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Illyana Rasputin stood on the destination side of an open portal, awaiting her beloved Kitty for their impromptu date. She had invited her girlfriend to see something she hadn't seen before: the Northern Lights. This was, of course, only partially true, the other reason she had invited her out would remain a secret for now.
She spared a glance at the portal, more from nerves than impatience. Every little shift of the small box in her pocket sent butterflies flitting across her chest. Her mind drifted to thoughts of promises and futures and so many other wonderful things she never thought she'd be allowed to have. And now it was all one question away.
Kitty's boots crunching into the snow as she stepped through the portal pulled Illyana away from her thoughts.
"You look gorgeous as always," Illyana said.
Kitty walked over and gave her a quick kiss.
"Thank you, мой свет, you do too," Kitty replied.
Illyana smiled, a small blush on her face. Then she turned her gaze upward to the empty sky.
"Look closer, it's about to be there in a few seconds..." Illyana said.
Behind her back she twirled a tiny little box in her hands.
Kitty looked up to the sky and leaned into Illyana, for the closeness and the warmth.
"I'm really excited, I've always wanted to see this," Kitty said.
Then, a flash. Everything goes bright as the Northern Lights finally appear. Colorful and bright, it blanketed the sky and dashed over above.
"It's beautiful. Just like you," Illyana said, bringing a blush to Kitty's cheeks.
Illyana leaned back into Kitty, taking in the sights with her for a moment.
"Katya... If you knew you'd take a metaphorical big step with me, a leap even, would you follow me?" Illyana asked.
The lights are just as beautiful as Kitty dreamed they'd be, but Illyana's question catches her attention. She turns to face her, now bathed in the colorful lights. Kitty holds one cheek in her hand and presses a kiss to the other.
"I would follow you anywhere," Kitty reassured.
She could only smile at the gesture. But the next she did was not return it, but instead, kneel to the ground. One knee above the snow, she finally revealed the little box behind her hands this whole time. She opened it, revealing a ring.
"Katherine Anne Pryde, will you marry me?"
Kitty really wasn't sure if this would ever happen to her. She knew Illyana was hesitant about things like this and was perfectly happy to keep their relationship the way it was forever. So Illyana getting to one knee and proposing to her under the Northern Lights caught her completely by surprise.
She gasped and her hands flew to her mouth, tears welled in her eyes as they flicked between Illyana and the ring and back again. A laugh bubbled out of her throat as she nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes! Yes, baby, of course I will!" Kitty exclaimed.
Kitty knelt down and threw her arms around Illyana's neck, too excited to wait for her to stand. She gave her a kiss that was interrupted by more laughter. Illyana laughed loudly, her smile widening like it never did before. Quickly, she returned the hug and lifted Kitty in the air, spinning her around for a second in complete happiness before stopping and gazing into her eyes.
"I love you so much," Kitty said.
"I love you too, so very much," Illyana said in return.
Then, the ring. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't the usual branded ring. It seemed to be elegantly carved, and though the ring has a solid surface, there seemed to be... something floating within that can be seen like it was transparent.
"This ring is just a symbol. The real proof of my love for you lies on the inside," Illyana said.
She poised to put it on her finger, but waited for Kitty's curiosity if she were to ask.
Kitty flushed at the words and held out her hand, tilting her head to the side as she looked at the ring.
"Yana, it's beautiful. What did you put in it?" Kitty asked.
A small chuckle escaped Illyana's lips as she wrapped the ring around her finger. She knew it was ridiculous and Kitty may not even believe her, but this was the greatest gift she ever thought of.
"My soul," Illyana said, slipping the ring on slowly, like she dramatically drew out the time for Kitty's reaction. "A piece of it, at least. Just a tiny piece of my soul so I don't lose everything in case something bad happens. But enough so there's always a piece of me with you forever."
Kitty laughed for a second, but the more Illyana explained, the more she believed her. Her eyes widened and she nearly started crying again.
"Oh my god, you're serious, aren't you?" Kitty breathed.
She looked back down at the ring, watching the essence within swirl around. The promise and dedication it represented, the fact that Illyana was trusting her with something so precious, it filled Kitty's heart with an indescribable warmth. She held her hand close to her chest, looking back up at her beloved Light and smiling as the tears finally spilled over.
"I promise I'll take care of this," Kitty said.
Kitty leaned in and pressed a slow, warm kiss to her lips, pouring as much adoration into it as she could. She'd never been happier than in this moment.
Illyana reveled in the kiss, passionate and equally loving. This was one of the best days of her life. One of, because the day of the marriage is in the future, and she knows that day will be the greatest in the world.
"I know you will. I trust you with all my heart and my soul. Literally."
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-The Next Day-
Kitty sat with Illyana's head in her lap as she laid out on the couch, idly running her fingers through Illyana's hair as looked at the ring on her hand.
"Hey Yana," Kitty said, "I was wondering about something."
"Sure," Illyana responded, not looking away from her book.
"This ring you made me, could I make one for you?" Kitty asked, looking down at her.
Illyana paused, then set the book down on her chest as she looked up at Kitty. "With or without the soul? The ring itself isn't too hard to make, but the soul part is way more difficult and can be risky," Illyana said, a hint of warning in her tone.
"With the soul," Kitty said, "I figured it would be, but I wanted to do it for you."
Illyana paused again, looking into Kitty's eyes. "You're going to make me tear up." She released a breath and looked back at her book. "You can design the ring however you like, I'll use sorcery to put the soul in safely."
Kitty beamed at her. "Okay! I'll try to have one picked out by tomorrow," she said, brushing Illyana's bangs aside before pulling out her phone to start ring shopping.
Illyana didn't fight the smile that grew on her face.
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-The Next Night-
When Kitty entered the room, Illyana had already turned off the lights, a dozen or so lit candles being their only guard against the darkness. A pentagram had been drawn in chalk on the floor with Illyana at its center, she was surrounded by various components at each point of the star. The area in front of the bottom-most point was blank, presumably where Kitty and the ring would sit.
"Woah," Kitty said under her breath, fascinated by how the energy in the room had shifted.
Illyana had been sitting meditatively, her hair flowing upward slightly. She looked up to Kitty as she spoke.
"Impressed?" Illyana asked as she gestured to the empty space in front of her.
Kitty began padding over, her hands clasped in front of her. "Just a bit, yeah."
"Good. I... tsk, what's the phrase... I pulled out all of the stops for you."
"I'm honored," Kitty said as she sat down, hands still closed in her lap. She looked around the circle, seeing a pile of ash, some undefined white powder and a...lock of braided hair? Her brows furrowed and she tilted her head to the side.
"Where did you get-" Kitty cut herself off, realizing how stupid it would be to ask that question then shook her head. "Nope. Nevermind."
Illyana glanced down at the spell components then back at Kitty. "Don't worry about it, kitten. Now, do you have the ring?"
"I do," Kitty smiled, finally opening her hand and holding the ring out to Illyana. It was a thick silver band, the center of which was cut into the shape of a northern star.
Illyana took the ring, her serious demeanor dropping as she examined it and admired the meaning behind the shape. Though it quickly returned as she set it down in its place at the bottom point of the star. The entire circle glowed as the soul vessel was set in place. She raised her hands into position, then hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip as her eyes darted around. She flexed her hands open and closed for a moment before dropping them into her lap with a sigh.
"You're sure you want to do this?" Illyana asked, searching Kitty's eyes. "Like I said before, it can be dangerous, and it's..." her words trailed off as her eyes drifted away. She grabbed her arm in a self soothing gesture before her eyes returned to Kitty's, a warning and an apology written into them, "...painful."
Kitty took in a deep breath before nodding, "I'm sure. I want you to know I'm just as committed to this as you are. I want to put in my share of the effort. I want you to know how much you mean to me."
Illyana let out an amused breath, almost in disbelief, then smiled at her while fighting back tears. She leaned forward, careful not to mess up the chalk lines, and slid a hand behind her neck, pulling her into a deep kiss. Kitty returned it happily, humming and cupping Illyana's face in her hands. The love and trust in the air was palpable.
Illyana pressed a quick kiss to Kitty's forehead before fully pulling away, "Okay then." She sat up and crossed her arms, her serious tone returning. "A few rules to keep this as safe as possible. First," she held up a finger, her arms still crossed, "do not touch any of the components, I will do all the work. Second," she held up two fingers, "do not move from that spot." She nodded towards where Kitty was sitting. Kitty firmly clasped her hands in her lap again and nodded with a nervous smile. "Third and final," she looked over to Lockheed who had been quietly watching on the side, "you must not interfere. No matter what happens, do not touch her, do not enter the circle, do not do anything until I say it is done."
Lockheed looked at her, tilting his head slightly as he read her expression and her tone. Illyana was very familiar with their bond, she knew that if he felt pain or even anxiety from Kitty, he would try to comfort her. She knew that he would try to help her through this, but just this once, she couldn't allow it. Soul magic was delicate, finicky. Illyana was familiar with it at this point, but there was a nonzero chance that something unexpected could happen. If Lockheed interrupted and caused her to lose her grip on Kitty's soul, or, gods forbid, if he stepped in and got his own soul mixed in... She didn't want to think about the potential consequences of everything going wrong, she just knew the possibilities existed, and she absolutely could not allow them. So just this once, she had to be harsh and strict with him.
Thankfully, Lockheed seemed to understand. He looked between the two of them, his family, then down at the magick circle before taking a few steps back, firmly planting himself in place, and nodding at Illyana. She nodded back, giving him a thankful look, then turned back to Kitty.
Illyana raised her right hand and gently placed it palm up against the side of Kitty's face. Kitty stiffened under her touch and a pang of guilt tore through her chest. She softened her expression as she spoke, "Try to relax." With her left hand she brushed Kitty's bangs aside before gently cupping her chin, running a warm calloused thumb along her jawline. "And don't forget to breathe."
Nerves had begun to tug at Kitty's heart, but Illyana's voice managed to calm her. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and sat very still.
Illyana's eyes began to glow a light blue and her hair started to fly up as she hovered her hand in front of Kitty's stomach, the first two fingers outstretched. She located the soul and pulled it up into the chest, through the throat, and out of the mouth. The glowing mass of energy, still tethered to Kitty's body, rested gently in Illyana's hand. It pulsated slowly, flowing and weaving in and around itself. Small specks of purple light could be seen mixed in with the blue. It is warm and bright, and somehow less... jagged than Illyana remembers her own soul being. She hoped with everything she had that it would remain that way forever.
A long, drawn out gasp was pulled into Kitty's lungs as her soul was coaxed out of her body and her eyes turned a sickly white, as though the colors were drained from them. The first thing she felt was an aching cold within her, deeper than deep, in some part of herself that she could never reach on her own. The second thing she felt was emptiness, a yawning void left in the place of something that shouldn't be removed. The third thing she felt, or didn't feel, was breath. It was like she forgot that she could. Her lungs burned and felt like they wouldn't hold air even if she tried. Tears began to sting in her eyes.
Then there was a thumb stroking her cheek and a gentle voice reaching her ears.
"Breathe, Katya," Illyana reminded her.
Kitty dug her nails into her palms and forced herself to take short even breaths. It still felt wrong, it still felt like something was missing, but she no longer felt like she was dying. She was almost able to focus her eyes on the strange and beautiful display playing out in front of her.
Illyana held her left hand out to the side and the circle underneath her glowed brighter, her hair floated up higher and the candles around the room flickered. She turned her hand upright and a ball of eldritch fire appeared in her palm. The components in the magick circle began to dissolve, their essences siphoned into the fire. It took on an iridescent hue and engulfed Illyana's hand, though it didn't seem to burn her. As she slowly traced the rim of the ring with fire infused fingers, she recited the incantation.
"Zhulmaak, vek-zûl, ziktatio Magiae," her voice resonated in the space.
As the final syllable was spoken, every light in the room was snuffed out at once. All was still for a moment... Then the candles in the room flickered back to life and Illyana's hair fell down around her shoulders. She looked down at the ring, gently glowing with its new piece of soul, and let out a long sigh of relief. Then she looked up at Kitty.
Kitty sat very still in her designated spot, clutching her hands to her chest with her head bowed low and her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to catch her breath. It had hurt. God, it had hurt when that piece of soul was taken from her. She had never felt such a sharp pain before, both from outside of her body and in her very core all at once. And it still felt wrong. It felt cold and empty and wrong. It felt like something was missing because something was missing. She knew this would be unpleasant, and she was very ready to make that sacrifice to prove her dedication to Illyana, but goddamn if it didn't suck right now.
Illyana inched closer to her, placing one hand on her shoulder and wiping away an errant tear with the other. "Hey, it's okay. It's done," Illyana said, her voice gentle. "You did well."
Kitty opened one eye slowly, then the other. "It is?" She asked, grabbing the hand that rested on her cheek. She looked around to see the spell components gone and the glow in Illyana's eyes beginning to fade. Taking his cue, Lockheed promptly jumped into her lap and started purring against her chest, knowing where the hurt was coming from. Kitty placed a hand on his back.
"Hey, boy. I'm okay," she reassured him.
A cold sharp pain pulsated somewhere deep within her and she nuzzled against the hand she held to her face. That would take some getting used to. It was then Kitty realized that she had missed everything that happened after Yana took the soul piece. A light blush danced across her cheeks and she looked back up at Illyana.
"Heh... um.. did I miss the cool part?" she asked shyly.
"Eh, nothing special," Illyana said casually, holding up the cool part.
Kitty looked at the ring in awe, all of the discomfort she felt vanishing in an instant. She watched as the small piece of her dipped and swirled in and out of the ring, glowing with a gentle blue light. A grin spread over her face as she picked up the ring and slid it onto the hand she was holding. She held her hand out next to Illyana's and watched the soul pieces dance around each other. Now permanent reminders of their devotion to each other, who they belonged to, assurance that they would never truly be apart.
"There," she said with reverence, "now we match."
Illyana couldn't help the smile on her face as she looked at the pair of rings. Then it fell slightly as she remembered how Kitty had been less than a minute ago.
She kept her gaze on the rings. "...You didn't have to do this," Illyana said quietly.
Kitty crawled over to her and sat in her lap, wrapping her legs around her waist and her arms around her neck. Illyana's hands took their place on Kitty's hips and Lockheed promptly jumped into her lap after they were settled. Kitty kissed her, slow and gentle.
"I did. I wanted to," she insisted, following it up with a kiss to her cheek. "Love makes you stupid."
Tears welled in Illyana's eyes and she kissed Kitty again before responding, "Then we can be stupid together."
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