Junk Drawer Kids

In one moment, her heart weighed heavy with sentimentality. From the thought of his departure to the sweetness in his words, her eyes shined with the bare beginning of tears. Then, a moment after, his familiar grin lifted the weight away. She felt her heart was a pendulum, swinging to the extremes of her feelings for him and their future.

“Oh, my darling Aidan…” Alice looked with down a shaky sigh. She could still feel his kiss upon her hands, the lingering of that gentle touch of affection. “I would go with you anywhere if only I were free to do so. I wish you would know that, at least.”

Alice met his eyes, her brow lightly furrowed. She reached up brush a strand of hair from his face. “But I am not free, and I never will be. My father will forever watch over me, and he has already forbade me from venturing outside the city. I wonder how much time I can possibly spend with you, knowing you will always leave and I never can.”

“Nah,” he said softly, his smile taking a bit of sorrowful edge to it. He rested his hand over hers, keeping it to his face for just. One extra moment. “I wouldn’ ask ya ta defy yo father. He seems a good man. ‘N maybe I don’t believe with all his ideas, but he sho as shit loves you.” He huffed a small laugh. “Plus, I don’ think ‘ell like me much when we get back!” It was one thing to run off with a man’s daughter. It was quite another to involve her in dangerous supernatural events. It was YET ANOTHER to bring her back to her war torn homeland on Supernatural Business. And knowing he’d have to come up with some excuse to hide his connection with Death... he couldn’t see himself being invited back much after that.

Gently, Aidan wrapped his hands around hers, holding it to his chest. There were a thousand and one reasons why they couldn’t be together--why this was a fantasy that could never come true, but it didn’t stop him from dreaming and it certainly didn’t stop his fool heart from falling for everything about her. Alice was so kind and good with a smile that made the damn world light up. She was beautiful without compare, but her heart... her heart shined with the love she had for everyone and everything.

Including a dirt poor magician who adored her to the moon and back.

“Oh, what a silly notion… I couldn’t begin to imagine what fine men you’re referring to,” Alice gave a soft giggle, lighthearted and happy. It did feel like a dream, like she was walking on air and swimming in sunshine. She didn’t want to wake up either.

“But I understand. Truly, I do. I’ve been afraid, too…” Alice admitted in a quiet voice, clasping his hand in both of hers. “I’ve been afraid of why will happen when our mission is complete, of when you’ll next be leaving… It’ll hurt so very much when you go…”

Alice cast her eyes down sadly, brushing her thumb across the back of his hand tenderly. “I’ll miss you…”

His eyes looked down to their hands, joined and touching oh so gently. It was a wish come true, to be sure. But there was the inevitability of their parting. And that was where his heart was hurting. There was no way he could ask her to come along and leave her family behind. He wouldn’t have asked that of anyone. Family was important. No one knew it better than him.

“I’ll miss you too, ‘course... More ‘n I can say.”

It was hard to say everything in his head and heart in a way that would really show her just how he meant. If he was his father, he’d probably have written her a song and crooned it to her in the softest and sweetest voice. Aidan wasn’t a bad singer, but... that just wasn’t gonna work for him. No, he just. took her hands, bringing them to his lips to offer them a gentle kiss. She was such a light to him. The very thought of leaving her was just... heartbreaking. 

Nervous laughter fell from him and he shook his head.

“...I ain’t even know when I’m goin, ‘n ‘m already sad!” He looked up to her eyes, shining like the glittering sky above them. “Bein with you... Makes me happier ‘n I can say, Miss. I could go across the whole damn world, and only be thinkin’ of you. Send ya ever beautiful thin I see, ‘n still never see nothin half as worthwhile as five minutes in your company.”

Oh it was sappy, but... wasn’t that just love? God, it really was, wasn’t it? He’d had tried attempts at romance in his past but... nothing that held a candle to this.

He gave Alice’s hand another soft squeeze.

  Alice looked down at her hands in his as he struggled for words. There was such confusion. Even after he began, she had no clue what he was to say. It wasn’t anything terrible, surely. It couldn’t be. The way he laughed… It waved away her fears in an instant. Of course it wasn’t anything bad–He was only so nervous. 

  Alice laughed with him, a soft giggle that became a smile, bright and cheery. Her eyes searched his as she listened, full of anticipation, and somehow, when she saw his smile, the look in his eyes, she knew, even before the words left his lips. It was so clear in that moment, it was a wonder how she’d never seen it before.

  “Oh, golly, I… I don’t know what to say,” Alice said in a wistful sigh, her words half a laugh. She felt as though her heart would melt or burst or both, and all the while, she couldn’t stop her smiling if she tried. “What a silly fool I am! All my wishing and here I am at a loss for words!”

  “Oh, but Aidan… Darling Aidan…” Alice met his eyes with a timid excitement. Her hands in his, she stepped closer and freed one, reaching up to brush the hair from his face tenderly, letting her fingertips brush over his skin oh so softly. Her heart skipped, and in a moment of bravery, she let the words fall from her lips. “Can’t you see I feel the same for you?”

This was it. With every grace and kindness, she would thank him for his flattery, and then gently rebuke him. He could pray she would still wish to be his friend, and pray was just about all he could do really. Pray and Hope.

But his fool heart--Oh his heart could’ve taken flight right there! Her hand touched his face, her words... her words. They were a burst of wind into his failing sails; a song of joy in a sorrowful silence. They were. Everything.

“Oh, I...” He chuckled. “I’d hoped. I’d hoped real bad... Didn’t wanna presume nothin’. Not with a fine lady like you... You got fine men linein’ up all ova fo you.” Alice was just short of being a princess. She was a lady of repute and nobility. Her name had weight and matter--especially to the people here in this world. Aidan didn’t have a name, except in the circus. He didn’t have money or business, or anything to give her except the love in his heart and uncertainty. She had no reason to love him. Not really

Of course... hadn’t his daddy offered his momma the same things? And she’d loved that fool with all her heart. Was it too much for Aidan to hope for the same?

“Of course… I knew from the moment I first met you that you were trustworthy.” Alice smiled and turned towards him. She gave his hand a squeeze in equal measure, remembering back to the beginning of their journey. “I could see it in your eyes.”

“Oh, I’d nearly forgotten.” Alice perked up suddenly, reminded of her curiosity. “Speaking of truth—You are no longer under the queen’s spell. So…”

Alice by t her lip briefly, so clueless as to what he had to say. “What did you want to tell me?”

That fluttering feeling grew in his chest, and suddenly his skin felt tight. Ah yes, the truth he’d wanted to tell her... But how could he tell her now?! How could he possibly? What would she even say? He no longer had to tell the truth. Perhaps he could... say something else. Would that be fair? Would that be kind?

He took both her hands in his, gazing at her soft skin. She was so incredible--unlike anyone he’d ever met! Anyone he’d ever gotten to know... Anyone he’d ever loved.

Aidan squeezed her hands gently. “Miss Alice, I’ve only known you fo so long, but... You’ve come ta mean a great deal ta me. An’ I... I--Shit.” He couldn’t help the laugh that fell from him. The thoughts were so clear, but his tongue just couldn’t seem to follow. “Sorry, Miss, I... What I’m tryna say is...”

Now was the time. He looked into her eyes, his soft brown silently pleading for her unending kindness, even now.

“No more secrets. I promised.” His tongue ran over his lips as he took a breath. In the softest voice with a sweet smile, he words finally came out.

“Every night,” Alice replied, her voice a wistful sigh. The breeze from the mountains was carried a gentle chill despite the ever temperate weather of the East, which was not unlike an eternal spring. It could not touch her, though, as she felt a strange warmth upon her skin, settling primarily on her cheeks.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Alice smiled fondly, her gaze travelling the sky as though trying to see every bit of it at once. She didn’t know when she would see Wonderland’s stars again, if ever. It was a moment to remember.

When she could finally tear her eyes away, Alice turned her gaze to him, to his smile, so terribly happy. He always seemed so full of joy. It was an infectious delight. Her own smile grew, and as she returned her eyes to the stars, she reached out, slipping her hand into his.

“Thank you for everything.”

To think something like this could be considered normal by anybody... The glittering sky was utterly astounding, dancing and weaving like a celestial ballet in the sky. It was one of the most beautiful things Aidan had ever seen in his entire life--certainly one of the most incredible.

The only thing that drew his attention away was Miss Alice’s hand in his. Her touch was so warm... He watched the light play across her face as it flickered and flew across the sky. The number of times he’d looked at her and just known she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, but this? This was a sight altogether wonderful; safe, happy, and surrounded by beauty...

A warm, fluttery feeling blossomed in his chest. His mouth opened, looking to say... anything, really. But nothing could come out. Nothing but a bashful laugh as he looked down to her hand, giving it a soft squeeze.

“Wouldn’ be anywhere if it weren fo yo help n’ guidance, Miss...” He ran his thumb gently across her warm skin. His mind was desperate for the words he could share that would express just exactly what was in his head, but they all seemed so small to the feelings that were threatening to burst from him.

Alice gazed out over her world as the suns’ rays fled, watching it darken, though not fully. There were spots, here and there—patches of flowers in glowing bloom, their iridescent light shining only at night. Insects, too, were scattered around with their shimmering exoskeletons and dazzling wings, though they were much harder to spot at a distance.

“I think you’re much more clever than you give yourself credit for, Aidan.” Alice spoke without looking at him, beginning to wonder what it was he had wished to say. Seeing the last of the sunlight slip away…

“Oh, look!” She beamed, tilting her head up as a hundred thousand lights in a vast array of colours lit up the night sky. They were similar to stars in size, but they were not still, not constant. Some moved in circles, zig-zagged, or streamed across the heavens; some danced in place or with one another. Their movements left streaks of light in their wake, like the tail of a comet.

“Isn’t it delightful?” Alice grinned brightly, more than thrilled to see it again after so long. “This is what I wanted to show you.”

She looked ahead at the sky, but her sweet words pulled his attention far from it. His eyes went right to her. Hell, he couldn’t see anything but her. She was everything. She was kindness and joy, sorrow and sweetness, compassion and color all rolled into one. He’d never met anyone like her... and he didn’t think he ever would again. But as she looked up, he followed her gaze and beheld such a sight. Surely by now, having traveled the globe and worlds and dimensions, there wouldn’t be anything that would suprise him by now... but he watched the heavenly bodies above him dance and fly... “Well I’ll be,” he breathed. Still, the universe found ways to delight and dazzle the young man. His grin was unstoppable. He was awash with wonder, stepping closer to the edge for a better look

“I do miss it… sometimes…” Alice sighed softly. Not sadly, perhaps, but in recognition of all that was. She reminisced about being a little girl running through the meadows behind the hills, about watching her brother spar with the serving boys as she did her needle work, and sneaking sweets from the cook.

“But you must surely understand, Aidan. Seeing this… it must seem so strange and new to you. That is just how your world seems to me.” Alice smiled as she lay her hands upon the marble railing, feeling the smooth stone beneath her fingertips.

“It’s so wonderfully new to me still. I can’t wait to explore…” She lifted her gaze to the darkening sky, imagining the view from her window in the other world. “I remember the first time I saw the stars, glittering in that sky of yours. So very beautiful… Like diamonds woven into a tapestry of the deepest, darkest blue. How amazed I was when I learned what they are, how distant… How vast the universe.”

“My world is full of wonders, but it is a bubble compared to yours. A colourful stone upon an infinite beach.”