Chapter Text
Kate squinted at the bright sun and put her hand up to cover her eyes, letting the hospital door swing shut behind her with a resounding thud. It had been three days since she’d been carried in unconscious, and the dull throbbing in her leg wasn’t going away any time soon. Still, she smiled as she took in the view outside of the white walls and sterile hospital beds. A bird was chirping somewhere, and daffodils were blooming in a flower bed in front of her. The yellow of the petals reminded her of the sunflower slowly wilting back in her hospital room. A familiar chill seeped into her shoulders as Chess put her arm around her and kissed the side of her head.
Kate turned to look at her, and she smiled. “So, how does freedom taste after being stuck inside for so long?”
“Incredible. I think I’d die happy if I never saw a cup of lime green jello again.”
Chess threw her head back and laughed, filling the air with the sound Kate used to dream about. “I think you can manage that. Have you ever noticed that you don’t ever see that shit outside of hospitals? My theory is that they get it shipped in like those huge toxic waste barrels? And--”
Chess was cut off by a honk from a car that had just pulled up. The door opened, and a familiar brown haired girl in a denim jacket stumbled out, smiling. “Kate!” Eva called, waving erratically as her eyes landed on the newly released Tiger.
Chess tightened her grip for a moment on Kate’s shoulder, and then relaxed. “Go get your girl, Kate. You know you want to.”
Kate smiled, and waved back at Eva. “Just one second, I think I forgot something inside! I’ll be over in a minute!”
Kate ran back in the building, and beckoned for Chess to quickly follow. “Hey, so, before I go, listen. I don’t know why you’re here anymore, and I’m going to help you find your peace and help you let go, but, uh, I just wanted to let you know that you mean so much to me. And, I’m sorry that you’re stuck here, but I think it helped me. Get closure and stuff. And, be happy with who I am and the world around me? And I just wanted you to know that. Before I left to go with Eva.” Kate hesitated for a moment, rocking back on her feet, and then wrapped an arm around Chess’ semi-corporeal form in a tight hug.
Chess felt Kate’s arm around her, keeping her grounded and solid, and warmth coursed through her. She pushed Kate back for a second, and grabbed her face tenderly. “I love you, Kate. You deserve the world.” She leaned in and felt her lips warm against Kate’s, grinning into the kiss. She stood back. “You are sunshine and you are warmth, and you are my light. All I want is for you to be happy.”
Kate nodded, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “Okay. Just so we’re on the same page. I love you.” Kate turned around and pushed back to her room and ran back outside, towards Eva, sunflower and condolences card in her hand. Chess pushed through the doors and stood outside the hospital, watching as Eva hugged Kate tightly, then grabbed her hand as she led her to the car. Chess smiled, and felt a tear well up. Suddenly, she could feel the sun beating down on her like a wave of heat, and the grass underneath her feet felt like it was moving. Wind swirled around her, and Chess began to swirl with it, smiling as she moved with the world around her in a delicate dance that swallowed her whole.
Kate turned around one last time to wave goodbye to Chess, but as she turned slowly, all she could see was a small bird slowly gliding through the sky, flying away in the distance. Kate nodded, swallowed one last jerk of tears and emotion, and ducked into Eva’s car and closed the door behind her.