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Fireworks sounding off all week, big meals, festive decorations; it was the new year, there was no doubt about that. The bright lanterns illuminated the entire street market with its warm orange glow. Chimes clicking on the food stalls, the delicious aroma of different scents of food being carried by the wind. Even with the chilly temperature, the atmosphere was filled with a comforting warmth of the people attending the market.
How many times has Xavier seen those things? He had already lost count. No — he stopped counting at some point. How many times has he seen the years changing along with the seasons? How many times has he made resolutions, waiting, hoping for better times, better years? How many times has he seen the turn of a decade, the turn of a century?
Too many.
For centuries, Xavier sat alone as the years passed, adding one more number to their count. He would sit in whatever would be his home at that certain period and watch the fireworks, its colours shining bright on the dark sky. Their lights would often compete with the stars, trying to outshine them by being colorful and loud. They could never replace the true beauty of those lights out in the outer space, though. The cosmos were unmatched, illuminating each path across the Milky Way.
Loneliness often came at those times, with no family and friends to celebrate with. Far away from home, Traceback II was not going to be back in function anytime soon, the Backtrackers were no more, and he couldn't rely on Jeremiah for everything; it wasn't fair, he judged. He'd already done much more than Xavier could ever repay him for.
It was okay, he reassured himself, he was already used to it. And it wasn't that bad, as the countless stars in the sky kept him company along these years. Even if the night sky was covered with clouds or pollution, Xavier knew they were still there, tracing lines in the dark blue canvas to create constellations. He had made peace with the loneliness the moment he chose this path, to leave his home and his people. To leave her — his friend, his queen, his guiding starlight.
His time was running out, he knew that. It has been so long since he was physically present in Philos, but that place seemed to follow him everywhere, anywhere. He still could feel Starfall Forest draining his strengths, haunting his once pleasant dreams. It both terrified and relieved him; he didn't want to die, to become atoms as he faded into dust, but he would prefer it to be him either than her.
As he stood in the center of the town square, he stared up at the tree decorated with red ribbons and echo bottles of wishes. People around him — families, kids, couples — all came together to reminisce before the massive tree. He had saved this moment on his centuries-long journey, waiting for the right time to wish upon a star again. He didn't consider himself to be very superstitious, but one can only hope for a better outcome.
Xavier looked up at the stars, his eyes tracing the invisible lines on the sky to look for a path to follow. As they sparkled along with the fireworks, all of the paths they drew seemed to be pointing directly to the girl beside him.
There she was, standing by his side again, securely wrapped up in one of his cardigans that she simply refused to give it back. Not that he didn’t mind it, of course. He would argue it looked better on her anyway. Maybe it wasn't enough to keep her warm from the snow around them, and she probably would soon try to cuddle up against him for some extra warmth, which Xavier also didn't mind — any excuse to keep her close to him was a welcome one. He also couldn't deny the way his heart fluttered at the sight of her wearing his clothes, carrying his scent and warmth around and mixing it up with her own.
The wind blew against them and messed up her hair, but she didn't even seem bothered by it, too focused on the small echo bottle Xavier hand-crafted. She clenched it close to her chest, right above her heart. Eyes closed and brows furrowed, taking this moment so seriously. Xavier couldn't help but find her utterly breathtaking. She didn’t even need to try and he was already on his knees, at her feet, looking up to her like a goddess. Like she had all of the answers of the universe at her grasp and was dangling it all before his very eyes.
His eyes traced her glowing figure like she meant more than the entire universe they resided in. He had saved his wish for this, to have her back to him again once again. The stars brought her willingly and didn't ask for anything in return. Still, Xavier made a promise to compensate the universe in some way.
Her eyes finally fluttered open once again, a small, pleasant smile still resting on her pretty face. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked down at the sparkly bottle in her hands, her thumbs tracing the small colorful stars inside of it. Then, her gaze shifted to Xavier, who was still staring back at her like the adorable lovesick fool that he was.
“What is it?” she asked, her tone teasing as her smile grew wider. “Or does making a wish require you to stare at me?”
Xavier couldn't help but smile, too, his heart racing away on his chest again. He could just melt into a puddle right now and just let her step all over him if that's what she wished. He could never grow tired of simply hearing her talk, of experiencing the sound of her voice being carried through the wind to lend on his ears. The way her eyes sparkled underneath the starry sky was hypnotizing, as if thousands of microscopic galaxies reflected on her gaze.
She took his hand and led him closer to the Tree of Reminisce, looking up at its branches filled with other people's wishes. Turning back to face him, she smiled once more.
“Boost me up?”
Xavier complied without a word, wrapping one arm around the back of her thighs and one around her back before lifting her up in his arms. She hung up their echo bottle in one of the branches, kissing the tads of her fingers and pressing it against the sparkly glass.
Xavier chuckled. “Did you just kiss it goodbye?”
“What?” she questioned with a soft laugh, turning her body to face his and loosely wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “It's lovely. I would keep it if I could.”
“You can keep it if you want to,” he said.
Now it was her turn to stare at him in silence, her eyes slowly trailing across the features of his handsome face. Then, she lightly shook her head. “No, it's okay,” she said. “Those were last year's memories. We can make new ones this year.”
Xavier returned her gaze, his cheeks acquiring a soft pink tone at the way she looked at him. This was all he could wish for, truly. To have her again with him, to celebrate the good of life and push through the bad.
This was his second chance; he had lots of those along the years. This time, though, he would make full use of this opportunity. This was his chance to finally do things right. This was his last spring on Earth.
“I love you.”
The words escaped him without any resistance, his brain simply sent a command and his mouth spoke it out aloud. Xavier didn't seem fazed, though. There was no reason to freakout. He truly meant those three little words, and he felt immense relief to at least have the opportunity to say them to her.
The smile on her face was priceless. Nothing with any amount of value could even compare. The way she was beaming with happiness, and the carefree laugh she let out was better than any echo the cosmos could do.
“I love you, too.”
Their mouths found one another in a kiss. The chilly temperature and the wind couldn't faze them, both too busy being wrapped in their warm embrace. The crowd cheered as the fireworks exploded above them, saying their farewells for the last year and celebrating the arrival of a new one. The couple, however, also didn't pay much mind to the hustle and bustle around them.
As they broke apart, her forehead came to rest on Xavier’s. They breathed into the same space, their eyes opening only to gaze into one another. Right here, right now, Xavier knew that his centuries-long wait was worth it. The sorrow, the loneliness, the doubts, the betrayals… all of it brought him to this moment.
He would spend every lasting moment of his already very long life with her. He would repeat the cycle of waiting again and again if that would mean she would have every life of hers with him. He had promised on the night of his birthday that they would spend every year together, and he meant it.
Because no matter where she was or how long it would take, he would always find her.