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“It’s time. You ready?”
“Oh.” Eda sighed, “Isn’t it cool we get one last adventure together?” She smiled painfully at Raine, who couldn’t bring themself to say anything as Eda walked away from them towards Steve, whose hand was glowing the signature red Raine was so used to.
Raine watched as the red sigil threatened to touch Eda's wrist. The red light reflects on their glasses and they could remember the day they got their sigil so well as if it happened yesterday.
They had broken up with Eda just a few days before and it was the first day they got up from bed without their legs giving out completely.
When their sigil finally got applied, they felt sick to the stomach. They felt all the magic being locked away. They would never be able to grow Eda flowers for their dates, never be able to make potions to put her pain away. They would only play music, act, and dance.
So many years ago they would've been fine with that, but being with Eda changed them. They missed doing Wild Magic with her, they missed the thrill of doing something knowing it could get them in danger. They missed Eda.
When they stepped away from the queue, they headed to the nearest bathroom and threw up their breakfast, clutching their now branded wrist on their hand.
Suddenly, they were back to 20 years later, Eda's face contorted in pain as the glove Steve held got closer to her wrist and they had an epiphany.
“STOP!” They screamed and whistled, sending back sound waves that staggered Steve back when the glove was less than an inch above her wrist.
“Raine?” Eda said, clutching her ears, clearly feeling the side effects of their powerful whistling. They looked around and saw Lilith, Amber, Derwin, and Katya all a little stunned.
“Please don't do this, Eda.” they begged, already feeling the tears at the corner of their eyes.
“What- Raine, you're the one who suggested this! Why are you backing out now?”
“I never wanted you to do this, truly.” They held her hand between theirs, briefly looking at her wrist to make sure it was still naked, “But you were so determined in following through, in sacrificing yourself for the sake of others, I couldn't stop you. I don't want to coddle you, but this is not right!”
“Raine-”
“Please listen.” They interrupted her, “You being wild is the reason you met so many wonderful people. You met King because you were running away from the Emperor and now he's your son. You met Luz because you always liked collecting Human stuff and selling it and now look what an amazing witch she’s become! You met my BAtTs because you punched a Coven Scout in the face and defended a Witch that believed in what you always believed.” They felt a tear run down their cheek, but they continued holding her hand. “You being wild is the reason it made me want to say hi to you. I wouldn't have the memories of my best 10 years if it wasn't for you that day.”
“You inspire so many people! You inspired the isles to stand up for your right to be wild when you're going to be petrified, you inspired Luz to want to be a witch, you inspired me to rebel against this crazy system.” They took a moment to calm themself down before continuing.
“The last time you did Bard Magic with your curse, you almost died! I can't just watch that happen, I would never be able to enjoy a world where you don't exist, even if Belos isn't there. Please don't do this. I don’t care, we'll find another way, but I can't lose you.”
“Rainestorm...” Eda whispered softly and Titan, they missed when she used to talk to them like this, under the morning orange lights of her bedroom on a warm morning, kissing their face and mumbling sweet nothings against their skin.
“Calamity...” They whispered back, hoping she would remember when they used to whisper to her like that under the light of the moon and stars, promising to give her all of them if she asked.
She reached her free hand, brushing her thumb against the corner of their eyes, wiping away their tears. They leaned into her touch, feeling suddenly overwhelmed by her light touches and feeling more tears fall down. She also wiped them away.
“Raine, I wish I didn't need to but I have to do this. If this is my last chance to stick it to Belos, I want to do it.”
“Then we'll find another way, another plan! Just... Don't do it.” They squeezed her hand. “If you don't stop this for me, do it for Luz, for King, for your parents, for Lilith, and everyone who will miss you so much if this goes bad.”
Eda was silent and she avoided their gaze, but she still held their face tenderly.
Eda looked around to the rest of the CAtTs, specifically at Lilith who was looking at her like she was about to cry too. Hooty, surprisingly, was holding off his tears instead of bursting and screaming so loud that Belos himself would be able to hear.
They didn't have the strength to beg anymore, but as they carefully watched Eda's reaction, they wished Eda would put herself first, stop being the thing that made them fall in love with her over and over again: her amazing ability to be selfless and kind.
Eda finally sighed, and took her hand off their face (Raine would admit they tried to follow it) and took the amulet that was in her pocket, clutching the raindrop shaped object between her fingers, before tossing it down the floor of the airship, where it crashed against the wall and broke.
She turned to Raine, a fanged smile on her face.
Raine choked on a sob and let more tears fall out.
“Hey, hey. Why are you crying? Didn't I just do exactly what you wanted?” She smiled, her aged features softening.
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry.” They took one of their hands off hers and wiped away another tear, “I just love you so much.” They admitted it without shame.
Eda blushed to the tip of her ears.
They had been reading the signs she still felt or started feeling something for them after they reunited. Those touches, blushes, and the caring she was showing them during their brief time together reminded them so much of the time they were younger, happier, and still unaware of the world.
They hoped they had read things right, but even if they had completely misread things, they would accept it. If today was supposed to be the end of the world, they would tell their world how they felt about her and not regret it.
Eda was still a red mess for a few moments before she snorted, a beautiful sound.
“You mean it?” Like all those years ago? they read between the lines.
“With all of my heart.” They smiled, intertwining their fingers together.
“Well then, I love you so much too, Raine. I don't think I ever stopped.”
“Me neither!” They let out a laugh mixed with a cry, “There was not a day I regretted the way I left you, you can trust me on this.”
“You weren't in the wrong, even if it hurt a lot. I should've been able to open up to you, to let you in, to see all the skeletons in the closet I always hid.”
“Figuratively or literally?”
“Yes.” She smirked and Raine chuckled, getting more comfortable in her embrace.
They were so close now that they could feel her breath against their mouth. If they just leaned a little bit closer...
They caught themself before they did it, clearing their throat, feeling their own face blush.
Eda snorted again.
“If you want to kiss me that bad, you can just do it.” She moved their face delicately with the back of her fingers to look at her.
Raine felt a smile creep up to their face before they cradled the side of her face, smiling up at her. Eda. Edalyn Clawthorne. Lord Calamity. The Owl Lady. Love of their life. The woman they once wanted to get married to.
“I love you.” They whispered again before bringing her face closer to theirs and kissing her.
Kissing Eda felt like too much and yet too little at once. They felt overwhelmed with all the memories of the kisses they shared during their almost decade-old relationship, but their mind also blanked as the only thing that was in their head was this moment with her.
Raine pulled back, still holding her face, and fluttered their eyes open, looking at her with nothing but love, a small smile on their lips. Eda replied with a smile of her own.
“I missed you.” They whispered, “After this is done, I’m not letting you go.”
“Is this your way of asking me out, Raine?” She chuckled, a hand coming up to brush a strand of their hair behind their ear.
“Definitely.”
“Dork.” Eda chuckled and kissed them again. They gladly kissed her back.
They were short of a plan now, no way of telling where the next hours would be headed but one thing is certain: They aren’t letting her go. Not anymore.