Chapter Text
KFP; Gift of remembrance
The quiet footsteps of the immortal approached the man engrossed in his work. “Is it done” Kiara said, her voice quiet and reserved, as though the slightest disturbance, would ruin anything. A far cry from her usual outgoing and overbearing personality. “I’m still working on it as you can see, but it is almost done” Jack replied, eyes never leaving his work. “Ah, I see, thanks for this” The phoenix called out, back turned once more to leave. “I know you miss him, especially after everything that’s happened, but don’t you think letting him go, is better.” A silence replied to Jack’s question, it was all the answer he needed. No more words were spoken, the quiet footsteps came once more, and left. Fleeting was their encounter, but it was a palpable eon for both. And so, the Phoenix and the clock worker returned to their normal day as usual.
The bell to KFP rang out as Kiara opened up the shop for business. “Wonder who will be coming in today?” She pondered, a finger upon her chin. Walking into the back, she walked past the plaque which caught her breath as it did every time she went past. ‘Second best egg’ a picture under of a man no older than 20, his eyes filled with joy despite being covered in flour and with Kiara in the background, about to ruffle his hair. She smiled grimly, if briefly. Busying herself, she went prepared a cup of coffee for her wife who was rather likely to come. She always did, right before the customers poured in. The bell out the front of the shop rung, it was familiar, for a moment she thought… no. It was almost definitely Calli. Perishing her astray thoughts she called out. “Calli! You could always teleport in you know?” Kiara’s attention still taken up by preparing the coffee. There was no reply to her quip however, that was odd, perhaps she got the wrong person. Turning her back to see out the door, yet her eyes fell upon no one. “Huh, just like a ghost, I seem to be plagued by them more and more as time goes on.” A quiet shifting sound was heard, and then. “Hi love, how are you?” A voice called out behind Kiara, startling her, till she realised who it was. As she turned around, she received a peck on the cheek, “Thanks for the coffee.” Calli said, taking up the mug Kiara had set aside for her. Kiara smiled, genuinely this time, though reservedly. She thought for a while perhaps, she could put her swirling mind aside. And simply enjoy the moment.
“KI-, KIARA. KIARA, can you hear me!” Who was shouting so loudly at this time? Kiara thought she would have to send them to the usual room if this kept up. Until her mind caught up with her and she realised, head snapping up at attention. Before her face was Calli, holding a firm grip on her shoulders. “Kiara! Are you with me now?” Kiara could muster nothing but a nod. Her vocal chords failing her, she found it a little hard to breath. A sigh of relief cut through the air; Kiara felt Calli’s grip loosen on her shoulder. She realised her hand was in pain, looking down, she saw the shards of a coffee mug with remnants of dark viscous liquid sticking to her fingers. “Oh… sorry.” She managed to get out, voice quiet and hoarse. “What happened? You were just standing there, I called out to you, but you didn’t react in the slightest, I was so worried.” Calli suddenly pulled her into an embrace. Tender and gentle, Kiara could feel her heartbeat. It was comforting, warm. Wait, that’s not right, Kiara was the phoenix between them, she was supposed to be the warm one. Eh, it didn’t matter right now anyway. She returned the hug, before realised she still had drying coffee on her fingers. Jumping back, Calli flinched, “What’s wrong.” She said, voice full of worry, but equally disheartened. Kiara’s eyes widened at the unintentional implications, Kiara quickly went to sort out the misunderstanding. “Oh no! Its not you, I just didn’t want to dirty your robes with my sticky fingers.” Calli chuckled a little at that, though it was filled with mirth, there was an underlying sadness. One that was hardly unjustified. “That hardly matters right now, but you matter a lot more.” Ah, this reaper was out for her heart. Wait, she already had it, huh. All that matters was, Kiara thinks she chose the right partner.
“So, what happened back there?” Calli queried, hesitant but desperate for an answer. Kiara stalled; her mind was a bit of a mess. But she thought she had some semblance of an answer. “I guess… I just miss my eggs, both of them.” Kiara spoke, reserved and solemn in tone. Calli only nodded in response. “The funeral is tomorrow, right?” It was Kiara’s turn to nod, though even doing such a simple act made her head churn. Her thoughts were disassembled. She didn’t really realise when it started, perhaps it was how much her little egg reminded her of her previous egg. Maybe it was just because of the loss. They had all lost enough already. She was rather sick of losing things. Why couldn’t they just get the picturesque ending? Like that of a fairytale. Even if she knew it was simply hopeless musings. Kiara clenched her fingers, her jaw tightened, she wanted to cry, but found her tear ducts dry. Her mouth opened for a moment, then closed. She wouldn’t know what to say even if she wanted to. So, she sat there in silence, until Calli spoke up once more. She felt a little bad Calli had to do all the talking. But she thinks, in this case, Calli can forgive her. She was always understanding like that. And no, she is not Biased. “Do you think you’ll be okay?” Calli’s voice was barely above a whisper, but Kiara heard it, she always did. “I don’t know, but I have you, and the others. I think I will manage eventually. I have until the end of time after all.” A bitter chuckle escaped her mouth. Calli nodded in response, it seemed she too, was at a lack for words. For there were no words for these emotions. None came close.
Kiara slowly awoke, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. Her vision met with the wall of a room. Flinging her body up as blood drained from her face. Kiara could only think of one thing. “My customers!” Kiara exclaimed, looking around she saw she was in Calli’s ‘house’ of sorts. A snort broke her out of her thoughts, turning to the face the source of the noise, Kiara was met with Calli, sitting by the side of the bed. “Your finally awake, I see.” Calli said, her voice level and even. Kiara opened her mouth to reply, before realising what Calli said. Realisation dawning on her face, before being replaced by a look of utter betrayal. Calli laughed, unabatedly this time, a far cry from the heavy atmosphere of their conversation previous. Kiara dropped her expression of mock disappointment and also joined in the laughter. After a short while however, she stopped abruptly. “Okay but seriously Calli, my customers.” Kiara spoke suddenly. “Oh, there’s a line back at KFP everyone’s asking where you are.” Calli said, laid back and calm. Kiara was anything but upon hearing the news. “WHAT! And you just left them there?” Calli shot a smug grin and Kiara realised she was joking, crossing her arms. Her pride could not take being humiliated this much in one day, even if it was coming from her lover. “No, of course I didn’t leave with nothing, I put up a sign saying you were taking a day off and KFP was closed.” Calli said, reaching for a book on her bedside table. Kiara calmed down instantly. All this however, was too much for a just woken up Kiara. Who promptly fell flat on the mattress of the bed. And fell asleep. Though Kiara couldn’t see it, Calli shot Kiara a worried though loving glance, before turning her attention to her book, once more waiting for her partner to wake. She was busy, but for Kiara, she could always make time. A quiet huff escaped her lips. Perhaps they all had lost too much, but really, Calli thought they still had too much to lose.
Perhaps it never was a good idea, getting involved with the transient and fickle beings in the first place. It only led to grief, though containing fleeting joy in each moment. What was a century but a candle wick being blown out, when compared to the longevity of the immortal. After all, even for the immortal, memories dull and fade. But not for many lifetimes before even a grain of memory slips by. Names of the once dear, forgotten over eons. Calli frowned a bit at that. But there was not much else to be said. Nor to contemplate. Besides, she didn’t regret meeting Ryan. But if it would’ve led to this, maybe she would’ve asked to see it through another way. But whats done is done. Ryan would never be coming back. ‘Best to let bygones be bygones, isn’t that what you would’ve said?’ Calli thought, looking out the window of her ‘house’. Perhaps in search of something her eyes could no longer find. Whose presence still eluded her, despite knowing it was there. She grit her teeth, returning her eyes to her book.