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You'll never see the paintress again.
The startling realisation came to you as you sat on the edge of the cliff past the group's camp, just outside of earshot. You'd needed space to think, away from Lune's meticulous planning laced with evident anxiety, and Sciel's attempts to cheer everyone up. As comforting as those things were, with one night left on the continent, you needed a moment to yourself.
It was strangely peaceful, on your own. Wildflowers littered the overgrown grass around you, shifting under your fingertips as you ran your hands through their stems. The air was cool but not uncomfortable, the sensation welcome against your skin. Over the view of the landscape you'd been traversing for weeks, the land in which you'd both loved and lost, the paintress rested regally on her throne, the threat of '33' hanging over her head. You wondered if she felt as sad as she looked, crouched beneath the monolith.
If tomorrow you truly won, she'd disappear along with the curse she held over your mortality. She'd be gone, and you would return home to Lumiere to the cheers of those you had grown up with. Within decades she would exist outside of living memory, and some would start to forget that flowers had at one point been a reminder of grief and loss. 'The Paintress' would be a character in a story and nothing more, a figure in a history textbook, discussed but never feared.
You'd also never see her again if you were dead, though, and that was a very real possibility.
There was no guarantee of survival, and it seemed that death was a more likely outcome between the two. Would you come all this way only to fail at the final, critical moment? You hoped Gustave's sacrifice wouldn't be for nothing. You couldn't help but think about all the things he would have loved to have seen: the trains in Monoco's Station, the engineering feat that was the Reacher. He would've loved it all, the quiet moments together around camp, the equally beautiful and dangerous landscapes you'd explored.
Gustave only would've wanted you to try. He would have said something sweet and insightful to encourage you and raise your spirits. You wished he were here.
Pushing the thought aside, you shifted your gaze towards the stars, taking in their bright patterns against the dark sky. You remembered what Sciel had said about sharing your worries with them. "The stars will understand", she'd said. You had to admit you were quite sceptical of whispering your worries to burning hydrogen well out of earshot, but it was a sweet thought. While you didn't speak your thoughts aloud, it was nice to think that something out there was listening, providing quiet comfort. It was easy to lose yourself, gazing out at their sparkling reassurance.
"They're quite beautiful, aren't they?"
You recognised the voice of the man who had sat down next to you instantly.
Verso had drifted from the warmth of the campfire to your private retreat by the cliff without you noticing. He looked tired, faint dark circles visible under his eyes. He had clearly attempted to neaten his dark hair to little success; unruly white strands fell in soft curls over his forehead and stuck up in random places.
As long as you'd known Verso he'd treated you with kindness and respect, and above all he'd made you feel seen. Never had you felt as though your emotions were invalid, or that you were overreacting to your situation. He had reassured you in the worst of times, and laughed alongside you during the best.
He was there like that for everyone, and it didn't go unnoticed. You had often overheard him exchanging passionate conversation about music with Lune, drinking with Sciel, and comforting Maelle through her grief. He'd helped Monoco polish his nevron feet, and consoled Esquie when he lost his rocks. He was always there, always kind. Even though he had stayed relatively mysterious and shared little about himself, you had come to trust him.
You hoped that this would not be the last time you saw each other.
Slowly and without warning, gentle tears began rolling gracefully down your cheeks, hitting the ground below softly. Almost imperceptible and completely silent, but he still noticed.
Without a word, he shifted closer to you, his hand reaching out to brush yours ever so slightly. Your skin felt hot at the contact, but you didn't move away. Cautiously, as though he was giving you time to move away if you wanted to, he covered your hand entirely with his own, giving it a gentle squeeze. Despite having wanted to be alone, you were grateful for his grounding presence as you worked through the heavy emotions you'd been carrying.
Being an expeditioner was never easy, so even in moments of relaxation spent together there was always a part of you that was constantly alert to potential threats, watching and waiting for the next dangerous encounter. You felt as though you hadn't properly rested since your final night in Lumiere, before you'd set out on your journey to the continent.
Every night since the massacre on the dark shores, you'd slept lightly, and woken with a start. As your mind drifted to all the friends you'd lost, you allowed the tears to continue to fall, silent and soft.
Verso's voice tentatively broke the quiet, as if testing for your reaction.
"Would you like to talk about it?"
You shook your head. "It's nothing, it's just, we've come such a long way, and the end feels so close now. It's-," you paused. "It's strange."
Verso nodded in solemn understanding.
"It's hard to think that my whole life has led up to this moment, and it's all about to be over," you concluded. Even if it didn't quite encompass the depth of what you were feeling, it was enough of an explanation to explain roughly how you felt.
In the quiet solitude of the evening, sat at the edge of the camp, at the end of your journey, you contemplated what was to come. It was comfortingly intimate, to have shared a moment of quiet openness and honesty in a time of fear and uncertainty. With Verso by your side, you felt slightly less afraid.
Despite the danger that was to come, despite knowing your survival was unlikely, everything felt just a little easier knowing you'd have your friends by your side - that you would have Verso by your side. No matter what tomorrow would bring, regardless of if you lived or died, you would do so knowing that you were loved, that you had loved, and that your legacy would never vanish, not completely.
You felt a sense of understanding fill the space between you. You noted that once again Verso had made you feel heard and understood by barely saying a word. His presence was enough, his gentle, reassuring touch reminding you that he was there, always there for you if you needed it. If you needed him.
"Do you think we'll see each other again?" you asked.
You met Verso's gaze, his pale blue eyes sharp but not cold. A small smile crept onto his face as he considered your question thoughtfully. His hand tightened ever so slightly around yours.
"I'm certain of it."
While you appreciated his optimism the words did little to console you. Of course, you had no way of knowing whether or not this would be your last moments alone together. If Verso would continue to live, and you would exist only as a friend in his memory, as his immortality carried him forward without you. You hoped not. Your worry must have made itself evident in your features, as Verso spoke again.
"Would you like to go somewhere else? There's a spot I think you'd like, and it would be a shame to leave the continent without seeing it first."
You stood, your hand falling out of his back to your side. The instant his warmth disappeared, the cold air hitting your exposed skin felt wrong, and you wanted him to take hold of it again.
You followed as he led you further from the camp, the laughter of your friends fading out as you pushed through the forest towards a small clearing. The trees opened up to a patch of open grass beside a thin river, the running water reflecting the silver moonlight. Fireflies illuminated the space like stars on Earth, and the flowers there were somehow even more vibrant than those around camp.
It was truly beautiful. Everything seemed softer around the edges, more welcoming. The tree line blocked out a lot of the cool breeze, lending a warm airiness to the environment, while remaining open enough to still provide a view of the gorgeous night sky above. It was breathtaking. Verso knew you well.
"Do you like it?" he asked, nervousness creeping into his voice.
You nodded with a grin, moving to lie down in the plush grass. The ground welcomed you in its soft embrace, surprisingly comfortable underneath your weight. Surrounded by the soft hush of leaves in the breeze and the sweet scent of wildflowers, Verso laid by your side.
Despite the pleasantness you felt, a certain tension hung in the space between you. You felt as though Verso had something more to say, but was struggling to find the words. Eventually, his hand found yours again, and in the affectionate tenderness of the forest in the dark, he spoke.
"I lied to you, earlier."
You turned to face him, confusion washing over your features.
"What?"
"I lied. Earlier. When you asked me if I thought we'd see each other again."
"Uh huh," you followed, confusion still evident in your face.
"I said I was certain," he explained. "But the thing is, I'm not certain. I can't know what will happen, and that terrifies me, and if I'm honest I-"
He paused, taking a deep breath and shutting his eyes.
"If this is the last moment we spend together, I could not possibly live with myself if I wasn't honest with you."
It was your turn to pause. "What do you mean?"
He opened his eyes, turning to meet your gaze.
"I could never live with myself, knowing I never told you that I love you."
At first you didn't respond. Any words that might have formed a response completely disappeared as your brain short circuited, and you stared at him wide-eyed and utterly speechless.
"Verso," you started, but he quickly interrupted you.
"Don't feel like you have to say it back, or that you have to feel the same way at all. I know that it's highly unlikely you think of me that way, and I completely understand if you don't feel comfortable talking to me anymore and you want me to leave you alone-"
"Verso," you repeated.
He quietened, watching you expectantly. Words continued to fail you, as you laid under the stars beside him, with his confession hanging in the air, not a single word felt right to explain the way you felt.
So you stopped trying to find them-
And you kissed him like it was your last night on Earth, because it probably was.
After a moment of shock, he returned it with equal intensity, running his calloused fingers though your hair. All at once you felt all the love in the universe, your heart blossoming with warmth as you gently pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.
When you broke apart, it was with the biggest smile on your face, overwhelmed with love and joy, your fear and anxiety faded to the edges of your mind. In this moment, wrapped in starlight, the only thing that mattered was the two of you, and the loving embrace you shared.
You'll never see the paintress again. Either you'll defeat her, or you'll die trying. But you know now that either way, you'll be doing it alongside a love you never thought you'd have, and that was enough.
Live or die, remembered or forgotten, one thing would always remain true, and now it was simple fact. With Verso by your side, you knew.
No matter what, you would always, always, be loved.