Chapter Text
"I'll be fine, you know this," Morgan said, confident smile gracing their face. Alex chuckled, but stayed on the ground.
"I'll catch you, I promise," they yelled up to Morgan. A laugh was the only response. Morgan climbed up the tree, the spines on the branches obscuring the sight of Alex below.
Alex moved to act as a yelp rang out and Morgan fell. They had always had shaky hands. Alex only made it in time to see Morgan slam into the earth. Their crown split in half.
Alex sobbed that night, comforted by their parents. They held Alex tight and made them dinner. For years, they were solemn. Only with pressure from their parents did they manage to move past the death.
Only after their parents died did they realize they hadn't aged. They watched their friends die. They cried at the funerals, but it felt hollow. Like an empty mourning.
They moved on quicker with each passing. Then someone new came along. Except they were definitely not new. Not at all.
~
Morgan listened as their friend, Emily, chattered excitedly next to them. They were smiling easily. Her words faded, however, as they caught sight of someone.
Tall, handsome, and far too interested in them. "Em, do you mind just…" they put a hand to their lips. She nodded. Morgan approached the mysterious person, eyes meeting and never leaving. "And who are you?"
The person smirked. "I'm Alex. And what's your names?" Morgan returned a smirk of their own.
"I'm Morgan, this is my friend Emily." Morgan said. Em nodded. Alex didn't react beyond a simple nod. "I'm guessing I'll see you around?"
Alex chuckled, "If you miss me, maybe." Morgan laughed as they left, continuing the conversation with their friend.
~
Alex knew that smile, that voice. That easy confidence. It was their Morgan. How lucky that they met.
~
It was a whirlwind romance. They fell in love quickly, though they had a few miscommunications. Alex just wanted Morgan to live a long, healthy life.
Maybe they should've wished upon a star.
~
Alex laughed as Morgan twirled. This cliff had a beautiful sight. Morgan came close, grinning. "C'mon, sing something for me so I can dance!"
Alex laughed but sat down. They sang, and it was beautiful. Morgan made sure to keep a close eye on the cliffs edge. They wouldn't fall.
Alex's eyes shot open and they leaped to catch Morgan, to no avail. Alex watched as Morgan fell, down into the churning waves below.
And so, the cycle continued.
~
Rocks, choking, allergies, wars, even a meteor. No matter what, Alex was left standing after Morgan perished. They thought they had gotten accustomed to death. Morgan's passing always blindsided them.
They studied everything they could think of. They only stopped when Morgan appeared in their life again. Alex picked up palm and tea reading. Neither helped.
~
Morgan sits in their apartment, tinkering with a machine. They look up to see Alex, holding a cup of coffee out. They smile at each other. It's only by their training that Morgan resists blushing. Alex plops down on the couch, turning on some random TV show. They sit in silence.
Alex quietly watches Morgan. It's been uncountable decades since their first meeting. Alex never gets tired of their laugh. For once, they want to be unforgivably selfish. Protect the fragile mortal who showed them love. Over and over.
Morgan can feel Alex's eyes on them. The attention they give Morgan always felt misplaced. They won't complain about a good thing, though. Even if that good thing makes their heart flutter. They should probably get that checked.
In the comfortable silence, it was easy for Alex to forget their mission. No matter what, keep Morgan alive as long as possible.
~
One evening, Alex presents Morgan with a cup of tea. "Alex, you know I prefer coffee." Alex chuckles, but keeps a calm demeanor.
"I know, just humor me, will you?" They ask.
"Alright, but if this poisons me, I'm going to sue you." Morgan jokes. They don't miss the dark chuckle Alex gives. Morgan glares in return. They sit as Alex holds their hands up in defense.
"I promise, completely safe to drink." Alex is the face of cool composure as they say it, though they're secretly panicking.
"If you say so." Morgan quickly downs the whole thing. It's bitter, but the honey in it cuts down on the impact. Overall, not bad. As they set it down Alex makes a "hand it over" gesture. Morgan obliges, sliding the cup over.
Alex scrutinizes the tea leaves. Silently, they worry. This doesn't look like a good omen. A line of anger up and down the handle side of the cup. Sadness pooling at the bottom. The only good thing is the life rings along the sides. It could also be an omen that they were doomed to continue dying and coming back.
Morgan watches Alex frown and set the cup down. "What was that for?" Their passive face doesn't budge, but they almost frown.
"Divination. I picked up tea reading at some point." Alex answers in a way that betrays their nerves. They hold out their hand. "I can read your palm, too."
Morgan accepts the hand, holding it face up. "Sure, I'll humor you." Alex carefully inspects Morgan's palms. They're not soft, but calloused. The love lines show they'll have love. The life line, however. It shows an early death.
Alex forces a smile. "Well, you're going to live a life full of love. Even if it doesn't seem like that right now." They shove the fear away. "And you're going be rather wealthy throughout the rest of your life too." It's not a lie.
Morgan lets the mask slip as they grin. "I knew my heists would pay off!" Alex nods.
"They will." The response came easily. Morgan always responds the same way. Joy that their endeavors will make them wealthy. But in this life, they had to fight for love. Alex will make sure Morgan never has to fight to feel loved.
They sit there in comfortable silence for a while before Morgan goes back to their work. Alex goes to their lair. Studying magic had its perks.
Minions move around them as they walk to the expansive library. They open the hidden passage easily, closing it behind them. Alex walks into their documenting room. Immortality gives them perfect memory, but they wanted to document everything. In the case Alex dies, all of these would go to Morgan.
Alex plucks the most recent book out and grabs one of the pens. They write down their day today, and what Morgan did. Along with potential dangers Morgan dealt with. They avoided death easily.
If Alex was allowed one selfish thought about Morgan, it was that they were grateful for one part of their childhood. It prepared them for the danger of being around Alex. They would never intentionally allow that to happen, but they can't change the past.
With a meticulously kept library hidden from the world, comes the daily chores meant to keep the records completely pristine. Occasionally, during lulls, Alex would translate the older books into modern languages. Other times, they'd soothe their depression by reading the older accounts, making sure to keep their language skills sharp.
They smirk, thinking about how Ohio would drool over this collection. Then the grief hits. Alex always gets attached. They ignore it anyways. Emotions can't get in their way anymore.