. That is- that is okay. I...” her eyes flashed, wondering when she became so inarticulate.
“Let me be strong for you so you can focus on... being strong for yourself,” Eden whispered, reaching a hand out, stiffened with age and scars, to tuck a strand of hair behind the younger woman’s ear. Her gestures were inexperienced, clumsy even. As if she had never had the chance to ever touch someone so gently.
Or be touched in the same way, as she startled at Keiko’s hand on her face.
“I... I cannot remember the last time I ever felt safe. It has been decades since I felt safe. I can try but I... I will not make a promise to you I cannot keep,” the Speedster swore solemnly.
And then...
“What?”
Eden stared down at her, face struck with confusion and shock.
“You want to come back to...”
Eden seemed truly at a loss for words, taking a few steps back to stare at Keiko.
“Are you stupid?!” She half shouted, teeth grinding together. A hand came up to swipe over her face as she turned around, hands now on her hips.
Then she grimaced at herself, turning back to face her. “Of course not but are you insane?” She amended in a hiss. “You would give all this up?” Eden lifts her arms, gesturing all around her. “You would leave behind this comfort, your position to help... to come fight a losing war with me? You died. Everyone died including you. And you would risk all to that because...”
The Latina stared at her, eye full of disbelief. “You love me that much?” She asked quietly, staring at Keiko as if she had never seen her before.
“I can’t ask you to do that. I can’t-“
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I cannot stop you...” which seemed like it should’ve been a question yet with the resignation in her tone and body, she knew it wasn’t a question. Keiko was stubborn. If nothing else she was stubborn.
Eden stepped forward and was suddenly in front of Keiko again, a rush of motion and wind swirling around them.
“You... you love me that much? That you would leave all of this behind? I cannot give you this kind of life. All I can offer is bloodshed and more trauma,” Eden murmured, her good eye hazy as she looked down at her.
“I... I have never...” and then her eye drops down to the younger woman’s lips, and then they flick back up to her eyes. “No, I take it back. You are really, really stupid, Kei,” she whispers, her metallic and ringing voice liquefying, and then with a surprising amount of care... she leans down and kisses her.
“Let me be strong for you so you can focus on... being strong for yourself,” Eden whispered, reaching a hand out, stiffened with age and scars, to tuck a strand of hair behind the younger woman’s ear. Her gestures were inexperienced, clumsy even. As if she had never had the chance to ever touch someone so gently.
Or be touched in the same way, as she startled at Keiko’s hand on her face.
“I... I cannot remember the last time I ever felt safe. It has been decades since I felt safe. I can try but I... I will not make a promise to you I cannot keep,” the Speedster swore solemnly.
And then...
“What?”
Eden stared down at her, face struck with confusion and shock.
“You want to come back to...”
Eden seemed truly at a loss for words, taking a few steps back to stare at Keiko.
“Are you stupid?!” She half shouted, teeth grinding together. A hand came up to swipe over her face as she turned around, hands now on her hips.
Then she grimaced at herself, turning back to face her. “Of course not but are you insane?” She amended in a hiss. “You would give all this up?” Eden lifts her arms, gesturing all around her. “You would leave behind this comfort, your position to help... to come fight a losing war with me? You died. Everyone died including you. And you would risk all to that because...”
The Latina stared at her, eye full of disbelief. “You love me that much?” She asked quietly, staring at Keiko as if she had never seen her before.
“I can’t ask you to do that. I can’t-“
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I cannot stop you...” which seemed like it should’ve been a question yet with the resignation in her tone and body, she knew it wasn’t a question. Keiko was stubborn. If nothing else she was stubborn.
Eden stepped forward and was suddenly in front of Keiko again, a rush of motion and wind swirling around them.
“You... you love me that much? That you would leave all of this behind? I cannot give you this kind of life. All I can offer is bloodshed and more trauma,” Eden murmured, her good eye hazy as she looked down at her.
“I... I have never...” and then her eye drops down to the younger woman’s lips, and then they flick back up to her eyes. “No, I take it back. You are really, really stupid, Kei,” she whispers, her metallic and ringing voice liquefying, and then with a surprising amount of care... she leans down and kisses her.
"Healing myself be damned! Eden did you forget how we grew up? What we saw? What we dealt with? Why do you think I am the way I am? You've ALWAYS been strong for me. Always. Even when you didn't think you could be." Her head turned into the taller womans rough palm, enjoying the sensation. "It's beyond fucking cliche to say I can be that safe place. But I can help you." Nodding in time with Edens words, she smiled brokenly up to her. "You've never made a promise to me you couldn't keep. Ever. And I've got a fantastic memory."
Keiko continued to nod as realization hit Eden, her smile turning sad...only to visibly flinch and pull back as her voice raised, and she pulled away. The petite woman visibly deflated, and she could only nod dumbly as her friend went on a tirade. "You lost everything. I dont HAVE anything. I fell in control because I killed a man, I can give it back to the people that DEESERVE this...that NEED it I...." Her anxiety quickly began to mount and her heart visibly pounded against her ribs, jostling the small locket she wore just slightly. "How many wars did we fight before? And how many times were we separated? We're stronger to gether but just--"
Falling silent as Eden stared her down, she could only nod. "I do. And I have. But you can't love a dead person, so you try and heal and move on the best you can." The reasoning was weak. "But I do, but I know that if you go back there alone, something terrible is going to happen and I cant let you face that alone." There was far to many emotions bubbling beneath the surface at this point, and she pushed herself to sit up higher on the counter top. "Could you ever stop me years ago? I don't think theres any refrigerators that work back home for you." A weak joke to crack the tension. "Much less high shelves?"
As Eden was upon her again, Keikos hands were shaking as she reached out to touch the tall womans arm, holding on to her as a way to keep herself anchored in reality. "People do crazy things for the people they care about. And you mean to tell me that me dying there, and you dying here....and now we're here isn't some kind of intervention? Some kind of sign? We were MEANT to handle this bullshit together. Blood shed, trauma, bullet wounds, fucking car bombs...Eden I don't care about any of that. I care about being with the people that I love and thats the end of it."
Tilting her head up to look at Eden properly, her face went soft, and the anxieties she'd been feeling seemed to evaporate. Her hand moved from Edens arm to her cheek and Keiko gave a tiny, weak laugh. "So I'm stupid. Last I checked stupidity wasn't a prerequisite for falling in love." The kiss caught her off guard, but she returned it gently, her thumb rubbing along Edens scarred cheek.
Keiko continued to nod as realization hit Eden, her smile turning sad...only to visibly flinch and pull back as her voice raised, and she pulled away. The petite woman visibly deflated, and she could only nod dumbly as her friend went on a tirade. "You lost everything. I dont HAVE anything. I fell in control because I killed a man, I can give it back to the people that DEESERVE this...that NEED it I...." Her anxiety quickly began to mount and her heart visibly pounded against her ribs, jostling the small locket she wore just slightly. "How many wars did we fight before? And how many times were we separated? We're stronger to gether but just--"
Falling silent as Eden stared her down, she could only nod. "I do. And I have. But you can't love a dead person, so you try and heal and move on the best you can." The reasoning was weak. "But I do, but I know that if you go back there alone, something terrible is going to happen and I cant let you face that alone." There was far to many emotions bubbling beneath the surface at this point, and she pushed herself to sit up higher on the counter top. "Could you ever stop me years ago? I don't think theres any refrigerators that work back home for you." A weak joke to crack the tension. "Much less high shelves?"
As Eden was upon her again, Keikos hands were shaking as she reached out to touch the tall womans arm, holding on to her as a way to keep herself anchored in reality. "People do crazy things for the people they care about. And you mean to tell me that me dying there, and you dying here....and now we're here isn't some kind of intervention? Some kind of sign? We were MEANT to handle this bullshit together. Blood shed, trauma, bullet wounds, fucking car bombs...Eden I don't care about any of that. I care about being with the people that I love and thats the end of it."
Tilting her head up to look at Eden properly, her face went soft, and the anxieties she'd been feeling seemed to evaporate. Her hand moved from Edens arm to her cheek and Keiko gave a tiny, weak laugh. "So I'm stupid. Last I checked stupidity wasn't a prerequisite for falling in love." The kiss caught her off guard, but she returned it gently, her thumb rubbing along Edens scarred cheek.
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