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Nova knew there were a lot of people out there that had a harder life than her.
She had a home (even if it was always empty), she had a father who was somewhat present (even if he demanded way too much from her), she had friends (even if they didn't know much about her), she was a leader and her people trusted her (even if no one ever bother to ask if she was okay) and above all: she had her visions, they never let her feel truly alone.
So, yes, there were a lot of people out there that had a harder life than her.
Still, she wished.
She wished her mom was alive, that her father learned to show affection, that she and Ray were as close as they used to be, that she could show weakness, that someone looked out for her, that she didn't feel like an impostor living her own life.
Nova wished she could see Victor again.
It was easier. When he was only an image in her mind. She could find comfort by hoping that there was someone out there who could be free like she never was able to.
But now - now that she knows his smile, his hair, his cold but comforting hands, his heart and compassion - it was so hard to fight every single instinct telling her to run to Shadyside and melt into his arms.
Nova wondered if he was fine, if his friends have been nicer to him, if his aunt has been doing better at treating him like the heir that he was. Sometimes (all the time if she’s being honest with herself), she wonders if he misses her as much as she misses him. It was crazy, Nova was well aware. They had been together for less than a week, she shouldn't be thinking about him all the time - she couldn't, not while there was so much to do after the opening of the Orchard.
Still, she did. And after two months apart she was going insane. He may not have the answer to all her problems, but still, with Victor by her side Nova knew they could figure it out together.
That's why today was the day that she was finally going to do it. She was going to Shadyside. Consequences be damned.
…
Nova wasn't an idiot.
The girl knew if she was caught she could get in the way of the peace negotiations that have been happening in the last few weeks. So she tried to disguise herself to the best of her ability, but since she didn't have any dark clothes it was a difficult job. She went for the reds, even if it wasn't as deep as the red the vampires used to wear, at least it wasn't shiny as the gold and white clothes.
Well, that is going to have to be enough. She sighed looking at the mirror. Nova was still as far from the vampire looks as the sun was from the moon. Well, at least the hoodie that was covering her hair did tone down the daywalker vibes, a little.
She left a few minutes after she was sure her father was asleep, only making sure he was not going to wake up soon.
After a long time - it wasn't really that much, but more that she was willing to be away from her vampire boy (Not mine, she reminded herself) - Nova finally arrived at the beach.
Even with her heart beating way too fast in her chest, she still managed to check if there was no border patrol around before sneaking through the magic barrier and going to the regular world.
Suddenly, the world went from full of light to only a silver of it from the moon brightening her path. Nova felt like she was about to pass out. That was it, she was finally going to see him.
Did he miss her?
Or he had forgotten her? Two months was a long time.
Maybe she was the crazy one, obsessed over him while he was having a great time finally being able to eat bloodfruit freely again.
Stop overthinking! She had to remind herself before she chicken out. Victor also had visions of her, he held her hand on the night they went flying, he told her she was what he was looking for all his life. People don't say that and just forget the other, right?
Nova was so inside her head that she almost missed when she went through the second barrier. The changes weren't as big but still, she could see like somehow the night felt more real in here.
It was beautiful.
She hasn't known what Shadyside looked like, only reading the description in old books.
They didn't do the city justice. It was more amazing than she could ever imagine (To think her father wanted her to be responsible for the death of this place… it broke her heart even more)
After a stunned moment, she started moving. She did not come all this way just to be caught by spending too much time at the border. Red sneakers sank in the sand while the girl rapidly moved closer to the city.
Now it was time for the biggest problem. She had no way of knowing if the vampires used the same hours as the daywalkers. Were they asleep while her people were awake? Well, Nova’s plan kind of went along the way of hoping the city was mostly asleep by the time she arrived. It might not have been but hey, she was desperate, okay?
The blond could not believe her luck when she saw almost no one in the streets. Still, she had to be careful, it was dark and she could not see as well as the vampires.
Next step: find Victor.
She could try to figure out which house was the eldress, however, she decided to do the one thing she has been wanting to do for the last few years, (she could say two months, but it would be a lie, she has been wanting to go after him ever since the visions started) she took a minute to feel the invisible thread pulling on her gut, the thread that led to him, she was sure of it. Nova for the first time in her life let herself feel and went after her vampire.
…
It was surprisingly easy. She noticed.
To go undetected, to find him, his house, his home.
The balcony was a blessing. She climbed it through a tree and some pipes (after all, she was a trained soldier, thank you very much) and finally made it into his window.
Don't ask Nova how she knew it was Victor’s, she just knew.
Her fingers went numb, palms sweating, was it too late to go back?
Just when her brain was overloading, a door opened and one quiet word made her whole world go back to focus.
“Nova?”
Her name, simply her name - said with wonder, uncertainty as if he wasn't sure she was real - made every single one of her problems disappear.
“Victor,” she whispered to the boy of her dreams.
His hair looked the same, his clothes wrinkled from sleep. Everything in him looked like it hasn't changed at all but at the same time so different.
For a moment they just stared at each other, unmoving, untouching, unbreakable.
Nova’s doubts started to flood back to her brain, it was to much, her feelings were to much-
Then Victor quickly crossed the balcony with two steps and threw his arms around her.
And everything fell right in the world.
She was here, with him. After all this time. They were together and nothing could change that.
His arms across her waist and back were all she ever needed. She hid her face in his chest taking deep breaths. His scent. Gods, she missed him so much.
They didn't talk, they didn't need to. This hug said everything they needed. They hung on each other like they were never going to let go. It wasn't like their last hug. That one was a goodbye, this one, it was a promise.
After what felt like forever but no time at all, Victor finally pulled his head away from her hair and gestured for them to go inside. Here anyone could see or hear them.
As he tried to step to the side to let Nova go first, Victor realised that the girl didn't seem the slightest bit ready to move, she closed her fists stronger against his shirt. Not even every punishment that his aunt could offer could have stopped the chuckle that left his chest. “We really have to go inside, it will be safer for you,” there was a pause “Then i will let you return to your attempt at smothering with your iron grip all you want, Sunshine.”
At that moment the daywalker realised what she was doing. She let go immediately, blushing with the thought she was gripping to him like a small child.
(Both felt the effects of the lost of contact even if neither of them would admit it, after all they were just friends)
Victor wasn't sure he was awake. After weeks of dreaming of her hair, her hands, her eyes, her power, her lips, there was no way he was lucky enough to have her here, in his balcony, one arm away from him.
Let's be clear, Victor has tried to talk to her, to send her messages, to see her. But it has been hard. After their little display back in the orchard his aunt was keeping a very thigh leash. Yes, she came to realise he wasn't as stupid or useless as she thought, but still, he went against her orders, attacked guards and stole the darkstone. All of that was not going to be forgotten.
As he finally stared at the girl of his dreams, he couldn't help himself and pulled her hood down, he needed to see her hair as well in full glory.
Somehow, she looked even more beautiful in the moonlight than the day they last saw each other - and damn, that was hard since she was already the most beautiful girl he had ever seen then.
His legs were feeling weak, so he leaned against the wall to make sure he was not going to fall, that would be embarrassing. It was already enough that his daywalker girl was inside his messy room - wait. Nova was in his room. Yeah, he was definitely freaking out.
“What- what are you doing here?” he finally managed to ask, unsure what the proper procedure was for when the girl you are completely in love shows up out of nowhere, breaking a thousand rules just to be here.
“I’m.. here to see you,” she said softly, not daring to look in his eyes, before adding the most difficult part, “I missed you.”
To say Victor was shocked was an understatement. He was so afraid… afraid that she came to her senses and noticed that she was too good for him, a way better leader, a better person and heir. He created a thousand sceneries in his mind where she decided to never speak to him again.
But that? Knowing that she missed him enough to risk all the new improvements? It was everything to him. Boy, he really needed to step up his game. How did this girl become more perfect with every breath?
“I missed you too, so much,” without being able to hold back any longer, Victor got closer and put a hand on her cheek, her soft skin grounded him more than any exercise he learnt in training ever could. He looked deep into her eyes, only to be met with the prettiest shade of blue he has ever seen, “I can't believe you’re really here.”
Nova took the opening to step closer and rest her hands on the nape of his neck. How could the simple act of his thumb brushing her cheek be already better than every single moment she has had in the last two months? “I know I shouldn't have come, but I… I just needed to check on you,” her lungs filled with air while she tried to muster the courage to say what she really wanted. I need you, I only feel whole when I'm at your side, please don't leave me again… there are some things that are better unsaid, especially now. Things were getting better, but there was still a huge cliff between their worlds. Since she was not ready yet to bare her soul (yet, she thought to herself, someday she would, soon), it was easier to change to lighter topics, “how have you been?”
The growl Victor let out was enough to answer. He dropped his head to rest his forehead against the crown of her head (How could her hair be so soft? He could spend the rest of his life just smelling that scent and it still wouldn't be enough) and mumbled, “better now that you're here.”
“Com’on Victor, I didn't come all this way just to hear you whining,” Nova said with a teasing tone. Being honest, she would listen to anything he had to say, no matter what. The daywalker was using everything in her to be able to focus on his words, but it was hard… so hard to not get lost in the weight of his head against hers, on the feel of his hands that now rested against her waist, on the feel of his hair against her finger tips… oh man she was in big trouble. Is this how it is like to be in love? To want to be by the person's side all the time, to listen to every story, every single detail they were willing to share?
They stood there, while Victor started his tale on the pranks Vargas did on unsuspecting vampires, then talked about how it was like in the city with the people being more happy and well fed, he even shared some of his attempts in the kitchen now that they had more liberty to try new things. After insisting Victor finally gave in and mentioned how his aunt had been giving him a little more work and responsibilities, even if she clearly still didn't trust him.
Nova listened. She laughed at his friend's antics, was concerned about his well-being in the kitchen (maybe he should start his chef career with simpler recipes?) and threatened the vampire leader when needed. She listened to him. She always did.
Nevertheless, to Victor the best part was hearing about her life. She told him about how things have changed at home (almost nothing, same overdemanding dad), how she took even more children under her wing at training (he was sure they loved her, she just didn't see it), how she and Ray have been trying to make amendments (honestly, he forgave the daywalker boy a long time ago, he knew Ray was just like Vera, just needing a little push to see how the world could be) and, his favorite part, how she finally decided to challenge everything and come see him.
Gods, how could a woman like that even be real?
Eventually they moved to sit on the ground (really, Nova though, why do vampires don't have couches or proper beds? Victor’s only chair by the table seemed far from comfortable, she would have to change that if this is going to be a regular thing), the carpet was soft enough and they didn't even pay attention to it, being too enthralled by each other's tales. The time passed and the couple barely even noticed, it had been so long, too long.
Being too comfortable with the others' presence, it was no surprise to anyone when they fell asleep, backs against the wall, legs extended in front of them, and their hands? Yes, the hands connected told a whole story. They still had a lot of things left unsaid, but why rush? For now, they had each other, and it was enough.
(And if the following day Victor had to hurriedly fly with a very tired Nova on his arms to Sunnyside before her dad went to check on her bedroom and had terrible back pain for the rest of the day? Well, it was nobody business.
And, just for the record, he didn't regret a thing.)