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This day had been the weirdest. And that was saying something for the Legends. Not only had they found young Martin Stein stuck with a talking Beebo in Vinland, North America in the year 1000 AD, but Agent Sharpe, the one person who had been a pain in their asses for the past few months, had joined their mission. Was it for pity because they had just lost a member of their team or were her intentions truly sincere? Sara was confused.
Confused because of her sudden shift in behavior but also by the fact that she couldn’t help but feel a little something whenever the woman looked her way, especially when she had said she’s “not really the husband kind” earlier. Plus, Sara had to admit that she did look really good in a Vikings outfit.
On top of that, they had had an “intense” conversation on the ship’s bridge earlier, involving the agent calling her by her name for the first time but then telling her that she would not be able to help more for their anachronism situation.
Now, to make this day even crazier, Damien Dahrk had just arrived with his daughter Nora, creating only more havoc to the timeline. The woman he called his “precious little girl” was now laying on the ground in the middle of a Vikings battlefield and he held her back, his other hand tightening on the Time Stone they used to travel through eras.
“Not this time.” Sara arrived from behind him, grabbing the man by the shoulder to prevent him from time-jumping to another period.
Before she knew it, she found herself in a cold and deserted place, sounds she couldn’t perceive resonating all around her. She got up, grabbing sand beneath her to confirm the reality of the place.
“Sara Lance.” A deep and raspy voice echoed.
“Who’s there? Who are you? What is this place?” The woman was rarely truly scared, but there was something about this place that made her feel a lack of … well, everything.
“I am Mallus. Soon, I will be free. And your world will know unendurable pain.” The voice answered followed by an evil laugh.
Sara shivered at the thought of Rip’s seemingly greatest fear being real. He and Agent Sharpe had been leaving clues of his existence for the past few weeks and the captain had never truly known what they were talking about, not that she would have believed them if they had told her clearly at that time.
However, here he was. He had a realm of his own and he was ready to create chaos into her world, into her home.
Then, she felt a hand grab her by the collar of her suit and, in a blink, she was out of Mallus’ realm.
In front of her stood none other than Agent Sharpe, hair still down and messily put on one side. She was having a hard time catching her breath and Sara felt her cheeks warm up at the thought of Ava running to save her.
“You came back” She said after what felt like hours staring at the tall woman in front of her.
“It’s like you said, you needed me” She answered, moving a strand of hair out of her face.
“Well, your timing is impeccable.” The captain sighed, trying hard not to stare too long again.
“It’s a Christmas miracle” Ava said, a small smile making its way on her lips.
“Yesss” Sara exhaled as relief washed over her; they had finally succeeded in fixing the anachronism.
A few seconds passed and the two women just stayed there, looking at each other while the Legends quickly joined them.
Sara was about to thank Ava for saving her when the woman took the lead and said:
“Happy birthday Sara.” She was looking straight at her and with such kindness and sincerity that the captain felt that if it wasn’t so cold outside, she would have melted.
“Thank you.” Sara answered after a few seconds of overthinking, something she never normally did.
She got her thoughts together before asking:
“Why don’t you come on the ship with us? We were planning on celebrating Christmas and my birthday together and we’d love it if you could join us.” Sara’s smile when she said that was enough to convince Ava and make her let her guard down.
“I mean, sure. Why not? I don’t want to disturb though.” The Time Bureau agent still didn’t want to sound too enthusiastic as the two women had just started being civil with each other.
“You won’t. I promise.”
At that moment Ava felt like she had forgotten how to breathe.
***
Before joining the Legends in the ship’s kitchen, the two women made a quick detour to the med bay, Ava having insisted that Gideon scanned Sara for any injuries. The captain found it really cute and heartwarming that the agent worried about her wellbeing, but she surprised herself by not making any snarky comment about it. Ava, she felt, was different. The last thing she wanted was to mess everything up just when they were finally learning to get along.
As they finally entered the kitchen, they were welcomed by the big table already festively set, and the room decorated with a mix of Christmas lights and birthday balloons.
Ray brought a big variety of meals he had cooked himself and put them at everyone’s disposition to create some sort of buffet. Everyone gathered around the table, eating whatever they wanted and conversations full of laughter and reminiscing started naturally.
A few times during the evening, Ava caught Sara’s eyes from across the table and was greeted with a shy but sincere smile from her. Each time, the agent would blush and look away but minutes later would glance in the same direction again just to meet the same pair of light blue orbs.
Time finally came for dessert, Sara’s birthday cake. Places were switched as everyone got closer to sing for their friend. Ava found herself just beside the birthday girl and suddenly felt hot. While trying to convince herself that it was from the wide number of people present in the room and not from the proximity between her and the smaller blonde, she had not realized that her hand had found its way against the other woman’s.
For probably the tenth time in the evening, Sara’s eyes met Ava’s. She then slightly smirked at the scarlet color that had made its way on the agent’s cheeks. As she blew her candles, wishing for something she had never thought possible, Sara grabbed the taller blonde’s hand and squeezed it lightly.
At this obvious display of unexpected affection, Ava cleared her throat. However, she didn’t remove her hand, only intertwining her fingers more with Sara’s.
***
Nearly an hour had passed, and they had moved the table, making place so that they could dance to a playlist Ray had made exclusively for Sara. At one point, the song “Happy Birthday” started playing and Ray started singing to his captain for the second time this evening, a wide smile plastered on his face.
The captain chuckled at this and felt her cheeks burn at all the attention she wasn’t used to getting. She then joined him on the dance floor while all the other Legends moved excitingly around them, singing along.
She was having so much fun she hadn’t even realized something, or rather someone, was missing before looking around the room.
“Has anyone seen Ava?” She said, interrupting the team’s moment.
She was suddenly worried, not knowing what to make of this burning sensation in her chest.
“Saw her going this way in a hurry, probably going to the bathroom.” Zari said pointing to the ship’s hallways, mouth stuffed with chips.
Realization suddenly hit Sara. She didn’t know Ava that well but still enough to guess that she wasn’t going to the bathroom.
She quickly made her way in the hallways, all while catching someone say: “Go get your girl, Captain.” She rolled her eyes, recognizing Mick’s voice.
After a left turn, she finally caught up with Ava who was, just as she thought, about to open a portal back to the Time Bureau with her Courier.
“Ava, wait!” The captain said.
The taller blond turned around with a surprised look on her face.
“Sara I…” Ava nearly whispered; she hadn’t wanted to make a fuss about it.
“Look, I don’t know who told you what that would make you want to leave like that, but just tell me who it is, and I swear I’ll kick their ass.” Sara said, annoyance settling in her voice as she uttered the last few words.
Ava chuckled before stiffening a bit.
“That’s not it. Everyone’s great. Everything’s perfect.” She took a deep breath.
“Well then why are you leaving like this?” The captain was extremely confused.
“Because it’s too great.” She paused before continuing “Look Sara, I don’t deserve all this. Being accepted so easily onto the Waverider, on a Christmas party, after I made your life a living hell for months. I mean, you’re all acting as if me chasing you all this time and being a pain in your ass from the start never happened.” The agent had felt out of place during the whole evening, but Sara’s presence had made it a bit better. Although, at one point, she had realized she didn’t belong here at all.
“Ava, I assure you, we all started pretty bad on this team so there’s really no hard feelings from anyone.” Sara tried convincing her.
“That’s just it. Maybe there should be.” She turned once again, this time opening a portal.
Just before she could step inside, Sara called out after her:
“You really don’t see it, do you?”
Ava bit her lower lip in apprehension and after a few milliseconds of overthinking, settled on closing the portal, all while still keeping her shaking hand on the Time Courier.
“This evening has been the most fun the Legends have had in a while, and you’ve made that possible. We want you here, Ava.” She paused. “I want you here.” Sara emphasized on the “I”, sending shivers all across the anxious agent’s body.
The truth was that, from the start, she had been jealous of the special family bond the Legends shared. This feeling only fueled her anger towards them but those few weeks apart from the “annoying band of idiots” (as she used to describe them to Rip) had actually helped her come at peace with a few things.
“Please Ava, stay.” The shorter blonde’s voice was nearly desperate.
Hearing these words, and especially her name, coming from no other than Sara Lance, the woman who made her feel things she thought she had never felt before, was like a giant punch in the face.
What Sara said and the way she felt were enough to make all her walls crumble. After not even of few seconds of contemplation, she took a leap. Ava turned on her heels and as quickly as she made her way to the other woman, she pressed her lips hard against hers.
As she did so, all she could think about was that, maybe, she was reading this all wrong. Maybe Sara was just looking for the friendship of another woman in charge, someone who could understand her. Yet, the signs were there, and Ava wasn’t someone to easily take a liking to people or notice these kinds of signs for that matter.
Ava’s overthinking was cut short when she realized Sara was returning the kiss. She had grabbed her face with both her hands and deepened it.
At first, the taller blonde couldn’t believe it, but she shook the feeling aside and moved her hands, which had found their way to Sara’s neck, wrapping them around her waist. She pulled her closer and they stayed there for a few more minutes, getting to know each other better than they ever did before.
When they pulled away, Sara rested her forehead against Ava’s and whispered:
“Wow…”
“Yeah.” Ava scoffed, still tasting the shorter blonde in her mouth.
“Does that mean you’re staying?” Sara asked playfully.
“I think you already have the answer to that Captain Lance.” Ava answered with a similar tone.
Sara smirked, loving the feeling that Ava calling her by this tittle under unprofessional circumstances gave her. She then slipped her hand into the agent’s, leading her back to the kitchen.
There, the Legends were all waiting, acting as if the two of them entering hand in hand was a complete surprise.
The party picked up and everyone made an extra effort to make Ava feel more included, which she really appreciated. As more of the evening rolled by, she seemed less awkward around the team and, with Sara by her side, joined in conversations and jokes.
A few minutes had passed when Sara caught something from the corner of her eye, something that hadn’t been here before. She took Ava’s hands in hers and pulled her to the side just under her find.
“What is it?” Ava hadn’t even had time to swallow a mouthful of Sara’s birthday cake and her mouth was covered with Chantilly.
Sara looked at her with so much affection, no doubt mocking her kindly, that the taller blonde immediately felt as if she was naked. Ava, realizing what made her laugh, wiped her mouth embarrassed, never taking her eyes off her.
The captain then looked up and a satisfied smile appeared on her lips. Ava followed the shorter blonde’s gaze and, as it landed on a perfectly well hanged to the ceiling mistletoe, she felt a wave of heat invading her cheeks.
All the agent said to that was a quiet and sheepish “oh”. Sara chuckled and took her hands.
“Oh?” The captain the echoed.
“It’s just…,” she looked around before looking back at Sara “we’re not completely alone….”
Ava pointed her chin to the Legends on the opposite side of the room.
“Ava, they’re not blind, they’ve seen us just before. I’m also pretty sure they put this here on purpose…” Sara said.
“I…” The agent was struggling to find arguments but realized that, deep down, she didn’t want to find some.
She met Sara’s eyes. They were full of sincerity all while pleading for more. She thought they were the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes upon. That’s when she knew she was in too deep. How could she ever say no to this woman? This woman who had only been good to her?
“You know what? Screw it.” The agent suddenly blurted out.
She cupped Sara’s face with her hands and brought their lips together for the second time this evening. This kiss was slower, more patient but still as meaningful, if not more, as the first. The two women felt like they were floating, and they were yet to exit a dream, but their fondness for one another and this magical night were very much real.
When they broke apart, catching their breaths, Ava’s first reflex was to look in the Legends direction to verify if they had been watching all this time. However, Sara didn’t even let her turn her head because, when she saw the agent’s expression shift from tenderness to worry, she pulled her in for yet another kiss, one that was quickly returned.
***
At some point at the end of the evening, Sara turned to face the woman she had invited to stay.
“Thank you.” It was like the captain pierced right through Ava’s soul when she uttered those two simple words.
“For what?” The taller blonde asked flustered.
“For staying.” Sara answered.
“Well, thank you for inviting me and insisting I stay. I’m having a really great time.” The agent paused. “I also hope this won’t be our last celebration together.” She said warmly, entangling her fingers with the shorter blonde’s
“Me too. But in the meantime, I think I owe you a proper date.”
THE END