Fandom: Love and Deepspace
Characters: Xavier x MC
Summary: They meet again in a sea of flowers, one that looks just like their little planet.
Contains spoilers for Xavier's 'Shooting Stars' myth story.
A/N: I needed a fix-it fic after reading his myth story, and this is how I wish it would end for Xavier and MC in their timeline. :")
Also posted to AO3 - see the link in the replies to this post!
It’s been a long time, to say the least. But, coming back to Philos isn’t an event to be celebrated. After all, he’s a backtracker; a traitor who is no longer welcome here.
The spaceship lands in the middle of Starfall Forest, with only the rustling of leaves and the gentle afternoon breeze extending a soft greeting. The forest, once deemed to be a frightful, dangerous area crawling with wanderers, is now a tranquil haven under the cover of the towering trees.
Xavier leaves the spaceship and feels the gravel crunching beneath his boots. His hair tousles as the wind blows against his lifted cheeks, and he inhales a deep breath of fresh air.
When he closes his eyes, all he can see is her.
And in his mind, the same question that has been haunting him for days remains:
Is she still waiting for him?
Behind the palace is now a blooming field of flowers — one that never existed in his time.
Xavier climbs up the slopey hill, mindful not to trample on the little wildflowers as he goes by. As he ascends, so does the pace of his heart. It trembles in his chest, his mind anxious as he wonders what he should say when he sees her again. Centuries have passed, and people change. What if she no longer remembers him? Or what if she has fallen in love with someone else?
Xavier’s questions promptly vanish, dissipating into stardust when he finds a familiar figure standing in the middle of the sea of flowers, her regal cloak floating in the air. A stronger breeze blows then, nudging the hood of her cloak off her head, and then he sees ribbons of her hair, flowing and dancing in the breeze.
Her head turns at the sound of his footsteps, and their eyes meet.
For a moment, he’s not sure what to say. But his legs continue to move, closer and closer and closer, until his toes meet hers.
She doesn’t utter a word, not even when her name slips past his lips. She only stares at him, eyes wide and glassy with unshed tears. The unspoken question that she has is written all over her face:
Is this a dream? Are you real? Have you truly returned to me?
He takes her hand in his, marvelling at how warm she is to the touch, and places it on his chest. His heart beats stronger and faster now, as his eyes trace over the curves and lines of her face.
She looks the same as the day they parted, except now, there’s a trace of a hesitant smile on her lips.
Her palm presses into his chest, taking a moment to feel his heartbeat, and her eyes search his. Whether it’s to search for a trace of a lie or truth in his eyes, he’s not sure.
But the moment she’s done studying him, no more assurance is needed. She throws her arms around his neck in that instant, leaping into his embrace.
Taken aback by the sudden weight, Xavier catches her, but fails to steady himself. They go tumbling down the hill, rolling down the slope of flowers. Petals and grass are thrown into the air as they go, until they eventually roll to a stop at the foot of the hill.
They continue to hold each other tightly, as if afraid that letting go will mean the other will disappear once more.
Then Xavier hears a quiet sob, and he hurriedly releases her, holding her by the shoulders and checking her for injuries. All he finds are flowers and grassblades in her hair, and despite the tears streaming down her face, she can’t help but giggle as she picks out a stray petal from his cheek.
“Are you hurt?” he asks, wiping them away with his thumb.
She shakes her head. “I was, but I’m okay now.”
Another choked sob escapes her, and she buries her face in his chest, her tears dampening his clothes.
Xavier lets her cry, cradling her in his embrace and holding her like that for as long as she needs.
The sun is setting by the time she’s composed herself. They sit together largely in silence, her head resting against his chest as she leans back against him, and his back rests against the flowery slope. Their fingers are still tightly intertwined, and he can feel the ticklish sensation of her fingertips brushing against the back of his hand, as if to examine him thoroughly for injuries like she used to.
“You made me wait for so long,” she murmurs absently, and his heart aches at the sound of her slightly hoarse voice. “I thought you’d never return.”
“I thought I wouldn’t be able to either,” he replies truthfully, thumb brushing over hers in a soothing motion. “And I thought you wouldn’t be waiting for me after so much time has passed.”
“Hmph. As if I’d let you get away so lightly. You owe me a huge debt for taking over your royal responsibilities all this time, and more importantly, you ought to be punished for lying to me.”
She turns her head, shooting him a glare from the corner of her eye, before returning her gaze to the sky above them. “Yeah. You’re a biiiiig stinking liar.”
He chuckles at the sight of her cheeks puffing up slightly. It’s been a while since he saw her throw a tantrum.
“I apologise… But, what did I lie to you about?”
She scoffs lightly. “Some apology. Shouldn’t you reflect on your own before apologising?”
Xavier smiles, resting his chin on her head and wrapping his arms around her waist. She doesn’t put up a fight, which means she isn’t truly mad at him.
Still, he considers her words for a moment, before his eyes are distracted by a nearby bee hovering over a cluster of white flowers.
“Did you create this flower garden?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Because… someone said he’d take me to a place where there are no people and no wanderers, only flowers. I waited and waited for him to take me there, but he never did.” She turns around so that she’s now sitting cross-legged, facing him.
“I wanted to see how it might look like for myself, in case he never kept his promise.”
Xavier’s gaze softens, sweeping over her eyes that hold more sorrow than actual anger at him. With his thumb, he presses the center of her forehead to ease the frown etched on her brows.
The name is like magic; she fails to maintain her indignant facade and drops her shoulders, eyes lowering and her expression turning wistful.
“Our little planet,” she murmurs, quoting what he had said that night when he carried her on his back through the forest. “I wonder if it’s already turned into a shooting star now.”
Gently, he tips her chin up, so that she’s looking at him once more. “It’s still a fairly young planet, and the flowers should still be blooming. Shall we… go together?”
He watches as her eyes brighten like stars awakening in a pitch dark galaxy. Her lips spread into a playful grin.
“Are you asking me to elope with you again?”
He chuckles. “Yes. Would you come with me?”
Instead of saying ‘yes’ like he expected her to, she purses her lips and crosses her arms over her chest, pretending to be deep in thought.
“So you intend to have me, the Queen, abandon Philos? How irresponsible.”
“Hmm… It wouldn’t be abandonment if I kidnap you there myself.”
He only shrugs nonchalantly. “I’m already considered a traitor, I don’t think another count of treason would make a difference.”
She laughs then, a sweet melody in his ears. “You’re incorrigible.”
“And you’re beautiful,” he says, fingers brushing against her cheek and holding her gaze, a rush of emotions filling his chest. Her cheeks redden and she doesn’t seem to know how to react to the sudden tenderness in his voice, other than to clumsily change the subject.
“B-By the way, I never got to ask.”
“Why did you call the planet Uluru?”
“It’s cute, but it sounds kind of silly. Is there some other meaning to it?”
“Well… Try saying it out loud.”
“Uluru.” Her lips form a little ‘o’, and her eyes narrow at him with scepticism. “I don’t get it.”
In the next moment, he seals the gap between them, lips finding hers in a gentle, sweet kiss.
