Chapter Text
The only sound in the cave was scratching and shaky breaths.
“She is Cecilia.”
“I love you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“She was loved.”
It’s shaky, you could barely read what she wrote on a good day. What she wrote when she wasn’t dying.
“She loves tea and flowers, her laugh is beautiful.”
“She isn’t a doll.”
“She isn’t a doll.”
“She isn’t a doll.”
“She’s human.”
“She isn’t a tool.”
“Her name is Cecilia Immergreen.”
“She isn’t a tool.”
Gigi can’t feel her fingers, most of them fell off days ago. It was supposed to be easy, a simple extraction- save a scientist and get out. It was easy- it was easy until she fucked it up. She didn’t see the gun, she didn’t think they’d have one. She didn’t think they were sold out.
It should’ve only been her. The gun wouldn’t do anything to Cecilia, she could throw the scientist off their plane back- leave Gigi behind and live like she should- instead of dying here in a cave.
Cecilia wouldn’t die- at least not like she would.
Maybe that’s enough, at least enough to keep her eyes open.
“She isn’t a tool.”
“She’s a human just like you.”
“Find justice, they’ll know how to help her.”
“Please.”
It’s all she can do anymore. Pray that someone comes before Cecilia loses another thousand years. Elizabeth could figure it out, Raora has her god eyes- maybe they’re already on their way. It’s better that way- it won’t make it hurt less, but at least Cecilia can grieve with people she knows.
Cecilia would hate her for carving into her frame like this- she should.
“I’m sorry.”
She can’t write it enough, there’s too much more to write. Every book she loves, every movie she loves. She doesn’t know if they’ll exist when someone finds her, maybe she’ll find awful movies to watch hundreds of years from now. Hopefully it’s weeks- days. Justice has to be looking- they’ll find her.
Gigi thought she would be scared more, she knew every mission could kill her- she knew it eventually would. She’s reckless and stupid and hears it in Cecilia’s laugh every time. It would keep her up at night, over and over before missions or after, replaying everything she did wrong in her head- every way she might have accidentally let one of the girls get hurt. Every way she might die too.
It wasn’t scary- not now. Not scratching tiny letters into her lover's frame with two broken legs and shallow breaths. It’s peaceful almost, despite the cold. That rotting single minded desire that pushes everything else out, she had to do this. Had to keep breathing just a little longer- just another note more, she couldn’t let anyone think Cecilia was just a doll- let anyone hurt her.
“She’s a talented musician.”
“Languages - Ger FR Eng JP - 2027”
Languages change. She hopes Cecilia can still talk to people, she’s always loved to.
“She’s observant.”
“She loves movies that she thinks are bad.”
“She doesn’t like to clean.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shouldn’t write it. She doesn’t have time.
“I’m sorry.”
For everything, for getting her stuck here. For not noticing the gun.
For lying.
“Cece, you need to rest- it’s been days.” It’s barely whispered out through her bone dry throat. “Just for a little- please your body can’t take this.” Like a snake in Eve's garden.
“Gigi please-” Cecilia hasn’t wound down in days, turning her key over and over as much as it hurts her. Pushing every mechanism inside her body to its limit just to keep Gigi warm- just to keep her alive. “Liz can get me a new body Gigi- you can’t.”
“I’ll wind you up when I get cold- there’s enough heat in here. Please just- rest Cece, I can’t- I can’t lose you like this.” It’s a lie. She can’t lose Cecilia, she can’t handle it. She won’t wind her up, she won’t let her destroy herself like this. It’s Gigi’s fault. “I promise, just a few hours- please.”
“Swear it- on everything. Gigi I swear to god if you don’t.” Cecilia knows it’s a lie, but she’s too weak to fight it. “I swear to god Gigi-” It’s softer, trailing. Tears playing in her eyes saying everything she won’t let herself believe.
“I swear Cece- I can’t lose you.” It’s the truth wrapped behind a lie and sealed with a kiss. Cecilia’s so hot it burns her, scorches her lips enough it hurts for hours later.
She misses Cecilia’s voice.
It was easy to carve at first, a stone snapped in her gauntlet when she could still lift them. She knew every hidden seam on Cecilia’s body like it was her own, all the points she could pop open to write in softer inner linings.
“Justice floating HQ.”
“Leadership: Bloodflame Royal line.”
“Division under Council.”
She hopes Justice still exists in a thousand years- she hopes someone finds Cecilia earlier.
“She’s funny.”
“Intelligent.”
“Compassionate.”
“Please. Save her.”
“She isn’t a doll.”
“She is not a doll.”
“She is human.”
“Cecilia Immergreen is a human.”
“The most beautiful one.”
She can’t carve anymore, she can barely move her arms. She can barely see. She hopes she fit Cecilia’s back plates together right, they were always the hardest to tell apart. It’s okay if Cecilia hates her for messing it up- Elizabeth will fix it. Gods she hopes it’s Elizabeth.
Maybe the next Bloodflame. Or Ravencroft- or Novella. It hurts, she’ll miss seeing them all, miss teasing Elizabeth about it. She hopes Cecilia can see them, she’d love them. She always loved kids, even if she says she’d be an awful parent.
It’s harder to take her jacket off, her sweater and her shirt too. She couldn’t get the ties right on Cecilia dress, she doesn’t have the fingers left to. This isn’t enough. Cecilia deserves more- it’s something. It’s not enough.
She hopes Cecilia doesn’t hate her.
It’s scary.
It’s cold.
“I’m sorry.” There’s nobody left to hear her. Cecilia won’t. She can’t, she hasn’t been able to in days.
Gigi’s pathetic.
It’s scary.
She stares at the little diamond hidden in Cecilia’s casing. The only place she didn’t touch.
“I’m so sorry.”
Gigi’s pathetic.
It’s scary.
“I love you.”
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