Chapter Text
“What do you suppose soulmates actually means?” Wylan says, resting his head on Jespers shoulder.
Jesper looks down at him. He’d never wondered about the definition of soulmates before, people called someone their soulmate if they truly loved them, but the meaning… Jesper looked at the ground then back to Wylan. “My mother said it meant two souls are bound together entirely,” Jesper admitted. “I think it’s nothing much more than a nice thought.” He takes Wylan's hand and kisses the newly adorned wedding band on his finger. “I think we’re the closest thing you can get.”
Wylan tilts his head. “There isn’t a correct answer to that question if you thought it was a test of some sort. Is that what you actually think or are you trying to flatter me?”
Jesper brushes some hair from his lover's face. “I think I simply flatter you naturally because I adore you.”
Wylan gives him a firm kiss on his mouth. “I’ll accept that answer.
54 years later.
Jesper kisses the wedding band on Wylans cold, limp hand. Jesper knew this day would come- there were times where he’d doubt that he’d be too reckless to live to the full extent of his Grisha life, but as he got older he realized that wouldn’t happen. He was grateful every morning and every night that he’d seen Wylan beside him in bed, his chest rising rhythmically as he slept. Now Wylan was still.
It was ages before Jesper finally stood up from where he’d been sitting against their bed. It took a week for Jesper to begin considering taking his own life, it was an awful thought, but the thought of living for centuries in the future was confusing and something Jesper didn’t believe he could handle. Of course, that was when he got a letter from Nina.
It mentioned things including dozens of apologies for not being able to come for Wylans funeral, and Nina somehow reading Jespers mind and knowing of his thoughts about his life, A Grisha lifetime is something to be valued and appreciated. She had written. Many do die by their own hand unaware there are many other things to live for.
There is some pleading from Nina behind those words, Jesper knows he is the last one of their friends still alive, and the letter concludes with an invitation to Ravka, to the little palace.
Nina had been living there for the past couple of years with her partner, Ilya, who was a very lovely person. They had ruled over Fjerda greatly and powerfully, but faked their deaths once they had aged enough to fool the citizens. Nina’s daughter, Adele had been doing a beautiful job living up to their name, and it gave Nina and Ilya a chance to rejoin the second army and live in a place that didn’t despise them after a long time.
Jesper looked at the letter, then upwards, he went entirely sure what he was looking at, but it somehow convinced him to take Nina’s invitation.
..
Jesper looked in the mirror, he looked in his 20’s again. The merchant council had never known about him being a Grisha, and to hide the obvious detail of him not aging, Jesper had gotten himself tailored every few years to seem to be aging, he’d also done this to ensure he’d get to grow old together with Wylan.
He still wasn’t used to looking young again. He felt an arm wrap around his shoulder and he quickly looked around. He hadn’t noticed Nina enter until she’d made her presence clear.
“How do you feel?” Nina asked in an almost whisper-tone.
Those words had somehow broken whatever front Jesper had been using. Tears rolled down his face, he hid his face using his hands and let his elbows fall on the desk while he cried. The love of his life was gone, Wylan was gone, there was nothing Jesper could do.
Everything was changing.
He felt Nina rub his shoulders, she pulled Jesper into a hug once his hands had dropped to his sides again.
“‘M sorry-” Jesper muttered into Nina’s shoulder.
He felt her shake her head. “Don’t apologize,” She said. “It’s perfectly normal to feel like this.”
Jesper stepped back, him and Nina still holding each other's arms, he saw Nina's eyes were watery too. “I miss him- I miss them all Nina.”
Nina nodded and cupped her friend's face. “You aren’t alone, always know that.”
Jesper nodded and wiped his eyes. “I don’t think I’m ever gonna love someone again like that.”
“Don’t say that.” Nina incisted. “You don’t need to decide your future now.”
Jesper nodded, not sure how well her words would work. He looked over Nina. “I haven’t even admired your new-old look yet.” He said, changing the conversation pace. He hadn’t seen Nina In a few years, the last time it had been when she was still posing as Mila, now she had gotten back her brown hair, green eyes, and curvier shape.
Nina spun around teasingly. “I know it’s wonderful isn’t it.”
“You look gorgeous, gorgeous.” Nina laughed, and Jesper smiled. His eyes were still teary but he was smiling, it was a start.
21 years later…
Jesper seems to feel the same throughout the next few decades, time seems to cease slowly around him, especially his own. He’d see Nina some days and she would tell him happy birthday- he’d completely forgotten he had those. Conversations and experiences that seemed unforgettable would sometimes be difficult for Jesper to pick out all the details of, one conversation always stuck, for whatever reason.
“So soulmates do exist, genuinely?” Jesper asked Nina as they strolled through the gardens of the little palace. Zoyas garden had expanded outside of its little area, it was beautiful, but the knowledge of what each flower was for made it quite sad as well,
“For Grisha, yes. But it’s very rare. In some cases if a lover is reborn, they are bound to run into their past lover again.”
“Does the Grisha know when they’ve found them?” Jesper asked.
“Yes, I knew someone who had that happen, she instantly recognized her husband but knew she had to separate the man she knew and the one she had just met. And they got to be happy together again.” Jesper smiled to himself, it was a nice thought, but if soulmates were such a rare thing, he didn’t think the universe would consider him special enough for something like that. “For the record, Jesper. I’m not saying this to get your hopes up, I’m saying this so that you may give loving someone another chance someday.”
Jesper nodded. “Understood.”
“At one point I had hoped I would be lucky enough to be with.. you know who.” Nina said, she looked at one of the newly planted flowers, blooming beside the path they were on. Jesper put an arm around his friend, they didn’t say much for the rest of their walk.
4 years later..
Jesper hardly spends any time doing anything to do with building weapons like most fabrikators are meant to do. The only reason he was there today was because he’d finally been convinced to let someone update his revolvers. Because apparently they were “outdated” and he refused to get rid of them.
“Don’t be so paranoid, Jesper.” Mikayla said as he paced around her work bench. She was an incredibly powerful fabrikator, older than him, and a shit ton more experienced. But that absolutely didn’t mean Jesper was fully confident in her ability to take apart and “fix” his revolvers.
“Would you feel confident in my ability to cut your hair?” Jesper asked.
Mikayla glared at him. “Don’t even think about touching my hair, but sense you're such a drama queen there is someone helping me with this.”
Jesper did not feel more comfortable knowing that. “I gave you permission to tamper with them, no one else.”
She rolled her eyes and sat up from the workbench. “Someone’s been here to write about the way the little palace works, he knows a lot and was really interested in your revolvers, so I’m letting him help.”
“So he’s not even Grisha?” Jesper mournfully looked over at his revolvers on the bench.
“Your babies will be fine, Liam and I know what we’re doing.”
“If I see a scratch on them-”
The door to the workplace opened suddenly. Someone came in holding a crate of tools, using their back to push the door open. “There you are.” Mikayla said.
The boy turned around and grinned.
Holy shit
He put the crate down and held out his hand to Jesper. “Hello,” He said kindly. “I’m Liam.”
Wylan .