Chapter Text
One year.
Three hundred and sixty-five days. These two words had flown from his lips not once but twice in his life time.
Both times he had every intention of honoring this simple definite amount of time.
The first instance one year was spoken was as part of a secret plan with a valued friend and confidant. He wouldn’t need much time to gather the information or allies he sought to help safeguard his people.
At the start, three hundred and sixty-five days seemed a reasonable time frame then he would return to lead the Ascendancy to victory over the evil which threatened his home.
He had miscalculated by three thousand two hundred and eighty-five days, give or take.
Unforeseen circumstances allowed him to completely infiltrate another Empire’s powerful military, to rise to its highest ranks and command one of its most powerful ships. This was an opportunity which could not be passed by, but it took more time than originally budgeted. He assumed the extended absence would be understood.
He did not regret a single day.
Because while it had never been a calculated part of this mission, or his life, to fall in love; he had.
With deep dark eyes, soft chestnut hair and freckles covering golden skin like the stars of this new galaxy he suddenly found reason to stay in. A kindred outcast spirit with a mind eager to be sharpened into a sword of defense useful to them both. A warm safe place for him to linger and create a new home.
It was to this great love he had once again uttered one year, this time as a comforting promise to ease a brief parting. The reassurances of duty and safety rang hollow now and he hoped he would be forgiven.
He planned for his task to take fewer lonely, sleepless nights than the three hundred allocated but his timeline was not the same as Fate’s.
It never was.
The agreed upon period of separation was long past, gone over by how many days he was uncertain because time had no meaning now if it ever had any to begin with.
Twice he had made the oath and tempted the universe. Perhaps it was hubris to think his life and desires mattered to whatever controlled the spinning wheels of the Infinite, but he felt something took great umbrage with him whenever he dared to utter those two words.
One year.
When would return home?