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bluestardust23 · 2 years ago

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"You know I don't need your help to climb at all, right?"

"I know that all to well." [A caption that turned to be a oneshoot. 881 words.]

Two days after the restoration of the village, Lara told the people after she told Jacob and Sofia that she was leaving soon. Whenever she was asked when, or if she was coming back at all, she told them they'd know eventually. That motivated Jacob to take Lara to a place, which he said was the best point of view of the landscape.

So there they were, early in the morning before sunrise, at a relaxed pace, en route to the higher spot. Jacob and Lara didn't stop sharing their stories with each other. They shared their emotions; anger, sadness, and laughter. Neither of them realized they got along so well, they unconsciously made a few stops when talking. After climbing for a while, Lara noticed Jacob wouldn't stop helping her to climb up. She was about to ask why when he released his hold on her hand and advanced over some bushes. Gripping onto a sturdy ledge, again, even not asked to, he extended his arm for her. She stared at it, quite puzzled.

"Then why do you keep on giving me your hand?"

"I figured out you never let anyone take care of you, so I'm allowing myself to."

She chuckled, "Fair enough."

"Do you allow me to? Actually, it's okay if you—"

"Yes, it's okay. I appreciate it, Jacob," Lara told him as she pulled herself up over a large stone by holding his hand, "Thanks."

"You're welcome. We're halfway there," he pointed up, "Come."

They continued the voyage upward, climbing up the cliff. The trail wasn't so apparent but it was clear Jacob went there multiple times, as the way they were going was the easiest and safest way to climb up. The chatter continued as well. Jacob stopped next to a fallen tree before turning to face Lara.

"Now, Lara, please close your eyes."

Lara raised an eyebrow, holding her smile, "Do I have to?"

"I guess yes. Please."

"Alright. Eyes closed."

"Are they really closed?"

"Don't make me wanna peek."

"Heh," he grinned as he took her hand and led her to the finish line, warning her about rocks, sharp grass, and branches. Then he told her to sit down.

"You may open your eyes."

Lara opened her eyes slowly, then quickly wide open as the colors filled her head. The sky was a gradation of blue with pink and orange clouds and a lining of gold. The icy tundra and lake reflected the beautiful colors. Nearing the foot of the mountain, next to the river, the village. Adults working on the farm, kids chasing the rabbits down, elders walking in leisure.

"What an amazing view," Lara managed to say, after catching her breath, "I...I never take such a peaceful look over the places I've been. All I've always felt was, worry, urgency..." she paused in a frown, "...fear."

"No," Jacob rebuffed, "Fear isn't one of them. You're fearless. The better word for it is incertitude. You didn't know all that lonely journey you'd take, passing every point where you could've died, still with that remarkable conscience, would even lead you to anything at all. But as you said, you were done not believing your father. And there you got it," he smiled, "That's being human, Lara. We hate, fear, and are desperate for what we don't understand. In the end, the one leap of faith we take leads us to peace."

"One step to peace," she implied, reminding Jacob that she was still hunting for Trinity. She turned to Jacob with a grateful smile, "Thank you for showing me this, Jacob, making me see. I mean it."

"I'm glad you like it that much," Jacob uttered, "This view is what keeps me going. I lost count of how many times in my life I have thought to just come back to Kitezh, order the Deathless Ones to stand back, and destroy the Divine Source myself. But I always come up here, intentionally or not...and that thought washed away. Replaced with what I could hear in my ear: 'hold on'."

He turned to Lara with a smile, and when she replied with one of her own, Jacob placed a hand on her arm, joking, "So it was you?"

They laughed heartily, then absentmindedly stared into each other's eyes for a moment that felt like time had stopped. Suddenly, he dropped his expression and released his warm hold. Lara was surprised quietly when she realized what happened. Jacob looked at the village and sighed. Swallowing, he asked without looking at her, "Will I see you again, Lara?"

She smiled softly, and to his surprise, she held his hand on the ground and called his name. He looked into her brown orbs as she stared at his blue ones.

"Will you wait for me?"

As if a heavy boulder was taken off of his shoulders, his face brightened up as he released a breath. "Yes. Yes, yes I will. Please, be safe, Lara."

"You too, Jacob. Be safe. I'll see you again, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that."

---------end---------

One perk of being on a tiny fandom: you get to fangirl your own works!! Ain't that right, Tea?!

I hope you all like it too! <3 Speedpaint: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uaQmBI9ft9oxuexREQ0clpKDLw1RDO6K/view?usp=sharing

#tomb raider #rise of the tomb raider #lara croft x jacob #lara x jacob #jacob x lara #jalara

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