Work Text:
Evangeline did not consider herself a light sleeper. According to Jacks’s ‘complaints’, it took ages to wake her up every morning. Which is why she found it so peculiar when she suddenly found herself sprung awake in the dead of night.
Everything seemed alright, though. The Hollow was not groaning or creaking. She could not hear any forest critters brawling outside her window- which was something that occurred way more often than you’d think- and she couldn’t sense any impending danger.
That’s when she noticed something, or rather, the lack of something. Her husband, who she assumed would’ve been deep in sleep around this time, was gone. His side of the bed remained cold and vacant. A shiver ran across her skin as she released herself from the warmth of her blanket, and pressed her feet down onto the freezing wood tiles. She called out for him.
Jacks?
She was met with silence. The dread that had pooled in her stomach only worsened at this. After rummaging through the dark for a pair of slippers, Evangeline stumbled towards their bedroom door. She pushed it open, trembling as the cool air of the empty halls welcomed her.
She tried calling out for him again. She was ignored once more. At some point, her unease had settled into a horrible, aching panic. A former immortal with murderous tendencies slipping away into the night was never a good thing.
Evangeline hurriedly forced herself down the stairs and into the kitchen. Every detail was shrouded in shadow, and she prided herself in navigating through the place without tripping at least once, until she spotted a ray of moonlight seeping through the crack in the main door.
She blinked and peered closer at the door. It was slightly ajar, as though the person who’d last used it had left carelessly or hastily. The sinking feeling in her stomach returned.
Evangeline wasted no time in rushing towards the door and pushing it completely open, letting herself out. The air was even chillier out in the front garden, and even the trees seemed to shake with her. She tried to get her mind to reach him one last time.
Jacks?
Little Fox?
Evangeline flinched backwards in a nearly violent manner as that familiar voice echoed through her thoughts. But there was something wrong. His voice sounded broken and raw, even in her head.
Jacks, what’s the matter?
Go back to sleep Evangeline, please.
His voice came back colder this time.
No. Tell me what’s wrong, I want to help.
I-
Jacks’s voice died. She felt her heart drop.
Where are you?
I already told you to get back to bed.
No. Not until you tell me what happened.
Nothing.
Then I guess neither of us are getting any sleep tonight.
Evangeline, in her stubbornness, decided to patiently sit herself down on the porch. She would sit there and wait until dawn if she had to.
Little Fox.
Jacks’s voice came back low. She didn’t reply. Many agonisingly dragged out seconds passed.
Fine, you win.
Before she could process the many things that could’ve meant, she felt hands grasp her waist and tug her upwards. Jacks.
She was about to tell him off, but then she was face to face with him. It gave her a chance to see the look on his face; it was one of utter sorrow. Her chest twisted as she studied his face under the moonlight.
“My love, what’s wrong?” Evangeline reached up to touch his cheek, and she could’ve sworn she saw a tear fall- it was difficult to tell in the dim lighting.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. She noticed that he too, had begun to quiver.
“It’s okay. Let’s get you inside-” she started.
“No.” Jacks’s hands left her waist in a second, and he pushed himself away from her and back onto the grass.
She stood on the porch, momentarily stunned. Guilt flashed across his face.
“I didn’t mean to-” his voice was hoarse.
“It’s alright, love. How about we just sit down here?” Evangeline slowly brought her knees back down to meet the wood and patted the space beside her.
Jacks nodded and sat beside her. He cleared his throat.
“I’m so sorry I left, Little Fox. I was planning to come back, I promise. It was just that…” he swallowed.
“Take your time.” she hummed, intertwining their fingers.
“It’s hard. Staying here.”
Something hammered in her chest. “Staying here?”
“The Hollow.” he nodded. “I have so many memories here- from before I became a fate. With people I’ll never see again.”
Jacks squeezed his eyes closed. “Everytime I close my eyes I see them. I see Lyric, I see the Fox, I see them all. Everything here reminds me of them.”
He pried his eyes open. “I can’t do it. I dream of them, every night. I dream of the ways they died, the ways they betrayed me, the ways they hurt me. It’s like they’re haunting me.”
That’s when she knew she didn’t imagine his tears. “Oh, Jacks…”
“I was lying awake and I kept imagining them- it was horrible, Evangeline. And then all of a sudden I felt like I couldn’t breathe. So I… so I just ran out as fast as I could.”
Evangeline used her free hand to reach out and cup his cheek. He melted into her touch. It was a while before either of them spoke.
“I’m sorry.” Jacks muttered eventually.
“Don’t apologise, love.” Evangeline whispered.
Jacks shifted closer until he was nuzzled comfortably under her neck, and she wrapped her arms around his back.
“We don’t have to stay in The Hollow.” she murmured softly.
“But you love it so much.” Jacks’s voice began to break again.
“I love you more, and if you can’t stay here, I’d be more than happy to find a new home with you.” Evangeline said sincerely.
he tucked himself deeper into her neck before sighing. “I don’t want to leave. This place may have bad memories, but they also have some of the best ones, and there’s nothing I want more than to create new memories here. With you.”
Evangeline smiled as Jacks went on. “And besides, I don’t think The Hollow would be very happy with me if I left.”
Somewhere inside The Hollow, something creaked, which she assumed meant: ‘I wouldn’t.’
—
The two spent an indeterminable amount of time just sitting at the mouth of The Hollow, hugged so tightly she felt her limbs go numb.
When Jacks was ready to go back inside, she urged him to sit on the sofa, and she lit the fireplace. After making sure he was settled, she went into the kitchen and brought him a cup of hot chocolate- because who didn’t love that?
He was relatively silent until he was handed the mug. “You treat me too well.”
She leaned in and kissed his forehead. “I treat you the same way I feel about you.”
He sipped the cup, quietly relishing in the fire’s warmth. She decided to sit an arm’s length away. The moment she sat down, he pulled her to press against his side. He offered her what was left in the cup and she accepted it. Little words were exchanged, but she knew exactly was he was thinking.
When she was done, she set the cup down. Her exhaustion finally kicked in. She yawned and sunk deeper into Jacks’s embrace.
He hummed. “You must be so tired, Little Fox. It’s alright, I’ll get you back to bed in no time.”
Without a second thought, Jacks got up and lifted her to his chest, holding her tightly. She squeaked and he gave a weak laugh. He slowly took her up the stairs and into their room, then carefully laid her down against the messy blankets. She relaxed into them.
Suddenly, something bright struck her and she forced her eyes open once more. She looked to the window the same time Jacks did. Sunlight.
Jacks scoffed and approached the window, swiftly closing the curtains. “I’m sure we can sleep in today, right?”
She nodded sleepily. She sighed as she felt the bed’s weight shift beside her. Jacks wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back to his chest. She giggled as she felt him bring his lips to the back of her neck.
He trailed kisses across every inch of skin he could find. “I love you, Little Fox.”
“I love you too, Jacks.”
She felt him smile against her neck. “Aren’t you going to turn around?”
She obliged, turning so that she was facing him. Then, his lips were on hers. Jacks’s kisses were always gentle and slow. He was always patient with her. This time was no different.
She relaxed into him, parting her mouth slightly as he sighed wistfully. She broke the kiss, and his face settled into one of pure longing and love.
“Have I told you that I love you?” he asked.
“Yes, my love. About a million times, now.” she ran a hand through his gold hair, just the way he liked it.
“I could say it a million more times, and it would still never be enough.”
She scoffed. “Now, now. You’re being a tad bit dramatic.”
He frowned, and it was possibly the most adorable thing she had ever seen. “You’re supposed to be tired.”
“Well, I’m not anymore.”
He frowned deeper and she laughed. She slipped back into his embrace, which earned her a happy ‘hm’.
The sunlight only slightly filtered through their curtains as Evangeline slid into the protection of their blanket, followed by Jacks, who’s hands were secured around her hips, holding her impossibly close to him. Her hands got tangled in his hair at some point, and he gently bent down to place a kiss on her forehead.
This, she knew, was what love looked like.
This Jacks looked so much brighter than the one she’d found crumbling outside The Hollow. Joy looked radiant on him, and she wanted him to feel nothing less.