WHO: Jaxon & Jazmine WHEN: The first day both groups arrive at Newhalem. WHERE: Newhalem SUMMARY: Meeting for the first time in over a year. STATUS: In progress. WARNINGS: Likely none SUGGESTED LISTENING:Blackbird Song
There were worse things to hallucinate at the end of the world than your ex-husband, but Jaz wasn't sure what they were.
∞
Newhalem was beautiful and perfect, a welcome sight and needed fortune. But god, she was tired. Something about stepping foot into a haven, one the scouts had deemed safe enough, pressed the weight of exhaustion down heavily on her every time. Maybe it was the prospect of sleep, or the illusion of safety; regardless, it always made Jazmine feel as if her bones were made of lead. Like despite the fact she'd taken thousands of steps in the last month alone, her feet would never carry her again.
And that had to be the explanation: the exhaustion. Had to be the reason she was seeing him, standing there amongst a group of strangers. Tall, chin up, like this whole fucked up situation hadn't even touched him.
I'm hallucinating, she thought deliriously, trembling hand on her forehead to check her temperature. Maybe she was bitten, dying, and this was a fever dream. There just- there was no way-
- how was he here? What were the chances? Statistically just, so improbable and yet--
- and he was alive and looked no worse for wear--
- which, of course, he'd always been able to take care of himself--
...why'd he have to be here on a day she looked so ragged?
Was he okay? Was his family? Did he know either way? Did he care no of course he did, but he probably didn't think about it, the same way she didn't think about hers--
Jazmine didn't realize she was crying until someone passed her a handkerchief with a bewildered expression. She didn't give them an explanation for her apparent psychotic break. Shit, she was going to vomit, she was so weak, her knees were going to give out--
The shining exterior of comfortable shelter, the dark green of the ever present forest, the woody smell of fire and mountains- it all muted, dimmed at the edges of her vision. There were deliberations and negotiations being held up front a ways, guns up with their safeties off but no shots fired and it all just... melted. There was just her, the place where her feet met the earth, and him. She was staring; she couldn't not. Jaz had the fleeting suspicion she was passing out, the way her view tunneled.
When Jaxon's eyes snapped up to meet hers, Jaz cut away her gaze. Gasped. It was like being dunked in ice. Shit. He'd seen her, she couldn't pretend he hadn't. Not that she wanted to. But she did? Her heart was snug against the ball of tears of in her throat. Everything in her life was so fucked up and it all had its place and its name and label, and then here he was, a variable she'd never dreamed to account for.
The second there was enough of a truce for people to stop holding their breath and move about, Jaz readjusted the stone weight of her bags on her shoulders and made a beeline for Jaxon. She wasn't sure what she was going to say; had about 30 seconds to decide as she pressed past a multitude of people who didn't matter, just to get to him. Ignored their stares, her soul miles from being attached to her body.
Her hand snapped out to grip his wrist tight, a life line, yanking him sharply down to her level. Strength like she was possessed. And she-
kissed him.
Just briefly, chaste and barely there. Pressed her lips to the corner of his and said, "find me later." How she kept her voice from cracking she didn't know. "By the welcome sign."
And then she was striding away, disappearing into the small swarm of people trying to understand the new found trust between them. Ran, before he could say anything; before either of them could register what she'd just done. Ran, assuming he'd just do as she demanded.