Ghost of a Rose

“I was worried sick about you. Why didn’t you tell me you were in the hospital? I could have came sooner.” Michelle questioned with crossed arms, looking at the other in concern. 

When she heard they were in the hospital, she came right away. Her fear of hospitals didn’t stop her from visiting them. She needed to see if they were okay. They may not have realized, but to her they meant the world to her. She just hoped it wasn’t as serious as people said it was.

Florence offered a small, tired smile, “I’m okay. Really. I just was running a fever and they wanted to keep me for observation and make sure my levels were still okay.” she assured her friend gently. Flo couldn’t blame the other for being worried. Sure, perhaps she should’ve texted Michelle to let her know what was happening, but she just didn’t want to scare her.

The woman chewed a bit on her lip, eyes fixed hard on the horizon. Frankly, she didn’t want the other to leave, not ever... at least, not without Florence by her side. 

“I wish it could always be like this.”

“You’re always there for me.”

“The stars are the only thing that makes sense.”

“There’s more out there, you just have to be patient.”

“It doesn’t all have to be existential dread.” 

“You’re so much different when we’re alone.”

“I like it when the worlds quiet.” 

“There’s a place for us somewhere.”

“They’ll name constellations after you one day.”

“Your hearts beating so fast.”

“They don’t know what they want.”

“You don’t know what you want.”

“That’s what they’re supposed to say.”

“We really don’t know what we’re doing.”

“I miss the old you.”

“Nostalgias a trap.”

“Aliens are out there.”

“Did you hear that?”

“I really want pizza right now, think it’s open?” 

“What time is it?”

“But why would they abduct cows?”

“We’ll all be dead soon enough anyways.” 

“I wish we didn’t have to sleep.”

“What do you believe in?”

“What happens after we die?”

“Seems like a silly thing to say, don’t you think?” 

“And what’s your excuse?”

“You’ll get it together soon.”

“Sometimes I feel like I’ll never have it together.”

“It’d be better if people weren’t so afraid of their feelings.”

“You keep quiet and we both lose.”

“I wish I could save this forever.”

“When did you realize you were in love with me?”

“The rooms spinning.”

“I loved you long before you knew.”

“I’m not afraid of death, I think it’ll be peaceful.”

“The Universe is too big for that.”

“Do you think we’ve met in other lives?” 

“I’d come back to haunt you.” 

“Would you come back to haunt me?”

“What’s alternate universe you doing right now?”

“Tell me a secret.”

“Why haven’t you told anyone?” 

“I wish we knew each other sooner.”

“You’re a game changer.” 

“I’m a game changer.”

“Don’t ignore fate.” 

“Ignorance isn’t bliss.”

“What, is that a conspiracy theory?”

Gwen had instinctively raised her hands to reach out to her friend but as soon as she stepped away from her she recoiled. She wasn’t surprised that Flo was upset, she would be too if she’d been lied to for such a long period of time but Gwen truly believed it was for the best.

“I wanted to protect you…” She admitted, blinking tears out of her eyes and feeling them slowly trail down her cheeks. “I know that doesn’t justify lying to you but if anyone found out you knew who Spider-woman was then your life would automatically be in danger.”

Florence pressed her lips in a tight line. She was torn between running away as fast as she could, or staying where she was and trying to understand. The feeling of weakness, of helplessness, that radiated through core pained her. 

She was use to such a pain in one way or another, but the last person she expected to make her feel like that was Gwen. And of course logically she knew that the girl was right... but that didn’t make it feel any better as she wrapped her arms around herself, eyes falling to the mask that lay between them as she quietly bent to pick it up, fingering the fabric in her hands. 

“I just... you should have told me anyway... you’re suppose to be my best friend. You’re suppose to trust me...” she spoke softly. 

The blonde tried to gulp down her nerves before entering the restaurant, speaking to the hostess for a moment before she was led to a table where another young woman was already seated. Flo felt her cheek heat up a bit as she slipped off her jacket, “Hi um... I’m Florence McKinny. Are uh.. are you my date?” she asked, feeling more then a little awkward. 

Gwen had always planned to tell them she was Spider-woman. She had planned to invite them over one day and talk it all through properly and to answer all and every question they had. This was not her plan. Standing in front of them in a dark alley, her mask lying on the ground a few meters away and the hurt expression on their face. “I was going to tell you,” She said quietly, taking a small step forward to close the gap between them. The look on their face only made the tears hiding behind her eyes sting a little more but she ignored them. “Let me explain…”

Florence had known in her gut for a while that Gwen was hiding something from her. The other would leave so suddenly with no explanation, then reappear later with some lame excuse. Flo could never seem to get a straight answer out of her concerning anything related her to odd disappearing acts, worrying cuts or bruises... now it all made sense as the girl stood there before her, full getup save for the mask that lay between them.

The woman was speechless, hurt, and confused. Gwen moved to step closer, and instinctively Flo matched with a step backwards, “I knew you were hiding something...” her voice was so soft she wasn’t even sure if the other had heard her.

The girl brushed from hair out of her eyes, speaking softly, “Lisa and Austin aren’t actually my parents, you know.” she admitted. Most people just assumed, which was fine with her. Most people at school never took the effort to pry into her life, which she was happy enough about, and kept herself mostly under the radar. It made things easier in the long run. But when it came to Harrison, she didn’t want to keep hiding bits and pieces of her life from him. He actually had let her into his world, and yet, she kept the door to her own locked tight.

“I know they care about me, and they take care of me, but they’re not the most open minded people, and I think the way they judge people isn’t always fair. They don’t know you like I do. Personally, I think you’re the one out of my league.” a small chuckle escaped her as she reached to take his arm, “You’re sweet, and actually cared enough to try to get to know me. Literally, your the first and only friend I’ve made in this place, and I like the idea of being your girl.... I know things suck at home for you, and its shitty of me to complain about what I have, and I’m sorry. But I’m not sorry for defending you to them. I think you’re 100% worth fighting for.”

Florence wasn’t a stranger to scary medical situations, but it was always different when it was a friend’s condition and not your own, “You know I’d never pity you. But, no-duh, I’m gonna worry about you. I care too much not to worry.” Flo offered her own little smile, resting her hand on the other girl’s knee, “So... what does all that mean? What comes next?”

With their partner back in their arms, Travis pressed a slowly lingering kiss to the other’s lips, feeling so happy in that moment. It had been so difficult to be away from home, even if it was necessary for the next steps in their career. Now at home, Flo was the only thing they needed for the next week. “They made me exercise,” Travis said teasingly, even though they’d always stayed in decent shape, they were far more muscular now than ever before. “And,” they said softly, kissing Flo once again, “I have a new uniform.” There was all the luggage to get from the trunk of the car, along with tasks to become reacquainted with the home once again, but Travis would consider none of that as long as Flo wanted them in her arms. 

It was like the air was sucked from her lungs as Travis kissed her. She was wrong, Travis coming home wasn’t the best moment, it was this kiss that was the best part of this whole thing. Of course, Flo had understood that Travis leaving was a necessary evil. Flo pulled a hand away for a moment as the kiss ended to wisp away a tear and a small chuckle escaped her, “I can tell. You’re like a rock now, or something.” she giggled, giving their arms a gentle squeeze before another soft kiss touched her lips, “I’ll bet it looks fantastic on you, honey.” she grinned, resting her cheek against Travis’s chest once more, “C’mon, I got everything to make your favorite dinner. Lets get your bags and get you inside.” the blonde stole one more kiss.

Travis couldn’t keep their eyes off of Flo and how beautiful the woman looked in her dress. Once she was close enough to hug, Travis did just that, wrapping their arms tightly around her. “And I’m back, just like I promised,” the reply was muffled against Flo’s shoulder, but Travis didn’t care. They were home now. A sigh escaped their lips as they slowly pulled back to get a better look at their partner. “You look beautiful,” they said with a grin forming and kept an arm around the other woman’s waist, as though afraid to let go. 

Being back in Travis’s arms, it all felt like some sort of dream. Naturally, Flo had thought of this moment nonstop for the last six months, and now that it was here, it felt so surreal. A couple tears escaped her eyes as she buried her face in Travis’s chest before looking up, examining her love’s face as they examined her’s, “You look amazing, yourself, babe.” the stupid grin on her face had no hope of leaving as she buried her face back into Travis’s shoulder once more, never wanting to let go. She and Travis had been through so much together, and she was sure this had been one of the hardest tests of their relationship; but this moment had made it all worth it, “Welcome home.”

M / F / NB / Trans

open to m/f/nb  based off this post x