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Ava isn’t surprised when Beatrice finds her.
She’s not hiding, she’s in her own room after all, waiting and wondering if she’s making the right decision in hiding her true plan from Beatrice, wondering how mad Beatrice is going to be once it’s all over and she realises what she’s done.
But as soon as she sees Beatrice in the doorway, she knows she’s made the right decision, knows she’ll do anything to keep Beatrice safe.
She tucks the letter that she’d been writing away, it’s not for now, it’s for Beatrice to read after, so hopefully she can understand why Ava made the decision that she did.
Beatrice is silent as she walks into the room, doesn’t say anything as she takes a seat on the bed beside Ava, takes a seat on her side of the bed, or at least it was Beatrice’s side of the bed, back in Switzerland.
That all seems like a lifetime ago now.
She wishes they could go back, just for a little while, for it to be just the two of them, with their home and their jobs and Ava slowly breaking down Beatrice’s walls the more time they spent together.
“Are you ready?” Beatrice asks, finally breaking the silence.
Ava turns to her, has avoided looking this long, because she’s both scared that she’ll tell Beatrice her actual plan, and scared she’ll never be able to look away again.
She meets Beatrice’s gaze and all she feels is calm though, a sense certainty and determination, all wrapped up in love and once again, she’s confident in her decision.
What she’s going to do later will save the world, and it will keep Beatrice safe, it’ll keep her family safe, and that’s all that matters.
Ava nods. “We’re going to kick Adriel’s ass.”
“Language,” Beatrice chides, but there is no heat behind the reprimand, only a fond smile that makes Ava’s heart ache.
She wishes they had more time.
But they don’t, so she’s going to make the most of the little time they have left.
They lapse into silence again, but this time Ava just watches Beatrice, takes in every small detail, memorises them all, from the freckles scattered across her cheeks to the curve of her smile to the knowledge that Beatrice is the first person to truly understand and see her.
She wants to remember everything.
It’s because she’s watching Beatrice so intently, that she notices the way Beatrice’s eyes fall to her mouth.
It’s not the first time she’s caught Beatrice looking at her lips, far from it. She’s noticed Beatrice looking before, of course she has, she’s pretty sure everyone in Switzerland had picked up on their feelings for each other (yes, Ava definitely looked at Beatrice’s mouth on more than one occasion too), and she’s pretty sure everyone here has figured it out as well.
Beatrice’s eyes hold on Ava’s lips, and Ava feels like she’s on fire.
This might be her last chance with Beatrice, and the letter explains how she feels, but maybe she should be brave and tell Beatrice how she feels in person too.
“It’s okay, you know?” Ava says, causing Beatrice to startle. Ava smiles, it’s not often something surprises Beatrice.
Beatrice frowns. “What’s okay?”
“Wanting to kiss a girl, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Beatrice freezes, Ava can literally see her catch her breath, eyes suddenly wider with panic as she looks away.
“Bea,” Ava says, voice soft. She reaches out, lays a hand over Beatrice’s fidgeting ones. “I promise, it’s okay.”
Beatrice turns back to her after a long moment, eyes still wide with fear, voice quiet when she speaks. “And what about if I wanted to kiss you?”
Ava smiles, lifts her hand, lets her thumb soothe over Beatrice’s cheek. “That’s okay, too.”
Beatrice holds her gaze for a long time before her eyes dart down again and Ava waits, lets her be the one to make the first move, if that’s what she wants.
And she does, Beatrice leans forward, and then Ava can’t wait anymore. She leans in and meets Beatrice halfway, their mouths pressing together in what Ava is pretty sure is the best kiss ever. Not just for her, but for anyone, because she’s not sure how a kiss could be better than this, not when Beatrice is the one kissing her.
Ava sinks into the contact, lets herself feel it all. Beatrice’s lips against hers, the way their noses brush together as the kiss, the hand that reaches up to cup her neck. She feels it all, memorises everything.
She never wants it to end.
Since she got the halo and came back to life, all of her best moments have involved Beatrice, and this is one of her favourite.
“Ava,” Beatrice sighs into the kiss and though Beatrice doesn’t say the actual words, Ava hears it. She’s not the only one who’s fallen in love.
They break apart, but they don’t go far, their foreheads pressed together. Ava can feel Beatrice’s breath against her mouth and the only thing that stops her from kissing Beatrice again is the words she wants to say first.
“I lo-“
“Ava?”
They both startle apart at the interruption and turn to find Mother Superion in the doorway. Mother Superion freezes, eyes darting between them both, and what she’s obviously walked in on.
“I can come back?” Mother Superion says, already backing out of the room, and it forces Ava into action.
“No, it’s okay, we were just-“
“I know what you were doing,” Mother Superion cuts in. It’s obvious now she’s trying not to smile.
Ava has no reason to hide how she’s feeling though so she grins. She just kissed the love of her life, she’s happy, okay?
“Yeah, well…” Ava’s eyes glance back to Beatrice, who has gone completely red. It’s cute.
“I should go.” Beatrice stands abruptly, cutting Ava off. Not that she was even sure where that sentence was going anyway. “Make sure the others are ready.”
Ava catches her hand before she can leave, gives her fingers a quick squeeze. “I’ll see you soon?”
Beatrice nods with a smile and Ava’s heart fills. “Soon.”
“Should I ask?” Mother Superion asks, head nodding towards the door Beatrice just left through.
Ava smiles as she shakes her head, the sword in Mother Superion’s hand reminding her once again what this day will bring.
Today is probably going to end badly, for her anyway, but at least she got to have this with Beatrice. At least Beatrice knows how she feels, even if Ava didn’t quite get to say it out loud. And at least Beatrice knows there’s nothing wrong with her feelings either.
Ava’s sad it’s nearly over, but at least she got a second chance at life, at least she’s able to do something important with what time she has left, and at least she’ll be able to save the people she loves.