Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

All Theresa Apocalypse could register is the burning feeling all across her body. 

The heat settles itself as deep as in her bones that it very nearly sends her lurching forward, the only thing keeping her steady is her own spear that’s buried on the chest of a man.

What else is wrong here? 

Ah, right, there’s even that sharp pain on her abdomen from a deep sword stab and her leg had those slices that this guy in front of her managed to inflict on her. Maybe that’s why Theresa feels like she’s been dipped into lava? Is it poison?

Whoever managed to make a poison that’s enough to cripple a chimera, Theresa wants to know.

Maybe she’ll learn how, when she gets to survive tonight. Maybe. Truthfully, her chances of leaving this place alive are not looking good.

“How—“ The man chokes on his own blood. He tries again, thrashing against her spear, and the Superintendent drives the weapon deeper, making him cry out in pain. “That… That should’ve—killed you.”

“You’ll find that—“ Theresa brutally coughs into her own fist. The blood stains her sleeves from the action, and oh, that’s a lot of blood. “—I am not so easy to kill. Who sent you?”

“I’m never telling you!”

“You…” Theresa takes another labored breath. The edges of her vision start to dim, and Theresa’s heart works overtime to keep her standing. “Seriously, you’re dying and you still want to take your secret to the grave?”

The criminal in front of her laughs hysterically, eyes wild. Theresa’s grip on her spear starts to slip. “You’ll die first before I do, so what’s the point, huh? I may die today, but I would be known as the man who assassinated the mighty Apocalypse heir!”

Theresa has had enough. Last deep breath, now. “One last chance, boy. Surrender.”

“Ha!” The man pushes against her own spear, driving his wounds even deeper to raise his sword. “Never.”

Before he could do anything with that wicked sword of his, Theresa grabs his throat and squeezes. She drives her spear deeper, morbidly relishing at the man’s choked scream as she prevents him from even crying out.

The man slowly crumples to the floor, still pinned by the woman’s spear. Theresa looms over him and squeezes his neck for as long as possible even in her current state.

Getting him unconscious is ideal, but Theresa knows that might just not happen.

Another minute, two. He drops the sword, his hand tries to claw at her grip instead.

The man’s choking sound slowly fades away until—snap. 

His hand falls. 

Then, there was silence. 

Theresa finally lets go of his neck, making whatever remained of the criminal slump forward onto her spear, as if the strings that held him were finally cut.

She hears a march of footsteps from both her left and right side. Theresa remembers that this man had followers, all with the same poisoned weapons, but there’s no way she could hold them off in her injured state. Especially with how the burning sensation is now settling even deeper into her chest.

Maybe this dead criminal in front of her was right. 

Theresa just might die today.

She hasn’t even gotten to know Mei better after Hua had quietly told her that she and the thunder demon had finally gotten together. Likely wouldn’t see how Kiana fares in trying to flirt with the resident pink elf, Elysia, nor would she see Bronya try to get the courage to invite Seele out into more dates, or how Himeko would possibly get her own significant other. Or how Cecilia and Siegfried would continue to lead their clan into a better future without the stuffy old elders.

Theresa might not get to see the rest of the life that her friends and kids are leading and wow, is this what dying really feels like? The loss? The crippling loneliness? 

These thoughts pains her more than she’d like to admit. There’s still so many things she hasn’t done.

Against Theresa’s will, her body slowly tilts forward. There’s a distant scream that she hears, but thinks nothing of it. Probably a battle cry or something. 

Likely the person who would finally end her life. What a sobering thought.

She tries to step over the dead body in front of her—get into a better position and all. If she’s going to die, she’s going to make it difficult for death to get her.

But Theresa only succeeds in tripping on its leg, sending her toppling forward with a pained grunt.

Only to be caught by a pair of warm arms encased in gauntlets, her face burying itself on a dark jacket’s fabric. 

Despite herself, Theresa’s whole being relaxes. She knows this warmth, having spent so much time in it before. 

“Theresa!” Fu Hua’s panicked voice resonates into her ears that the Superintendent couldn’t help the weak chuckle that escapes from her mouth. Her niece had found her. Amazing. “Don’t—Stay awake, please!”

Hua’s hold on her made her shift positions, and the feeling of weightlessness overtakes her. Then, they start moving?

Oh. Was Hua carrying her? Theresa can’t really tell with how blurry her eyes are now, but she recognizes the gray blob in front of her, along with the warmth of her Chief Inspector’s hands.

“… Hua?” Theresa breathes weakly as she curls into herself, her head settled into the crook of her niece’s neck. She can’t help but shiver. It’s too cold right now, the pain fading into a numbness that Theresa knows is a bad sign. “You’re… here.”

Theresa doesn’t dare voice the thought that she can die peacefully here, knowing that she isn’t alone anymore. That would ruin whatever stability Hua has, even if Mei is there to support her.

“Don’t speak.” Hua commands her as they move faster. “I’ll get you to the hospital. You’re going to be okay, you hear me?”

“Got poisoned.” Instead, Theresa mumbles into her niece’s jacket, finally registering that her wounds were taking so long to heal. Regeneration is part of her powers, but it doesn’t seem to be working... “I don’t know… how bad.”

She registers Hua’s grip tightening. A string of curses flows out of Hua’s mouth, ones that would have made Theresa laugh in any other moment, before she calls out. “Mei! We need to leave!”

Ah, Mei is here too? 

“Yes.” Hua replies to her. Huh. Did Theresa ask that out loud? “We looked for you as soon as we lost your signal.”

Of course Hua would go. She wouldn’t want to lose a person she cares about. Not like this. Hua isn’t ready to let her go.

Theresa sincerely hopes she doesn’t disappoint her by dying today, but she’s not sure how long she has left.

The sounds of a battle echo in her ears. She smells the scent of ozone in the air, then the screams of pain and the sword slices. Mei is clearly not holding back, it seems.

“Hua?” Theresa hazily says, doing her best to look up into her niece’s eyes.

Her niece seems to look down at her in response. “Theresa—“

“—Promise me you’ll take care of yourself.” Her breaths are shorter than it had been earlier. There’s not much time left before she falls unconscious or worse. “Promise me, Hua.”

Hua hisses a pained breath. Theresa didn’t want to distress her niece even further but it needs to be said before she runs out of time. “If it’s difficult—“ She hacks another bloody cough that Hua flinches at. “—then talk to people, Hua. Mei. Cecilia. Siegfried. Your sisters. Don’t run away. Please.”

“Theresa.” Hua very nearly growls, the echo of a sob in her niece’s throat. “You’re not dying today, alright?”

Doubtful, but Theresa would indulge her on that, perhaps.

“Little sparrow.” Hua seems to freeze. Theresa pauses for another deep breath, closing her eyes as she starts to slip into unconsciousness. “I—I love you, okay? Always.”

“Mom, don’t—!” 

Theresa couldn’t hold on any longer. In the end, she lets herself sink into the darkness of sleep.

I’m sorry, my child.

The next thing Theresa registers is the blades of grass underneath her body, along with the howl of a gentle wind across wherever she is.

Wait. Grass?

The Superintendent quickly opens her eyes and sits up in surprise.

She’s greeted by the sight of a frankly beautiful sight of a meadow of pink tulips, red roses, and forget-me-nots, with the forest standing on the edge of the flower field.

Theresa looks down on herself to check for her injuries. Nothing. Her clothes are the same clothes she remembers wearing in that ambush, but pristine. No traces of blood or tears.

Damn. Did she die? 

Theresa is never going to forgive herself for dying in Hua’s arms like that. Never.

“Well, you’re not dead, Theresa.” An unfamiliar voice states, making the Superintendent jump in surprise under the shade of the tree she just noticed. She spins around to find a pair of blue eyes and a face that’s a twin to her own, but older. The stranger wears a white paladin outfit with the shield of the Kaslanas as its crest, hood down, her long white hair tied back in a thick braid. “Though, I believe it was very close, since we’re meeting like this.”

It can’t be.

“Kallen Kaslana?” Theresa blurts out, her nervousness starting to creep up at her. Right. Uh. Isn’t she the woman’s genetic clone? How would this ghost of the past feel about that? “I’m—Uh. Apologies, you’ve caught me off-guard. May I know how you’re here?”

When in doubt, be polite. Seven times out of ten, it usually works when she’s faced with possible supernatural events.

“It’s a dream.” Kallen shrugs, nonplussed as she stands in front of Theresa. She holds out a hand. The shorter woman takes it, letting herself be pulled into standing, still bewildered. “Come on. Since you could spare some time here, I might as well show you around the Garden of Eden a little.” 

“The Garden of—“ Theresa chokes on her spit. Really, is Kallen sure that she isn’t dead? “How—that Garden is in Heaven, not—“

“It’s my memories of the place.” Kallen responds as she pulls Theresa along, steering them both to a gazebo in the short distance. “I usually have tea around this time. Would you mind indulging me?”

“Alright.” Theresa answers, still in shock because of the supposedly dead woman in front of her.

As far as she’s aware, Kallen Kaslana had disappeared ages ago, and is the driving force of Otto’s obsession with all things related to resurrection and revival. Could it be that something else was at work, and that’s why her grandfather couldn’t… couldn’t recreate Kallen?

Theresa wouldn’t dare tell him about this though. She’ll take this moment to her grave, if need be. She’s not going to give him that satisfaction.

“None of that now.” Kallen pokes her cheek with a pout, pushing Theresa to sit on the cushioned couch of the gazebo. “That is not important at the moment.”

And she could read minds. Wonderful.

“You—You said I had some time?” Theresa is way out of her depth here, because she’s apparently getting a glimpse of Heaven and talking to a dead woman that a ton of people worship. Wow. Just—wow. No one is going to believe her about this. Not even Hua, who’s had her fair share of supernatural events.

“Yes. That’s right.” Kallen busies herself with filling a teacup for Theresa, sliding the saucer in front of the shorter woman. Theresa automatically takes a sip from her cup. “You’re not supposed to die in that last battle of yours, and somehow, you and I ended up connecting through your dream. I just made the rest of the landscape look pleasant.”

“I remember… nearly dying.” Theresa whispers as she narrows her eyes into the teacup. This flavor seems like something Hua would enjoy. “Hua—she found me, somehow.” 

“Ah, Fu Hua.” Kallen muses, fond. “Your child is very persistent, you know? Reminds me of someone I used to know.”

“Did you know how she found me?” Theresa asks, resigning herself to talking with a dead woman. Or, is Kallen really dead? Interesting thought. “I was under the impression that I was trapped and unable to be contacted.”

“Like I said, your child is a stubborn woman.” Belatedly, Theresa realizes what title Kallen had been using for Hua. The Superintendent’s face flushes, but she couldn’t… deny it. “Mei helped, of course, but really, the only thing she provided was her speed. Fu Hua figured out the rest herself.”

Just as she had expected out of her niece. Such a talented person Hua is.

“I should…” Theresa takes another sip of the tea, trying to see if she would be able to remember its flavor so that she can introduce Hua to it. “I should thank them. If I can, that is. Do you think I could leave this place?” 

Kallen’s mouth twitches into a smile. “In a hurry, Theresa?”

Theresa looks away, embarrassed. “Well, I have unfinished business, that’s all.”

“That’s good.” Kallen takes a sip from her own tea in apparent relief. “I was hoping that I don’t need to convince you to leave this place. Finish your tea. I’ll get you to the exit after.”

“It’s not necessary for me to stay, yes.” Theresa agrees as she does as she’s told. “May I ask what tea this is? It’s divine.”

Kallen just grins as she picks up a biscuit from a sweets tray nearby. “I’ll see if I can send a box of it to you in the real world. One of my dearest friends loved this particular blend. I believe your child would greatly enjoy it.” 

Again, she mentions Hua. That’s either concerning, or there’s nothing to it, or the woman is trying to make a point here. 

“A friend? Also, how will you send a box?” Theresa asks, unable to contain her curiosity. 

“Ah, my friend is…” Kallen pauses for a moment, seemingly conflicted. Theresa marvels at the humanity that the other woman displays. It’s so incredibly different from the stories she had been told while growing up, especially with the way Kallen frowns is so similar to the other Kaslanas she knew. “Well, I don’t think you’d understand their name right now, but they mean a lot to me. They’re a fiery person, but I believe that they would get along with you and your child, should you three ever meet.”

“As for the box,” Kallen chuckles, playful. She stands up to point at a distance away from the gazebo. Theresa turns in that direction. She spots a set of wooden doorways in the middle of the field of tulips. “I have my ways. You’ll find the box one day, I’m sure.”

Theresa slowly stands up after emptying her teacup. “You’re… not dead, are you?” It’s rude to ask, sure, but this conversation feels like an entire fever dream anyway.

Kallen just smirks, smug. “That’s up to your own interpretation. I suggest not telling anyone about this conversation, though.”

“They would brand me insane for it. No offense.” Theresa sighs as they walk to the double doors. Kallen laughs in return as she skips into the field of tulips. “Are you not uncomfortable about the fact that I’m your clone? I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

“Ah, but you are your own person, Theresa.” Kallen counters as she stops her frolicking to wait for the shorter woman. “Pleasant to talk to, even. You and I are two different people. Never let anyone else say otherwise. And, you’re a wonderful person, there’s no need to compare yourself to me.”

That’s… Alright, then. Theresa would keep that in mind. 

She tries to ignore the relief that settles into her soul due to Kallen’s words.

They reach the doors quicker than Theresa expects. Kallen turns to her, solemn. “You gave quite a scare to your family, especially to Fu Hua, remember?”

Theresa closes her eyes, pained. She barely remembers what she told Hua before she fell unconscious, but she’s rather sure that it broke her niece’s heart on some level. “I know. I need to apologize.”

“That’s good. Tell Fu Hua hello for me, would you?” Kallen says with a wink as she opens the double doors, gesturing for the shorter woman to step through. “And, Theresa? Try not to take the same risks as you did this time, alright? I wouldn’t want to see you back here so soon.”

“Okay.” Theresa pauses before she steps out. She decides to say it, screw the formalities. “You’re… different from what I imagined, Kallen.”

Not an untouchable paladin. Not a bulwark against the dark. Not a woman who is unfailingly solemn. All of those scholars were wrong, on some level.

Instead, the person Theresa has met is someone who likes afternoon tea, is playful, and is a forthright and honorable woman who cares about children. A human to her core, not simply the paragon of virtue that her own grandfather praised.

“Well…” For once, Kallen gives her a sad smile. “The things that you’ve heard about me, some of them are true, most are not. And the ones uttered by Otto…” The white-haired paladin sighs, somber. “His are difficult to distinguish, at this point.” 

“I’m glad we had this talk.” Despite herself, Theresa is glad that she has met Kallen, in whatever form this is. “Thanks for letting me meet you.”

“Anytime, Theresa.” Kallen waves her off, her cheer back in place. “Remember, don’t come back here too early.” 

“I won’t.” With that, Theresa walks through the doorway, into the light that would take her back to reality.

It takes a while before Theresa could register anything, but the first thing she feels is exhaustion.

Next thing she hears is the steady beat of the heart monitor nearby. Probably hers? It’s calm, which surprises her. How long has she been asleep?

And apparently, none of that sleep helped with her exhaustion. It leaves her barely able to move, on top of a weight on her side that she’s not sure what it is.

Hm. A weight?

Theresa struggles to open her heavy eyes for a few seconds. She flinches at the bright light above her, waiting for her vision to get clearer.

After a few blinks, she stares at the ceiling. It’s… familiar enough to her. Could it be the hospital? She’s spent enough time staring at its ceilings a few times, but that was when she was waiting for people to wake up, not because she’s the one on the hospital bed.

“You’re awake.” Mei’s voice whispers from the side. “That’s good. We were starting to worry.”

Theresa moves her head to observe the thunder demon, who sits at a plush chair with a book in her hands, illuminated by the moon outside. “Mei?”

Mei hums an affirmation as she gently closes her book and places it on the nearby table. She clasps her hands together as she leans forward on her seat. “Careful, now. Don’t get up. Hua’s next to you and it took a long time for her to fall asleep.”

“Hua?” Theresa rasps as she turns head to her other side. She sees the tuft of gray hair that’s on top of her uninjured arm, her hand being held in a tight grip. That… that explains the weight.

From what Theresa could see, Hua looks just as exhausted as she feels, the bags under her niece’s eyes are far more evident than before. 

What’s really telling about Hua’s own panic is how Hua holds Theresa’s hand in both of her palms even when she’s asleep. There’s a blanket that pooled at the back of Hua’s chair, and Theresa is tempted to grab the blanket herself, but her other hand is heavily bandaged so she can’t move it much.

Mei beats her to it. The thunder demon approaches the sleeping detective to pick up the blanket and put it around Hua’s shoulders. Theresa sends her a faint smile in return, her own thumb stroking the back of Hua’s hand.

“How long was I out?” Theresa softly asks as she keeps her gaze on Hua. 

“Almost a week.” Mei responds as she adjusts Theresa’s hospital bed to help the Superintendent sit upright. Then, she moves to pour Theresa a cup of water from the side, placing a straw into the cup. “The doctor says that if it was any longer, we’d have to call for more specialized help. Likely Mobius.” 

Mei holds up the glass to Theresa’s lips, and the Superintendent drinks slowly, soothing the itch at the back of her throat. She lets go of the straw to nod at the thunder demon. “Thanks, Mei. That would be a concern, yes. Mobius is not… known to be overly kind.”

“I think Hua could convince her.” Mei counters as she puts the glass back down on the side table. “She’s more persistent. Especially after seeing you injured that way.”

The thunder demon sighs as she sits back down on her chair. “It wasn’t a good sight, Theresa. You should be more careful. We were lucky that we managed to reverse-engineer the poison to make the antidote so quickly. Someone was out to kill you.”

“And they nearly succeeded.” Theresa replies as she looks back up to the ceiling. “That ambush was… unexpected.”

The exhaustion was pulling her back to sleep but she’s still debating on whether or not she should wake Hua up. So, she asks. “Mei, be honest with me here. How did Hua fare while I was out?”

Mei looks at the sleeping detective as she thinks about her answer, pensive. “The day of your surgery was the worst. Switching between really cold when she has to be the acting Superintendent. But, she was almost inconsolable if she managed to disappear from the public for a few hours while we waited for you to get into the general hospital wards.” 

“The last few days after you were out of the woods were us trying to make sure that Hua doesn’t overwork.” The thunder demon sighs as she pokes at her book on the table. “We… thought that you were dying for a while there. Please don’t do that again.”

Theresa closes her eyes out of guilt. “I scared her badly, didn’t I? I should… make it up to her. I’m sorry as well, Mei.”

“Yeah.” Mei says softly. “No need to apologize, just try your best to stay safe.”

Theresa hums an affirmative, trying to think about how to keep that promise, considering that there’s an entire assassination plot against her, apparently. “Thanks for being here, Mei.”

And she does mean it. These days, Theresa isn’t used to waking up on her own anymore, especially with how often she visits the Kaslana family and the amount of times that she was offered to stay overnight. Mei and Hua’s apartment together is no exception to this, on the rare times she visits her dear niece.

“It’s no problem at all, Theresa.” Mei responds with a small smile as she brings the Superintendent’s hospital bed back to its flat position, adjusting the pillows as she moves. “You’re a friend, and Hua and I wouldn’t let you die. Now, go to sleep already. I’ll tell her that you woke up.” 

Theresa couldn’t help but laugh a bit at that, shifting a bit on her back to continue holding her niece’s hand. 

But Hua moves on her own, slowly rising up from her prone position as the blanket slips from her shoulders, rubbing her eyes tiredly. “Mei, is Theresa…”

“She’s awake, Hua.” Mei’s voice becomes gentler than Theresa had ever thought was possible. “Still is, currently.”

“… What?” Hua sits up, in shock. She turns sharply towards Theresa, who sends her a tired smile. “Theresa!”

“Hey, little sparrow.” Said woman greets with a squeeze of her hand that’s still in Hua’s palms. Her niece looks so close to passing out because of her surprise, so she has to stop that. “I’m here. I didn’t leave.”

“Theresa.” Hua sobs as she grips her aunt’s hand even tighter. She slumps forward, doing her best to not weep too loudly.  “You’re—you’re finally awake! I—I’m so sorry!”

Whatever else happens in the future, the Superintendent does not want a repeat of that look in her dearest niece’s face. It’s far too painful to see.

Theresa tugs Hua closer, scooting to the other side of her bed to make room. “Don’t apologize. Just come here. There’s enough space for the both of us.”

“But—“ Hua sputters, yet Theresa still tugs on her hand, urging her along with a silent, pleading look. “You need the space to—“

“I’d feel better knowing you’re next to me, Hua.” Theresa responds softly, finished with her best attempt of making space without jostling her sore body. “Besides, you wouldn’t dare leave tonight either. Might as well make yourself comfortable.”

At some point, Mei had stood up from her chair, because the next thing Theresa had noticed was that the thunder demon was behind the crying Hua. She pats the younger detective’s shoulder. “I’ll be outside for a while, okay? You two need some time.” Theresa mouths a thank you, to which Mei nods at as she turns to leave.

Hua pays it no mind as she carefully lies down next to Theresa on the hospital bed, clinging to the white-haired woman in the same way she used to do when she was younger. Theresa couldn’t help but laugh a little as Hua buries her face into the shorter woman’s chest, her cries fading into something a bit more silent. “You still do this, huh, Hua?”

“I don’t care.” Her niece rasps as the door shuts quietly behind Mei. Theresa adjusts her hold on Hua as the latter hugs her as tightly as she dared. “I nearly lost you! I couldn’t—I don’t want to—“

Theresa hushes her as she kisses her niece’s forehead. “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault. You saved my life, Hua. I’m still here.”

Hua cries even harder. Ah. That didn’t work…

Theresa thinks about what else she could say to calm her down. “I’m sorry I went off on my own. I should have brought backup with me.”

“They—“ Hua sniffs but she keeps her face buried into Theresa’s hospital gown. “They would have died, I think. So many people were trying to kill you, Auntie. I was so scared that you wouldn’t survive and—!”

“—But I’m still here, Hua.” Theresa reaffirms as she does her best to lie down on her side to hold her niece close. “I’m still here, and I’m not going anywhere, anytime soon. Literally.”

Hua sniffles again, finally looking up at Theresa with less panicked eyes. “Promise?”

“I promise.” Theresa’s mouth twitches into a smile as she tries her best to brush Hua’s bangs away. “You might have to take over some of my work, though. I imagine that I wouldn’t be able to leave this hospital for a while.”

“That’s okay.” Hua mumbles back as she stares at Theresa, as if trying to memorize her old guardian’s features. “I can handle it.”

“You need fresh air and to get away from here, dear Hua.” Theresa states as her niece goes back to cuddling with her on the cramped hospital bed. The Superintendent closes her eyes, more content than before. “Staying in the hospital hurts your feelings a lot more than you say it does.”

Hua mumbles something that Theresa couldn’t parse thru in her current exhaustion.

“What was that?”

“I don’t care about this place being a hospital.”

“… Huh?” Skeptical, Theresa reopens her eyes to ask. “What do you mean?”

“You need this place in order to heal.” Hua answers, not looking at her aunt’s concerned expression. “I can—I can deal with some days of trauma, just don’t let me leave you here. I can’t bear that.”

“I won’t.” Theresa promises her. She couldn’t help but smile at Hua. “You’re brave, you know?”

“Not really…”

“You are, Hua.” Theresa strokes Hua’s back with her free hand. “Thank you for being here with me.”

“I wanted to be here.” Hua finally looks up at her, tear stains on her cheeks but at least she stopped crying. “I’m so happy you’re alive.”

A new title for this child in her arms is at the tip of Theresa’s tongue, but still, she holds back. “I’m glad too, my dearest niece. Now, try to go back to sleep, alright?”

Hua gives her a watery pout. “You first.”

Theresa’s mouth twitches into a smile. “Alright, alright…”

She adjusts her head more comfortably as she closes her eyes. “Hua?”

“Hm?”

“Funny story. I think I met Saint Kallen.”

Hua lightly pinches her arm. “Don’t joke about that, Auntie.”

“No, seriously, I’m not joking.” Theresa yawns tiredly as she welcomes the warmth from her niece’s tight hug, slowly going back to her sleep. “We had afternoon tea and she promised to get me some tea blend that you’d like here in the real world.”

“Mhm.” Hua sure sounds disbelieving… Ouch. “Sure, let’s go with that. Maybe a tea box pops up one day, who knows?”

“Who knows indeed?” Theresa can’t help the faint chuckle that left her. “Thank you for saving me, little sparrow. I’m grateful. There’s a lot of things I’ve not finished.”

“I’m glad I saved you.” Hua says, but her voice grows fainter in Theresa’s ears. “Go to sleep, I’ll be here when you wake up, m—“

Anything else that Hua was about to say slips through Theresa’s ears as she falls into sleepy oblivion, but she’s fairly sure that her niece said something positive, at least.

Tomorrow, she’ll apologize better, then focus on recovering. For tonight, she’d just bask in the warmth of her dearest child.

Chapter Text

Cecilia and Theresa had been initially occupied with watching the morning news, talking about her recent ordeal since yesterday that Theresa tires of it, so now, they've reached the point of finally talking about work gossip.

Truthfully, it's been quite a long time since they did so. Theresa is glad for the company.

Her best friend hasn't let the incident go, and the Superintendent is sure that there would be more consequences in the future, but for now, Theresa can relax and spend some time with Cecilia and not worry about anything, not even paperwork!

Still, she hears the approaching footsteps at her door, and she wonders just how her dearest niece is awake this early in the morning after getting home at what must have been three in the morning, according to Cecilia?!

“Aunt Theresa, Mama, we’re back!” Fu Hua knocks on the door. “I’ve got a surprise for you both.”

“Come in, kiddo. You’re up early.” Cecilia calls out from the inside. “We expected that you and Mei were still in bed since you got home fairly late last night.” 

Fu Hua enthusiastically opens the door to the sight of her guardians reading books together, her other hand perfectly holding up a tea set. “Yes, well. I woke up and I remembered that I wanted you two to try something we bought yesterday, so here I am.”

Theresa tilts her head at the young detective’s enthusiasm. Then, she speaks, fond. “Had fun, Hua? I’m glad that you don’t look stressed anymore.”

“You're right, Auntie, I did need the break. We visited a few places last night, went out stargazing on Kurikara’s back.” Fu Hua hums as she sets down the tea tray by the nightstand to pour both of her guardians some tea. “Seriously though, you both need to try this. It’s absolutely divine!”

“Divine?” Theresa and Cecilia echoes together, skeptical.

Fu Hua hands them each a filled cup in answer, clearly expectant.

Cecilia takes a sip from her cup. She swallows quickly and stares at her tea in shock. Then, the taller woman takes off the teapot's cover to inhale the aroma, to be sure. “Whoa, hold on, Hua! This must have cost a fortune! The flavor is something else?!”

“Right?!” Fu Hua exclaims. There’s a delighted grin on her fact that Theresa hasn’t seen in a while. “Mei bought it after both of us were absolutely taken in by the taste test. She mentioned that it’s a great treat after a hard day’s work or so. You two should buy a box each, I promise it’s worth it!”

“What do you mean?” Theresa asks. She looks down on her cup, observing the honey colored blend with curious eyes. This… looks familiar. “I don’t see anything new. In fact, it looks like—“ Theresa takes a sip of the tea, and she’s hit with such an intense deja vu that she nearly drops the cup in surprise.

(“I’ll see if I can send a box of it to you in the real world. One of my dearest friends loved this particular blend. I believe your child would greatly enjoy it.” )

Theresa’s jaw unhinges as she looks at her teacup again in disbelief. 

There should have been no way that a spirit would be able to influence the world this way and yet…

And yet, Theresa is holding a tea cup that has the exact same blend she tasted with her afternoon tea with Kallen Kaslana. A dead woman!

Maybe she should consider a priest’s help, just in case.

“Auntie? Is something wrong?” Fu Hua’s upbeat mood morphs into concern as she watches the Superintendent stare at her teacup in disbelief. “If you’re getting allergies, tell me now so I can—“

“No. No!” Theresa scrambles as she looks for the right words. “It’s absolutely delicious, Hua! I just—Wow, I didn’t expect this flavor at all…”

Fu Hua’s resulting smile lightens Theresa’s heart. She can’t help but chuckle at the sight even as she processes Kallen’s influence in her life.

Best for Theresa to not to tell her dearest niece that she tasted this exact flavor in a strange dream with a notable spirit. No need to make her worry again…