Work Text:
Levi opened his eyes.
He remembered the path, long and twisting. Snaking through evergreen trees, the sun shining on his face. He remembered the clearing, where the trees parted to reveal snow tipped mountains, clustered around a winding river.
She would have loved this, he thought in the moment, admiring the view from a rocky clifftop. But that moment would have to slip away, not forever though. The little moments he shared with you came and went, Levi having to move on with his life. Slightly. He still cooked with you. Tried out every chocolate chip cookie recipe Google would offer him. He even started a small garden on his balcony, tending to some herbs and vegetables. Carrots, the first fresh meal he’d had on that island in months and the last meal he shared with you. Anytime he found himself needing a pen, he’d always find a Sharpie in his pocket. Though, he knew for certain, he never put one there. Now, going on five years, he nurtured that spark you had given him.
However, the cliff was too high, and he had stepped far too close to the edge and lost his footing.
The last thing he remembered was landing on the rocks and then everything went black. He wasn’t in the mountains anymore. He didn’t know where he was. It was a void. Nothingness. However, he did know that his head was resting on something soft. He turned his head to investigate where the soft landing had come from. To his surprise, that nothingness contained his everything.
“I waited for you.” You said, tears shining in your eyes, smile radiating on your face. You let him rest his head tenderly on your legs as you brushed the hair from his wide eyes. You beamed down on him. You looked the exact same, albeit with a bit less blood and dirt.
“Shit, Sparks. How...” He stammered, reaching for your face, cupping your cheek. He felt your soft skin electrify his hand. As soon as he was upright, he reached for you, wrapping his arms around you. He felt a warmth he had tried his best to keep alight over the last five years. He pressed his lips to yours, making up for that last kiss that was stolen from him. Instead, this kiss breathed new life into you both.
“Plus fucking fifty, I don’t care.” He breathed against your lips. “Were you there the whole time?”
You nodded. You watched him make chicken cacciatore, soon perfecting the dish. You watched him struggle with baking, having no patience for the slow pace of it.
“The campfire cookies were the best, but I think you came pretty close with those walnut ones last year.” You grinned. He held you against him, never wanting this moment to end. After a few minutes or a lifetime, who even knows, you separated. You reached into his back pocket, knowing what would be in there.
“Maybe buy me dinner first.” He smirked, making you roll your eyes. You popped the cap off with your teeth and bent over, signing your name on the smooth surface you found yourselves on. You handed it to Levi, and he happily took it, signing his name next to yours.
“Where even are we?” He asked, pocketing the Sharpie, and looking around.
“Wherever we want to be.” You smiled. “Look.”
Levi looked around him and he could see blue skies and…iron? People surrounded you, but it was as if you both were invisible. You stood up, taking Levi’s hand in yours and leading him to the railing. You looked out on the breathtaking view of Paris, but you knew your favourite view was the man standing next to you. You leaned your head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around your waist. His lips met the top of your head, giving you a delicate kiss.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. Forever.”
It was the most alive he’d ever felt.