Work Text:
Beaches were always nice. Ignoring the feeling of sand in your shoes and hair, they always calmed Jaiden down. She could watch the tide move up and down all day, maybe. She almost forgets where she is sometimes. Though, beaches were always nicer spent with someone else.
It was late, the moonlight reflected off the sea in a way that looked almost unreal. Jaiden and Jacob sat there, just taking in each other’s presence. They were both far enough away from the tide so they wouldn’t get wet, but close enough to see and hear each wave that crashed against the ground. Other than that, it was silent. Jacob was all too tempted to reach over to Jaiden’s hand and intertwine their fingers with hers- yet, they held back. They focused on what was in front of them, the water moving rhythmically.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by Jaiden.
“Jacob?” She spoke softly, almost reserved. She brought her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around her legs. She didn’t look at Jacob. She continued staring out into the seemingly endless sea.
“Hmm?” Jacob hummed in response, their attention now shifted to Jaiden. Their tone was laced with curiosity. She seemed.. eager, almost. She took a soft breath before speaking again.
“..do you think that- like, in every universe, we always find each other?”
A pause.
This was, admittedly, a question Jacob had pondered themself. It was strange how close- how intertwined they had gotten to each other. Certainly not in a bad way, though. It usually felt as if Jaiden was a puzzle piece Jacob had been unknowingly looking for their whole life. She completed them, in a way that they didn’t even know was possible. So, they couldn’t exactly imagine a universe where they weren’t together.
Meanwhile, Jaiden practically cringed at her own question. It was stupid, she thought. She was close to saying ‘Nevermind,’ and continuing to look out upon the water- but before she could, Jacob responded.
“..yeah. I think- I think we do.”
Jacob turned to Jaiden and looked at her for a second before continuing.
“I think I’ll always look for you, at least. As corny and cliché as it is, I really don’t think.. that I could truly live without you.” They smiled and chuckled to themself. At this point, Jaiden was turned towards Jacob. She was kind of shocked at their response. She looked into their blue eyes for a little, taking in their familiar look.
“I..” Jaiden looked for the right words to say. “I’ll look for you, too. Then, that way, we will always find each other… I think.” She laughed softly to herself before leaning her head against Jacob’s shoulder. Jacob leaned their own head against Jaiden’s. They finally gave in, and they reached towards Jaiden’s hand and intertwined their fingers. “Yeah. I think that’ll work,” They respond. “But-“ they begin again, sighing before actually speaking.
“At least for me, being with you in this universe is enough. Hell, it’s more than enough.” They said genuinely. Jaiden stayed silent, taking in each of their words as if they were art. It was funny- it truly did feel like time stood still when they were together like this. “Though, I would definitely fuck up timelines and travel through the universe and time itself to find you.”
time itself, huh?
“..you’re so corny.” Jaiden spoke teasingly, squeezing Jacob’s hand a little. Their words were genuine- she could tell. They ran through her mind, over and over, embedded into her heart.
“mm… and you love me, anyway.” Jacob laughed to themself again, squeezing Jaiden’s hand back. Though, her question did really get them thinking. If other universes did actually exist- would they really be together in every single one?
Jacob pulled back and fully tuned their body towards Jaiden, their legs crisscrossed. “..how about this. In every universe, I’ll always look for you. I’ll never stop looking until I find you.” They extend their hand, their pinky finger out. “Pinky promise.” They grinned, looking into Jaiden’s eyes once more.
Jaiden reached her own hand out, wrapping her own pinky around Jacob’s. “..me too. Pinky promise,” she smiled gently as well. She moved the rest of her fingers to intertwine them with Jacob’s again. Their hands were warm compared to her own, and it sent a comforting feeling down Jaiden’s spine. It was moments like these where she was really reminded that she wants to spend the rest of her life with Jacob.
She leaned into them, wrapping her arms around them. She buried her face into the crook of their neck. Jaiden was never good with words, but she could certainly hug. Jacob wrapped their own arms around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace.
Then, just like that, it was silent again with only the crashing waves reaching their ears. Well, not exactly- this time, they could hear each other’s breathing. They could hear heartbeats, almost in sync. Jacob gently kissed the top of Jaiden’s head and smiled into her hair, taking in the familiar scent. They didn’t know exactly what they were feeling. Love, probably- but there was something else. They felt.. at home. Just like they always did in Jaiden’s arms. Honestly, this almost felt like a dream.
But, it wasn’t. They were here. With Jaiden, listening to each breath like it was the last thing they would ever hear. They tightened their grip around Jaiden ever so slightly.
“I love you,” they mumbled, barely understandable, yet still there.
Jaiden responded, speaking barely above a whisper.
“I love you more.”