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Mercy knew the events of the past few weeks would take a toll on Swan, believe her.
It didn’t make it any less saddening.
Even if they had all come out alive, Fox’s near-death situation at the train station, the lingering thought that Cleon had truly died, and Ajax nearly bleeding out on that pavement had left a mark on the second-in-command of the Warriors, and it was breaking Mercy’s heart by the day.
The clock had read 3:00 AM when Mercy walked up to the building’s rooftop, carefully trying her hardest not to make a sound as she climbed up the metal stairs.
“May I join you?”
There stood Swan leaning against the rails at an ungodly time at night for the fifth night in a row. She had turned around in a panic, her guard still higher than usual after everything they’ve been through. Yet when she sees Mercy smiling sadly at her, she relaxes significantly and her eyes soften.
Rembrandt had teased her about it a little too loudly near Mercy.
“She’s making you go soft, ain’t she?” Rembrandt had laughed madly. A few of the Warriors had joined in the teasing, pointing and giggling while being completely unaware that Mercy was just a hallway behind them, and she had heard every word.
It had made her giddy — just as giddy as when Swan pulled her into a deep kiss on that train.
How mad, isn’t it? A girl she had decided to recklessly follow and uproot her whole life for making her feel things she never knew she could feel.
“Would you leave if I said no?”
“Probably not.” Mercy answers honestly, a small grin breaking out on her face seeing the playful roll of Swan’s eyes. Despite this, Swan doesn’t make any move to shoo her away. With that, Mercy joins her on the rooftop, standing beside her as they look at the cityscape of New York together.
Yet the deep eyebags on Swan’s face didn’t go unnoticed by her.
“Is that my jacket?”
“You don’t mind, do you?” Mercy asks, pulling Swan’s jacket tighter on herself. She knew Swan’s answer, anyways.
“You know I don’t.”
Just as expected.
Despite the miniscule blush on Swan’s cheeks, Mercy could just tell there was something heavy weighing on her mind. It was clearly upsetting her, which was upsetting Mercy too.
“Everything’s not alright with you, is it?”
“And I can’t hide anything from you, can I?” Swan sighs to which Mercy laughs softly. Silly girl, Mercy had thought, of course, you can’t. With another soft sigh, Swan’s lips tremble as she fiddles with her fingers. “It’s stupid.”
“If it’s making you feel this bad, it can’t be.”
Swan is silent for a few moments before admitting defeat, “I had a nightmare.” Mercy nods, waiting for Swan to continue. She’s had those, and she’s sure the rest of the gangs from New York aren’t exempted in the slightest.
In a world where guns and knives are the only form of communication, even the strongest would be afraid.
“Mercy…” Swan trails off, “Mercy, why me?”
It feels like Mercy’s entire world stops. In fact, she feels insulted Swan would think that.
She tries not to sound so angry, but it slips out a bit, anyways, “What do you mean?”
Swan sighs shakily, curling into herself. Mercy swears she can hear her heart crack.
“Mercy, please, I’m such a fuck up as a second-in-command, I—“ Swan quietly gasps for breath and Mercy is quick to grasp her hand.
Desperately, breathelessly, she says, “Fox was nearly left behind to die, and-and Ajax…shit, Ajax could’ve been killed for such a stupid reason. Last night, I saw them die, Mercy.” In a rare moment of weakness, Swan wipes at her eyes, “Cleon wouldn’t have made the same, dumb mistakes if she was just there—“
“They’re alive, Swan.” Mercy is quick to cut her off lest the girl falls into a rabbithole of doubts, “And they only got that far thanks to you, mind them. Don’t ever fucking say that you’re a horrible second in command, because you’re the reason they’re alive right now. And I’m sure they don’t blame you for anything.” She holds out her arms in a question for permission, and Swan nods.
With that, Mercy brings Swan into a tight hug and the girl visibly relaxes.
“You’ve saved me too. You’re the only person I could ever bare myself whole to. You’re such a strong person, Swan — the strongest person I know. You’re the strongest person the Warriors know.” Mercy whispers, “I don’t know how I could ever repay you for everything you’ve done.”
“You…” Swan trails off, “You’ve made everything better in this fuck up of a world. That’s already everything to me.”
Mercy smiles softly. It’s a new feeling, really: to not just be a pretty doll on display for somebody. Instead, she was now somebody someone would run to first, and it was a wonderful feeling. “I’m glad.” She takes a short pause, breathing in the night’s air as she looks into Swan’s eyes. Those beautiful, beautiful eyes she had changed her entire life for.
She brushes Swan’s hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear before cupping the girl’s cheek. Swan turns to her, melting into her hold as her eyes close shut. Mercy’s own heart melts with the action. Finally, a moment of peace for the second-in-command and of course, only Mercy could give it to her.
“May I…help you in other ways, Swan?”
“Could you?” Swan argues back weakly, uncharacteristically flustered.
Mercy doesn’t respond verbally, instead choosing to lean in and delicately press her lips to Swan’s. It’s just as beautiful as their kiss on that train a week back, and Mercy already can’t wait for their next one. When they pull away after what felt like eternities, Mercy rests her forehead atop Swan’s.
“Why do you look so flustered?” Mercy teases, “You were the one who kissed me last week, didn’t you?”
“It could’ve been our last train ride if anything bad happened.” Swan admitted, “I don’t think I could have died without kissing you first.”
Mercy is falling, and she couldn’t be happier about it.
“Rembrandt was right.” Mercy coos mockingly, “I’ve made the big, bad Swan of the Warriors go soft.”
“‘Course you heard that of all conversations.” Swan grumbles, but she doesn’t sound upset — instead, simply accepting. Mercy laughs loudly into the night, throwing an arm around Swan, “Alright, big, bad Swan,” She teases, “Let’s get you to bed now.”
For the first time in many nights, Swan nods.
For the first time in many nights, Swan falls asleep peacefully in Mercy’s arms.
Just as she does for many nights to come.