Work Text:
Two years ago, a war started between the underground and the surface. It was an intense battle, both sides weren't backing down. So many people were lost, especially you Pearl...
Why did you have to leave us so early?
It's the anniversary of the Civil War, and just like last year, Kalani and Scott are depressed about it.
Every year, Kalani and Scott were reminded of what they lost. Jaden and Ace try to cheer them up, but to no avail.
Last year, Scott locked himself in his room, only eating when someone brought food to his room. Kalani, on the other hand, spent entire nights building machines and gadgets, to the point where Serapter had to drag her out of her lab to get sleep.
So when the second year came, they were already prepared. Prepared to stay at Scott's bedroom door, prepared to watch Kalani when she would go into the lab and prepared to drag her out if needed.
And right on que, Kalani carried a large crate to the lab while Scott grabbed some chips and locked his bedroom door.
"Y'all know what that means people, it's the day again." Avery said while practicing her newly made rifle. Everyone collectively groans at that, it wasn't good that Kalani and Scott did these habits. It hurt to see them so broken over something they couldn't control.
It wasn't their fault that Pearl died, but they think it is. A couple months after they arrived, Spoke thought everything was fine, that they were ready for this new journey. He thought they were fine.
One night, Spoke got up to get some water when he overheard Ivory, Serapter and Rejoice talking.
"She thinks it's her fault for Pearl's death." Rejoice paced back and forth in their living room, hands thrown all around the place.
"It's her way of grieving, let her get used to it first, maybe then she'll be okay." Ivory told Rejoice.
"But that panic attack was nothing I've ever seen. It was like she was talking to someone and it wasn't aimed at me."
"Do you think the pain is too much?" Serapter asks.
"I think, in Kalani's mind, she's a curse, a burden, the mistake. And her surroundings, is not helping..."
Spoke tuned out the conversation and ducked his head down so they wouldn't see him, Kalani? Thinks she's a mistake...? But she looks fine, at least to him.
Spoke ran away before anyone could see him, completely forgetting his water and went straight to Kalani's room.
"Hey, Kallie, you up?" Spoke whispered through the door.
"Yeah, why?" Kalani whispered back. She sounded like she's been up for hours, which for anyone, was not a good sign.
"Just wanted to check on you."
"Did you hear Ivory and Rejoice talking again?"
"Maybe, maybe not. But yeah, why didn't you tell anyone? You can trust us y'know."
There was silence for a long, long time before Kalani spoke up again.
"Go to sleep Spoke, it's midnight."
"Kallie--", Spoke sighed and went back to his room, it became clear in that moment that she just needs some space.
Two years later, and they still can't let go of Pearl, it makes sense, Pearl took care of them, he only knew Pearl for a couple years, but he knows that she would want them to let go of her. She wants them to be happy, but how can they be happy if their family was gone?
Last year, Jaden lost his eye from a battle that was never supposed to happen, that scar became a reminder of what everyone lost that day. It was truly tragic.
Then, the following week, Kalani opened a news article online with Flow in it. She gasped in shock and betrayal, eyes watering. He had become a hero, the exact reason why they lost so much. As everyone stared at the article, Kalani set the phone down and ran to her lab. She was so heartbroken that day.
Spoke vowed to bring this family together, even if they were all worlds apart.
Flame looked at the calendar, a date circled in red, "Our Anniversary", was written in cursive. It was their second year anniversary, two years of dating, two years of calling each other the love of their life, two years of their lives bound together by love.
Both of them agreed that for this anniversary, they would just relax and stay at Swight's.
Flame was holding a bouquet of flowers as he walked to Swight's house, wearing an outfit Mane forced him to wear with his hair neat and slicked back thanks to Flow and Sword.
He approached the door and rang the doorbell, Swight answered and his face lit up instantly.
"Flame!"
"Hey, I got these for you.", Flame pulled out the flowers from his back and gives it to Swight.
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
Swight gives a soft kiss on his cheek and welcomes him inside. Flame looks around the place and sees the kitchen looking like a massacre.
"Uhhh, Swight? What--?"
"Oh, I'm just baking cookies, that's all!"
"Swight, baby, that's does not look like baking to me."
"I know, I know, I keep burning them by accident."
"Do you need help?"
"Desperately."
Flame chuckles at that and goes into the kitchen, putting an apron on while trying to guide his lover in baking.
"And then you--no, no Swight, don't put that in, you're putting the wrong measurements in!"
"Don't worry, I got this."
Flame grabs Swight by the waist and drags him out of the kitchen.
"Wait Flame! Put me down!", he breathed out through laughter.
"No, you're going to murder your kitchen if I do."
Flame sets Swight down as the two snuggle into each other. The kitchen destroyed, their aprons still on. But to them, it was the perfect way to celebrate ever.
Lizzie watched the sunset as this anniversary passed, she remembered it all too well. The screams, the pain, the betrayal, it all felt too familiar.
"Hey sis! What are you doing?", she turns around and sees her little brother Jimmy and her boyfriend Joel.
"Just...watching the sunset, Pearl loved sunsets..."
"She really did.", Joel agreed with Lizzie making her smile.
"Do you miss her?"
"Everyday." Jimmy answered.
And the three watched the sky, reminiscing on past memories forever forgotten in time.