The Aftermath V
(Yes Valentine’s day takes place during this. I figured it’s a reprieve from the angst)
— — —
Valentine’s day wasn’t always a time of complete joy. For some it was a rather dull and agonizing holiday. For others it was a time of joy and excitement. In fact, Penny adored Valentine’s day and had prepped a month in advance for the day of love.
She had her cards made, presents bought, and delivery route memorized. For the most part it was something simple, but there was one person she was particularly excited about surprising. Staying up late the night before Penny added the finishing touches to her gift before dragging Chloe into her room. “Does it look good?”
“Yeah,” Chloe nodded, inspecting the gift with care.
“Great!” Penny clasped her hands together bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Okay, I can’t wait until tomorrow. You can have yours now!”
Chloe watched as Penny shuffled through a bunch of valentines until she pulled up a bright pink card accompanied by a small goodie bag. “You didn’t have to-“
“Open it!” Penny grinned like a little kid. Shaking her head, Chloe did as told. The card was written in somewhat sloppy handwriting and there were certainly misspelled words but she didn’t bother bringing it up.
The card read:
‘You are an awsom friend. Heer is a thank you for being so kind and patent with me’
“Thanks Penny,” Chloe smiled faintly, “that’s sweet. And I don’t put up with you. I enjoy your company. You’re pretty spontaneous.”
“I know the spelling is a little-“
“I don’t mind,” Chloe insisted. “Thank you again. Now get to bed. It’s literally morning.”
“What?!” Penny looked at her alarm with wide eyes. She’d hyper focused again. “Hold on. Why are you up early?”
“That is my business,” Chloe grinned, tapping Penny on the head with her card.
Penny huffed knowing she’d get no info from the eldest twin and instead laid wide awake on her bed where the minutes seemed to pass like years. Then, at last, the sound of breakfast being made greeted her ears. With a pleasant sigh she left the confines of her room to find Nathaniel and Chloe making breakfast.
“So that’s what you were up for. You’re surprising everyone with breakfast!” Penny noted.
“It won’t be a surprise if you keep being loud,” Nathaniel slapped her on the arm with a spatula.
“Oooow,” Penny frowned sticking out her tongue.
— — —
“Valentine’s Day,” James sighed, already feeling his stomach twist in nerves. He had plans but there was a high likely hood that Fox didn’t like them.
Finally dressing for the day James decided to catch her before the day became to chaotic. So, journeying down the hallway he paused to knock softly at her door. “Come in.”
Pressing his lips into a thin line, James opened the door stepping into her room. “Morning.”
“Morning,” Fox greeted busy slipping her shoes on. “What brings you by? Leave something about and lost it?”
“No,” James shook his head, “actually there’s something I wanted to give you. Now I know you don’t like Valentine’s day that much since it was either forgotten or cheesy for you but I felt obliged to get you something.”
“Oh,” Fox’s face fell and James immediately regretted his decision, “I don’t have anything for you. I’m sorry...I didn’t think-“
“That’s okay,” James insisted, “I honestly don’t need anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Uh...here,” James held out his hand like a little kid showing their parent a sloppily drawn picture. “I’m not much of a shopper but I know you don’t have a whole lot of clothes and Maria can’t really drop work to go on a spree with you so...I figured I would. You can take Harper too since I know you’ve been wanting to hang out with her. It’s just a gift card from my old savings money.”
Fox took it hesitantly before spotting the amount charged to the card, “I can’t take this. No way. That’s too much. James, are you nuts?”
“Maybe a little,” he chuckled, “but it’s okay. I swear. All of that on there is yours. Whatever you’d like.”
“Seriously?” Fox’s eyes were the size of tennis balls but James saw the glisten of tears in them. He wondered when the last time anyone had bothered to give her a gift was.
“Seriously,” James nodded. He was tackled in an unexpected hug but he didn’t mind it. It registered in his brain that she smelled faintly of spices most likely from her dinner last night.
“Thank you to the moon and back,” Fox grinned wider than she ever had and gave him one finale bone crushing hug.
— — —
“Scout I wrote you something,” Orion barged in wearing only a pair of fuzzy socks and plaid boxers.
“That’s nice,” Scout snorted, studying his boyfriend’s odd fashion choice.
“It uh...took me all night. I’m not too good with words and I wanted to make it special so-“
“Anything would have been fine,” Scout assured, noticing the way Orion’s voice wavered nervously.
“I know but still,” Orion shrugged, moving awkwardly to sit by Scout in bed. “I wrote it down so I won’t forget.”
“Okay,” Scout laughed, resting his head on Orion’s shoulder. “What’d you write?”
Orion swallowed nervously before unfolding a sheet of paper he’d had wadded in his hand. The flimsy script shook ever so slightly in his hands but Orion continued bravely. “Unexpected was this love of mine. Brought to me by fate and time. To wake and see you standing there with soft warm eyes and wild hair. Is how I’d wake every day knowing that you’re here to stay. That I am yours and you are mine to the ends of the world and all of time. Thank you for saving me when all I was-was lonely.” Orion hastily folded the sheet of paper back up. “Like I said I’m not too good at poetry-“
“I loved it,” Scout smiled, gently taking the paper from Orion’s clammy palm. “You really wrote that? For me?”
“Yeah,” Orion nodded, seeming to gain confidence.
“It’s beautiful,” Scout smiled, recalling the first valentine he’d ever held. The first one he’d ever given. Boys didn’t love boys. Scout didn’t love any boy-even himself, but that was the old Scout. Now? Well, boys did love boys, and he loved the one sitting next to him deeply. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“That’s okay,” Orion promised, “the words are for you not for me.”
Scout nodded, making a mental note to save the paper before pressing his lips gently to Orion’s. “You taste like chocolate. Did you break into the pantry last night?”
“Maybe,” Orion smirked.
“You are so bad,” Scout laughed, giving Orion another kiss and then another and another until Orion was a laughing mess.
— — —
Max woke to find a small envelope propped up between two bars of their cell. They didn’t know how it’d gotten there, but when they opened it they knew the handwriting. It was a simple wish for a happy day but there was a piece of their favorite chocolate inside. Smiling to themself, Max carefully unwrapped it and popped it into their mouth.
The taste was as good as they remembered it. Closing their eyes, Max leaned their head against the wall savoring the taste. “Happy Valentines.”
— — —
A pink envelope was settled neatly by the tank Drew had taken as her home so to speak. Bianca had put it there on Drax’s polite request. She knew had he done it he wouldn’t be able to control himself. The sorrow would be too much.
“Your dad says happy Valentine’s Day,” Bianca pressed her lips into a thin line, “I don’t know if it’s so happy for you, but I’m always told it’s the thought that counts.”
There was no reply. There couldn’t be. Sitting there in her wheel chair for another moment, Bianca found herself content in the quiet. She couldn’t bring herself to enjoy the festivities of the others. What was there for her to be happy about? She’d taken the time to make cards for the people she loved, but people should love each other everyday of the year not just one day.
“Do you ever wonder why we made a day to have people love one another?” Bianca asked, her voice bouncing off the empty chamber, “I think it’s so that people who never get told they’re loved have something to look forward to. But it doesn’t work so much does it when there’s no one to love you? Maybe, then, that’s why the first valentine is so special. I guess it means someone finally cares. Like my dad. He gave me a card, and Alex, and Sage, and James, and Penny, and-I just-did my mother ever give me one? Ah who am I kidding. I’m talking to a tank.”
— — —
Killian’s grave was decorated by a single rose left to endure the elements when Storm arrived. She wasn’t sure who had put it there, but her heart filled with a saddened warmth. She wasn’t the only one thinking of him after all. Someone else out there had bothered to remember him. While she’d have loved to know who-there was also part of her who didn’t want to. Let this anonymous individual remain unknown. Maybe they didn’t want the recognition. Maybe they felt...bad for Killian.
What she didn’t know was that a bouquet of roses in Nathaniel’s room held a barely noticeable empty space, and even as he made breakfast with Chloe fending off Penny’s attempts to steal bacon, he felt a small sense of peace. No hard feelings anymore. Not with Killian. There was no need.
— — —
“Happy Valentine’s day beautiful,” Siyanda plopped onto Thalia’s bed holding up a very soft looking plush of a duck, “I thought my little duck could use a companion.”
“It’s cute,” Thalia smiled, taking the stuffed animal and cuddling it to her chest only to wince.
“Easy,” Si warned gently, “too much cuddling.”
“But-“
“I know you want to squish it,” Siyanda laughed, “but your wounds are still healing. In the mean time, Quacky can nestle right here.”
Siyanda picked up the duck and tucked it in the crook of Thalia’s neck. “Now he-“
“She.”
“She is all nested and comfortable,” Siyanda promised, running a hand through Thalia’s blonde hair.
“You’re pretty,” Thalia yawned, “in the mornings. You look all-refreshed.”
“Yeah?” Si laughed.
“Mhm,” Thalia nodded, already starting to fall back to sleep.
“Thank you. Mind if I stay and snuggle?” The princess asked.
“You can-“ Thalia was interrupted by another yawn, “always snuggle kitty.”
— — —
Sage woke to Alex sleeping on her arm once more. It wasn’t uncomfortable, in fact she was used to it by now, but she was more enthralled by the way little beams of light reflected off that peaceful slumbering face.
She’d already surprised Alex with the small gift she’d gotten-a night light that projected the captain America symbol-so Alex wouldn’t be as scared of the dark at night. Sage had hoped it would also curb nightmares for Alex, but she wasn’t certain of the result. Alex had ended up sleeping with her again and it was either because the night light failed, or Alex just liked spending time with her girlfriend. Sage was certain it was probably the latter more than the first.
“You have your thinking face,” Alex mumbled, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “What were you thinking about?”
“You,” Sage replied, tilting her head to study the sleepy eyed girl still half on top of her. “My gift worked didn’t it?”
“A little,” Alex admitted sheepishly, “but I don’t like sleeping alone. It’s cold.”
“I knew it,” Sage snorted, as Alex gave a coy little smile and pulled her in for a kiss.
— — —
“Agh! I almost forgot!” Penny yelled, bolting from the kitchen like a dog that had seen a squirrel. Sprinting to her room she collected her gift and raced back down the hall. Skittering to a stop she knocked swiftly on Arthur’s door. “Valentine delivery!”
Arthur peered out to see Penny bubbling with excitement. He just shook his head and let her in. “What in the world do you have?”
“A surprise,” Penny breathed, catching her breath from all of the running. She set the gift basket down on Arthur’s bed with zeal. “Okay, ready?”
“I’m ready,” Arthur laughed.
“I got you this!” Penny held up a trans pride flag that nearly hid her from view, “you can pin it to your wall!”
“That’s really awesome, Penny.” Arthur grinned until his cheeks hurt.
“And there’s this!” Penny then pulled out a dvd set of Bob Ross tapes. “I figured it would be soothing, maybe a bit of a distraction in case...you know...dysphoria gets too bad. We can watch it together too. He’s really an awesome guy and sometimes it puts me to sleep.”
“He has an Afro,” Arthur noted.
“Also there’s these,” Penny held up pairs of socks, “since you have holes in yours.”
“Okay Marry Poppins,” Arthur shook his head in amazement.
“Last thing,” Penny promised, “I got Thickey the bear a girlfriend.”
Arthur doubled over in laughter as Penny pulled out an identical looking bear to the one on his bed. “Gosh I love you! You’re amazing! Thickey! You have a girlfriend.”
“S-So you like it?” Penny asked.
“I love it. You put a lot of time into this I can tell,” Arthur sighed, collecting himself. “It means a lot.”
“Good. I’m glad you like it,” Penny stammered. “Well, your sister and Nathaniel are surprising everyone with breakfast. Only I don’t think it’s a surprise now that I told you.”
“I can act,” Arthur said, “Come on. Let’s get our grub on.”
Penny nodded and followed him out of the room feeling very flustered. She wiped her hands swiftly on her jeans and tried very hard to focus on where she was going-but that was very hard.
