#I may have cried a little bit | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

revolutionsingingintherainnn · 2 years ago

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Okay, my love language is giving handmade gifts, and so is Julie’s.

Everyone’s seen Julie’s hand-drawn mic that she uses for absolutely everything. That was a gift from her mom, and Julie liked the idea of handmade gifts having way more significance than a store bought gift. So, she showers Ray, Carlos, Tía, Rose, Flynn, and eventually, Luke, Alex, and Reggie with handmade gifts as well. She loves them, and that’s how she shows it.

—Family edition—

Ray

Ray Molina learned how to cook soon after his wife passed away. But, since he didn’t know shit about food, and the few times he had attempted cooking, he’d almost burned down the house. So, after his wife passes away, he experiments A LOT, and Julie and Carlos end up being his test subjects. The first few weeks are slow, because he doesn’t feel like being in the kitchen since it reminded him so much of Rose. But, he bucks up, and he starts cooking. Every meal he makes, he calls Carlos and Julie and asks them to taste and rate it, and some days, they would try and cook together. As a beginner, Ray lost a lot of T-shirts by spilling sauce on it, or accidentally burning off one end (that’s a whole other story).

Julie knew how much her father was struggling. He had just lost his wife, and he did not have time to grieve because he had to take care of her and Carlos. Julie was so grateful to him, but she couldn’t find the words to tell him. How was she supposed to let a man, who dropped everything in the world— including his job and own time to process emotions — know that she was so thankful of his presence and his efforts?

So, one day, when Flynn takes her to a grocery/home store (because Flynn 100% likes roaming the aisles for no reason), Julie finds a plain, light yellow apron. She immediately buys it, because its the first time her brain is doing something other than missing her mom. And she needs to move, she’s feeling restless at that point.

As soon as she goes home, she’s locked herself in her room. She pulls out her paints and brushes, and a pencil and an eraser (rubber) to outline a rough image. As soon as she was satisfied with the rough drawing, she started painting, and then she was outlining, and she spent three hours losing herself in art, because if not art, then what else? And anything was better than a conversation with Dr Turner.

She was done painting at 2 in the morning, and then she had to let it dry. She didn’t get much sleep that night, her mind was running. Every hour, she would check the the apron, make sure the paint hadn’t smudged. At 5 in the morning, she did a final outline and detailing that she had left to do, until she was proud of what she had made.

The next morning, when she went downstairs, Ray lightened up at her sight and asked, “Mija, would you be okay with Spaghetti for lunch? I made too much last night,”

“Of course, dad,”

Ray had noticed her quietness. How could he not, he’s the best damn father. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh. Uh, nothing. I kinda made you something,” Julie handed him the folded apron.

Ray opened the apron, letting it fall in the air so that he could see the whole thing. He was stunned for a second, before he let out a teary laugh. He pulled Julie in a hug, repeating, “I love you” over and over.

His apron had bubbly, colourful letters spelling “The Spaghetti Master” with a spaghetti plate turned over the S, and dripping over the M and A.

Carlos

As a child, Carlos was a little (a lot) jealous of the relationship Julie had with their mom. Rose and Ray were excellent parents, no doubt. I meant look at their kids. But, Carlos sometimes felt like his sister loved everyone else more than him. He tried to seem indifferent to it, and tried to not let it bother him so much, but come on, he’s a kid, its gonna bother him.

He didn’t wanna say anything to Julie, because he didn’t want his sister to pity him. No, please. He was seven and he could handle himself just fine. He didn’t need no one, no thank you.

That’s a lie.

He needed his sister, and his mom, and his dad, and his tía. He didn’t like showing them that he needed him, though. Why? I don’t know.

But, his sister is observant (when she wants to be), and she knew her little brother had something going in his mind that he won’t tell her. And she did not like that. Carlos and Julie were siblings and would tell each other everything. Periodt.

But, since Julie didn’t know what was going on in her brother’s head, she didn’t know how to help him. She tried to talking to him, but he always seemed dismissive, and yeah, ngl, that hurt a little bit. But, Julie was determined to make her brother happy again.

She didn’t have a lot of money to buy the new game that he wanted. She only had the little coins in her piggy bank, and a little bit of monthly allowance that her parents gave her. She had to do something out of the little money she had.

So, after school, she decides to go to the stationary. Maybe, she’ll find something there for Carlos? She doubted it, but she had to try. Anything for her brother.

As she looked around the shop, she came across threads that seemed strong enough to not break if she pulled them. An idea formed in her head, and she decided to buy his favourite colour and her favourite colour.

Rushing home, she barely greeted her parents before running to her room. She had her scissors, a cello-tape, and a jewellery clasp that she found in her drawers on her table spread out so that everything was in reach.

With her head bent down, and her shoulders hunched, music played in the background as she worked on a simple plait design, using the two colours she got for the two of them, and repeating one colour in both for the third string, so that they could differentiate which bracelet was for who.

Julie had missed dinner, but once she’d told her mom that what she was doing was way more important than food at that moment, Rose did not disturb the girl. She could hear Carlos playing video games and him screaming at their father for cheating (Ray was terrible at video games, Carlos was worse. But he got better with Reggie, Alex and Luke).

Once she was done, she ran down the stairs.

“Hey, Mija! Hungry?” Ray asked, smiling at the girl.

“Afterwards, dad. Need to do something super important.” She turned to Carlos and said, “Come with me,”

Carlos shrugged and followed his sister to the studio. He didn’t know what she wanted, but he was glad he was getting to spend some time with his sister.

Standing outside the studio, Julie turned to Carlos and said, “You’ve been feeling down lately, and I don’t know why. I wanted to cheer you up, so I made you something just for the two of us.” She opened her hand and showed him the bracelets she had made. “One for you and one for me. This way, whatever is going on in your head, you can look at this and look at this and know that I’m always here for you.”

Carlos hugged her, wrapping his arms around her. Julie hugged him back, holding him tightly. The two slowly pulled back and clasped the bracelet onto each other’s wrists, promising to never remove it.

Tía

Tía had been a part of Julie’s life for as long as she could remember. It was only when Rose was in the hospital, that she started seeing her Tía more frequently.

Rose had told Julie that Tía tended to forget to take care of herself when she was taking care of others. Julie could see the truth in that. For instance, when Julie stayed up because of mid terms and Rose and Ray were in the hospital, Tía used to stay up for as long as Julie did, and came every hour or so with coffee, or something to eat so that Julie could stay energised and awake.

The day her midterms were over, Julie and Tía had taken the longest nap together, cuddled on the couch in the Molina household.

When Rose was admitted in the hospital the first time, Ray and Victoria had spent half their time with the kids, and the other half with Rose. They kept alternating, and it was getting exhausting for all of them. So, they eventually decided that Ray will take care of Rose when she was in the hospital, and Victoria would stay with the kids during the day.

It worked well for Carlos and Julie, because that meant delicious, authentic food all day, and a mother figure to help them when they needed.

Whenever Julie or Carlos wanted to cry because they were scared or worried or just missed their mother, Victoria was always there, hugging them, soothing them, cheering them up. Julie would always be grateful for that. She had seen many times when her Tía comforted Ray after Rose’s death.

A few months after Rose passed away, Julie realised that her tía hadn’t been taking care of her as well as she should. She had heard her tía late at night, or early in the mornings, cooking for them. She had heard her tía cleaning around, comforting everyone, just trying to bring a positive ray of sunshine when none of them felt like it.

Julie knew that her tía missed Rose too. She had heard her crying a few times, clutching a picture of the two women together. She had noticed how sometimes tía would walk out of the room in the middle of a movie, or something, making an excuse. Her tía needed to take care of herself, and grieve on her own time as well, and Julie felt guilty for stealing away that time.

So, on a weekend, Julie and Flynn went to the mall, buying all the lotions, face masks, nail paints, and oils that Victoria liked. They searched for her favourite candies and drinks. The two girls made cards for Victoria, thanking her for all her support. They even went to Build-A-Bear and got a cute little bear for Victoria, with a dahlia on the T-shirt of the bear.

When they reached home, Julie quickly assembled everything in a pretty basket, while Flynn looked for pretty ribbons or something of that sort to decorate the basket. When they finally managed to cover the basket and tie a bow with a net sort of thingy, the two took it downstairs to where her tía was loading leftovers in the fridge.

“Tia?”

“Yes, Mija? oh, what it is this? It’s beautiful!”

“This is your self-care package. You’ve been taking care of all of us for a long, long time, and you were always there for us whenever we needed you. Now, its time for you to take care of yourself, and give yourself attention!”

Victoria had stared at the two girls for a moment, before bursting into tears. She had hugged Julie and Flynn tightly, touched at the thoughtfulness of the girls.

Julie’s guilt had reduced, seeing her tía taking care of herself.

Rose

Rose and Julie had a habit of doodling on their new sneakers, whatever colour they may be. It was another way of bonding for the two of them. The first time Rose and Julie had doodled on their shoes was then Julie was four years old, and had come home, complaining about her teacher who had scolded her in front of the entire class for drawing on her shoes. Julie had tears in her eyes, and Rose refused to accept her little baby crying.

So, the next day, when Rose went to pick Julie up from school, the mother daughter duo had matching doodled sneakers to show off to Julie’s rude rude teacher. The teacher had taken one look at Rose’s shoes, and shut up about people letting their creativity flow. (Thank God, cause we don’t need people like that)

When Julie turned 14, and her mother had been in and out of the hospital for long enough to become an everyday activity (it never should’ve come to that, but Rose needed the doc’s help, and every time she got better, she got worse), her mother had been complaining once how her hospital slippers were plain and boring, and the doctors won’t let her do anything because too much movement or force on the brain made her lose consciousness, and no one wanted that.

One night, her father had stayed at the hospital with her mother, and Tía had been babysitting Carlos and Julie. Julie was in her parents’ room, because she missed her mom. Also, it was partly her house, she was allowed to be in that room. As she flopped on the bed, and rolled over to her mom’s side, she noticed the plain, boring hospital slippers.

Grabbing her markers, Julie quickly set to doodle on her mom’s slippers. She made intricate designs, with flowers and ghosts and mushrooms here and there. She didn’t know what else she could draw quickly, so Julie stuck to the basics that she knew.

The next day, Ray entered the house, looking for the slippers. Julie had simply handed the bag with Rose’s slippers, and he headed out.

Later that day, Ray sent a picture of Rose showing off her new, doodled slippers, and smiling at the camera. The caption read, “She’s been showing it to everyone who enters the room. Thank you, Julie <3”

It’s one of the happiest memories Julie has from her mom being in the hospital.

This is longer than I expected it to be, so I’m gonna post a separate Friends edition to this!

#okay this is longer than i expected #but im proud of myself #julie and the himbos #julie and the phantoms #carlos molina #ray molina #julie molina #rose molina #victoria #Julie’s tía #love language #handmade gift giving is a real love language #i may have cried a little bit #i listened to a very inappropriate song while writing this #julie and carlos #ray molina is the best dad

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dr-pepperrrr · 21 days ago

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A Curse is a Curse, In The End

Also on AO3 under the same name! Please read the tags before - there is character death in this, and a fair amount of grief.

Rubbing at his wrist, Midas barely paid attention to the conversation around him. Too focused on the gold that covered his skin, watching it closely. Knowing what the stiffness meant, even as it crept along his tattoos day by day. The small bird that grasped an arrow on the underside of his wrist was now almost fully covered, the tip of the wings just barely peeking out. Know that when he woke tomorrow, it would even higher still.

The silence around him made his look up, surprised to see his team watching him. Waiting for his answer to something that he clearly hadn’t heard. He ignored the look of concern on Tina’s face, knowing that she had been suspecting something was amiss. It was too soon for him to tell them yet, wondering if there would even be a day where he felt he could.

Clearing his throat, he straightened himself up. “Sorry, I didn’t catch that last bit.” He tried to keep his brain focused on their conversation, knowing that it was important. For them, at least. They were the ones who still had time. For him, there was a tiredness creeping its way through his bones that hadn’t been there before, leeching energy from him at a faster and faster rate. And still the gold inched its way along his arms.

—

They knew there was something big coming. Energy pulsed through the island from its core, knowing that the Zero Point was acting up once more.

Jules walked slowly beside him, watching him from the corner of her eyes. The gold was past his elbows now, ignoring any questions made about it. Trying not to let them see just how hard it was to get his fingers to respond to his commands now. The ache was growing worse everyday, something that not even painkillers would touch. The feeling of his bones slowly morphing together with gold was something a human invention could never mask, no matter how many he took.

“It’s going to happen again, you know that right?”

Jules' voice brought him back to reality, taking in their surroundings. With the energy of the Zero Point a jungle had formed near the centre of the island, dense with trees and vines. Birds quickly filled the trees as they sang from their new perches. At least something got to enjoy it.

He nodded slowly, ignoring the question he knew was there. What are you going to do? Knowing this time, there was no answer. Nothing for him to do. Nothing that he could do, his body slowly deteriorating as it seized together.

“It will. And we’ll go to whatever new reality might be created.” This wasn’t their first time dealing with Zero Point and its knack for destroying and shifting the worlds around them.

She watched him quietly before she gave a sharp nod, steeling herself at the words. “Yes. We’ll go through. Every single one of us.”

In the back of his mind, he knew that she knew. That she was being hopeful. That maybe if things fell apart, they might land somewhere that would fix it instead. He gave her a soft half smile, hiding the pain that shot through him as he lifted his arm, hand brushing over her hair that she had finally untucked from her braids.

Unable to feel the soft strands that ran through his fingers.

–

The ground was shaking once more, every spasm through the island growing rougher and stronger. Knowing that it wouldn’t be long now. The air was electric around them, energy filling the space. Knowing just beyond what they could see, the Zero Point was spreading it’s energy out. Destroying and creating at the same time.

He watched from the ground level as Tina helped Jules load bullets into clips. Skye was currently asleep, leaned back against Meowscles, using his fur for warmth. Unsure of what the future held, their moments apart were rare. When the world might split open around you, straying from your family was a risk not worth taking. Brutus was cleaning one of his guns for the third time so far that day, knowing that he needed to keep his hands and mind busy, readying himself for what was to come.

By now, the gold had spread further. Creeping over his shoulders, inch by precious inch. His hands no longer working, frozen in place while he had slept. Curled tightly into fists that he had made, desperate to ignore the ache that was radiating from his bones. Every breath seemed to come harder, doing his best to keep it from showing on his face. Wondering if his inside were turning faster. That when it finally reached his heart that he would have to feel as it slowed, eventually stopping.

The thought of Jules watching as it happened made pressure tighten through chest. Trying to swallow down the choking desolation at the images supplied by his mind, knowing that she would try to stay for every moment. That she would stay. Knowing he could never let her put herself through that, even if it had to be the last thing he did.

He took a step back, anguish mixing with the nostalgia. Watching his team work together, readying themselves for their next adventure. Knowing that he wouldn’t be apart of this one. Another step back, a smile lighting across Tina’s face at something muttered by Brutus. Another step. Close to the corner of the building now, taking one last moment to watch Jules. His breaths were falling from him in soft pants, aching through his lungs as he studied her face for a final time. He saw Marigold’s eyes flash up towards him, catching for a split second. A soft blink given in understanding before she looked away, returning to her conversation as if she hadn’t noticed him leaving them.

The pendant that Jules had given him, small and square, hooked onto a thin gold chain still hung from his neck. He had happily replaced the GHOST pendant that had been around his neck with it at the time. His hands were no longer able to move to open it, knowing that tucked inside was a picture she had taken herself. The two of them, side by side as they walked along a boardwalk. A smile spread wide across her face, a smaller one on his as he looked towards her. The pride evident in his eyes. Briefly he wondered if he should leave it somewhere for her to find before he shook his head. If there was one thing he wanted with him until the end, it was a memory of her.

He had spent many nights studying it, and even more when he first noticed the gold spreading.

Another step and he was around the corner. His team finally cut from his view, their voices fading from his ears. Silence ringing through his ears, only broken by the sound of his breaths still falling heavily from him and birdsong as they flitted through the trees.

He turned his gaze towards the newly grown jungle. Knowing that its depths were a tangled mess now. Not easily navigated, seeming to grow and spread at an extraordinary rate, faster every day that passed. The energy that the Zero Point was pouring through the island was showing, here and with other things. Small rifts being torn through the air, patches of land where things didn’t work as they should. Gravity distorting, too light as you walked, almost floating like the rocks around you before becoming too heavy. Feeling like you were about to fall through the earth into whatever pit waited below.

He shuffled his way through the brush. Ferns and vines growing in vast swaths, blocking every step he tried to take. The trees grew taller and thicker the deeper he went, towering above him as they cast the world around him into shadows. He found it almost fitting that in his final moments, he would be alone, covered in darkness. After the life he had lived, it seemed only fair. As that could make up for all of the people he had hurt along the way.

Every glance down showed gold creeping across his chest, easily marked by the lines of his tattoos. Stumbling as his heartbeat skipped irregularly. Taking a shaky breath at the feeling, knowing that it was time. Knowing that he would grit his teeth and bear it, so long as Jules didn’t have to suffer through watching him take his final breath. Didn’t have to watch the gold spreading across his body even once he was gone.

His knees buckled without notice, shoulders groaning in protest as he tried to reach an arm out. An almost familiar heaviness weighing down on his shoulders as he tried to gasp in air. The area he found himself in was covered in a spongy moss, knees sinking into it, soft against them. Each thump of his heart was almost painful now, working harder to force blood through his body as gold crept through his arteries.

Choking on ragged breaths as it reached the corners of his lungs, freezing them in place. Remembering all of the people that he had cursed to this very fate, watching them without pity as the gold had crept over their body long after he had removed his hand.

He tilted his head back, stunned for a moment as a soft breeze seemed to ruffle the trees. Leaves shifting, revealing the moon high above him. Stars bright where they seemed to sparkle in the sky. He could see a cloud rolling through, the corner of it just crossing over the edge of the moon. His heartbeat slowed, too weak now to fight against the gold holding it hostage. The cloud covered more of the moon, and his breathing slowed.

Letting a soft breath fall from his lungs, eyes drifting shut just as the trees seemed to shift again. Blocking the faint moonlight from reaching the ground once more. No more sound coming from him, his heart finally stilling. The wavering coo of an owl calling out through the trees was the only thing that could be heard, a solitary call as gold continued to encase his lifeless body.

–

Jules went searching for Midas not long after they had finished loading the rest of the empty clips. Frowning as she combed through the building, unable to find him anywhere. With a shrug, she returned to the group, annoyance flashing through her at his disappearance. They had all agreed it was better to stick close together in case anything happened, letting each other know when they were leaving. Just in case.

She knew that with every growing pulse of energy, the Zero Point was getting closer and closer to another detonation. Knowing that they would be tossed into whatever void of reality it created, universes colliding and forming around them. She could only pray that this time, they would end up together once more.

The rifts that had been tearing through their reality showed glimpses of different worlds. Some filled with life, some looking peaceful. Some desolate, empty of life and filled with nothingness. Knowing that soon enough, their own reality would be tossed into the air, unsure of what might come after for them. But as long as she had her father and their friends by her side, she knew she could face whatever came their way.

Worry was twisting roughly through her stomach as the night continued and Midas didn’t reappear. When she mentioned it to Tina, a look of wistfulness crossed her face before she gave her a smile. The corners of her lips wavered before she let out a soft breath, squeezing at Jules shoulder. “I’m sure he’s around somewhere, you know how he is. Come on, let’s have a movie night.”

Jules frowned at that as she gave a slow nod. Knowing that something was off. There was something she wasn’t being told. Deciding to wait for a fresh morning, she shoved the feeling down, letting herself fall onto the couch that they had set up in what used to function as the vault in the building. Skye worked on getting everything set up as Brutus brought in snacks for them. Unable to stop her eyes from wandering to the empty chair that Midas usually sat in, Meowscles leaning against the armrest of it, glancing back every now and then as if he was looking to see where Midas was.

He met Jules eyes, and she motioned with her head for him to come over. Resting his back against the couch instead, a soft purr coming from him as she scratched just between his ears. Something about it made her chest ache, knowing he typically only let Midas pet him during movies. Wondering just what changed to make him let his guard down with her.

The next morning, a tremor rocked through the building, harsher than any she had felt yet. Jumping out of bed, still in her clothes from the day before, she rushed from the room. The nervousness of being alone was making her heart race, searching the building for her father as the ground shook even harder. Stumbling as the floor beneath her shifted, feet moving faster as she broke out into a run.

She knew it was time. That any moment the Zero Point would let loose its final blast of energy, sweeping across the island as it was dissolved into nothingness. Praying that they survived whatever came next.

Her eyes were wild as she shoved through the front door, watching the ground move around her. Waves of grass and trees rolling as the earth was torn open, shimmering rifts ripping open in the sky before they disappeared just as fast. She could hear Marigold calling her name and she ran towards it, keeping her eyes on the ground as cracks split beneath her feet. If there was anyone that her father would be with, it would be Marigold.

Her heart dropped to her stomach as the ground crumbled beneath her feet. Eyes wide as they flashed up, meeting Marigold’s and Tina’s as a rift splashed open before her. Terror shot through her as she felt herself being pulled in, unable to stop the Zero Points grasp, wondering just where her father was if he wasn’t with them. Frustration crashed heavily through her chest before she let out a scream. The feeling of plummeting through nothingness sucking the air from her lungs, knowing that it wasn’t supposed to be like this. She wasn’t supposed to be alone.

The ice of whatever made up the inside of the Zero Point as it engulfed their world crept along her fingers. Over her wrist and up her arms. Wondering if the way it seemed to coat her bones is what it felt like for her father as the gold crept up his own.

She was unsure of just how long she was trapped there, suspending and falling at the same time through a whirlwind of clashing energies. Flashes of worlds and life appearing and disappearing before her, worlds created and destroyed in split seconds. A soft humm of energy began to vibrate through the air itself, a knowing filling her mind that the Zero Point was almost done. Almost ready to spit her back out, leaving her to pray that she would be able to find her father once she landed in this new reality.

A flash of light nearly blinded her before she was crashing against rough ground. Groaning and coughing as the wind was forced from her lungs, trying to get her bearings. When she finally got her eyes to adjust, body aching with the effort it took to stand, she studied her surroundings. A small town, eerily deserted, stood before her with scattered trees forming an almost peaceful forest behind her. Paved roads cut through the town, wondering where all the people were.

Wondering if there were any people, or if she had just been spit out into a world void of others.

The crackle of energy seemed to shatter the sky above her, forcing her head back in surprise. Watching as a rift tore open, a grey mass hurtling through it before leathery wings snapped open, trying to slow its descent before it crashed into the ground in the centre of the deserted town. Swallowing thickly, she took a step forward. The need to see who, or what, had come through seared through her, only pausing at the thought of the wings. Something about them was almost familiar, something deep in her brain telling her to run. As fast and as far as she could.

Instead, she took another step forward.

–

Glaring at the man, she watched as he sunk his hand into the orb of energy that surrounded an almost silver crystal, shoving yet another man through the rift that they had managed to stabilise in the room. Sunk deep beneath the surface of the island, he had seemed almost grateful when Jules had managed to tap them into the Zero Point’s energy. Nothing like what her father had done with his device, but enough.

Enough to impress Kado, at least. She found herself praying that he would continue to find her useful, knowing now that it was far too late for her to run. That if he so chose, he would send her careening through a rift without a second thought if he ran out of others to test his machine on. Too close to the finish line to run now anyways. No sign of her father anywhere, and no sign of the team. This was her last hope of finding them, in whatever reality they made it into.

The rift before them was near ground level, and the man landed quickly. In shock, no doubt but he stood on shaky legs nonetheless as he turned to take in his surroundings. Alive. Kado made a pleased sound just as the man turned, looking up at them. As if he expected to come back. Instead, Kado’s hand pulled the crystal from its holding place, both of their eyes widening as the rift stayed open. He replaced it once more, letting his hand fall and the rift closed, cutting off the man from his safe return. She knew that there would be no effort made to retrieve him, and she couldn’t risk being caught using it for that.

No, when she used it, she would be finding her father.

Days passed as they continued to test the machine, letting Kado use the crystal himself as she documented everything for him. Making slight adjustments, running without any hiccups now. She knew that she was taking a risk. Knowing that he would be furious at her betrayal. As if she had ever been loyal to him in the first place. Almost faltering as the perfect opportunity presented itself.

Kado hummed, a pleased smile crossing his face as he watched a rift close shut on yet another person. Sacrificing person after person, body after body for every test. Hunting for a new subject every other night. He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, fangs bared as he tried to stretch his muscles.

“If you don’t mind, I have some other business to take care of. Are you good to clean up and shut everything down?”

She kept her breath slow, giving him a nod and a half smile as she began gathering her papers.Trying to stop her heart from racing, wondering if he could hear the blood pumping through her veins at his words. He gave a quick nod, pushing through the door without another word, leaving her alone with the machine. She continued to clean the space around her, passing time as she waited to see if he might come back, until she was finally done and found herself still alone.

Her footsteps echoed loudly through the room, her hand reaching out towards the crystal slowing. Knowing exactly how to work it herself after all this time. The rush of energy as her skin brushed against it was icy, snapping through her nerves like liquid fire as it started to glow. Letting her mind wander through the realities and times, searching for something familiar. The feeling that had seemed to encapsulate their island, the energy that filled the growing jungle. Eyes fluttering at the skew of realities rushing through her, snapping open at one that felt just right. The energy reminded her of walking through the thick trees with Midas, long before his hands had seized. The ache in her chest was enough to make her breath hiss through her teeth as she stepped through. Knowing that the moment she let her hand go, she wouldn’t be able to get herself back.

Nerves raced through her, unsure if she should go through and hope for the best, or leave a note. Just in case. Not that she thought Kado would ever actually look for her if she disappeared, but maybe, just maybe, he might. She gasped as she pulled her hand away, rift closing, disappearing along with the rush of energy, leaving her chest empty and aching.

She stepped away, scrawling a quick note to the man. Explaining where she had gone, and why. Praying once more as she reached for the crystal, she could find that same reality once more. Her heart raced when she felt its energy fill her chest once more, thumping loudly in her ears. Across her fingertips. Watching the glow that encased her hand react with the pressure, glowing and dimming in time with her heart.

With a shaky breath, she stepped through the rift, into the overgrown trees that made the jungle. Ripping her hand away, barely getting it through the rift before it closed on her, leaving her with no sounds except her own breath and the nature around her.

The trees had spread even further than when they had lived here before, looking through the sparse leaves towards what seemed like the centre. Massive trunks towering high above the rest, something pulling at her feet. Encouraging her forwards. Faint traces of pulsing energy rang through her feet with each step, reminiscent of the Zero Point. Wondering just how long it had been since its implosion. More surprised that it had managed to survive it at all, the cracks in the earth seemingly filled now. No signs of damage left behind, or if there were, now covered by thick moss and trees.

She didn’t stop as night fell, following the pull of her chest deeper into the thicket. Wondering if she should trust whatever was guiding her forwards before she shook her head. What other choice did she have? No way back to wherever Kado was, no way off the island. If whatever guided her forward was some type of trap, then she had no more choice of falling into it then she did falling through that first rift. An inescapable path that pulled her to where she would inevitably end up, no matter what she did.

A glint of something ahead caught her eyes, surprised that the moonlight managed to make it through the thick leaves. Glancing up, she watched as they swayed high above her, parting just enough to light her way over thick roots. Keeping her eyes focused on the ground as she followed the pull inwards. Pausing just slightly at the flash of gold she could have swore she saw.

Was it really him? Why would he be here alone? Why didn’t he stick with them that night? Why couldn’t he have just stayed by her side like he promised he would do?

Rushing now, stumbling over her feet as they tangled in ferns and roots, she raced to get to him. Worried he was hurt when she called his name and received no answer in return.

Her breath caught as she broke through into the smallest of clearings, a golden statue of a man resting on his knees as he gazed upwards, as if looking for the moon. Moss covered his shoulders, and the top of his head, running along strands of hair that looked almost carved too perfectly. Vines slowly wrapped around him, as if they could find a way to reclaim his golden body to the earth it rested on. Knowing that he was far too still to be alive.

“No,” she whispered, barely louder than a breath. Still seeming to break the silence around her as she tried to suck air into her lungs, taking small steps forwards. Waiting, as if he might move. Her breaths were coming in stuttering gasps as she landed roughly before him, unable to stop the tears that blurred her vision. Her hands shook as she tried to rip the vines from him, clearing moss from his face before a sob wracked through her. “You promised.”

The gold beneath her hands remained cold and lifeless. Her hands paused as they caught on a thin golden chain that hung from his neck. A small square pendant hanging from it, knowing what she would find inside. A rush of fear shot through her. What if it had been ruined? What if it wasn’t there, and the only picture she had left of her and her father was lost forever. Her fingers trembled at the clasp, looking up as it opened, terrified to see what might lay inside.

When she looked back, a soft noise fell from her. Knowing that she should be happy it survived, even as her chest caved in, a sob escaping her as she traced over her fathers face in the picture. The colours were faded now, water stains ruining the edges, but it was intact. Trying to clear the tears from her eyes as she looked back to him. To the statue in front of her. Studying him. A look of peace seemed to grace him. Wondering if after the pain of his curse spreading, he was grateful for the end when it came.

Just as fast anger rushed through her, hands ripping whatever plants were in the ground free as she threw them at him. “Why couldn’t you have just stayed?” Her voice echoed through the empty forest, a few birds calling out at the disturbance. With his silence, the rage building in her dulled, chest collapsing once more as another sob fell.

A crackle of energy behind her forced her to her feet, teeth bared as she readied herself to fight whatever came for her. Blocking her fathers body as if she had the means to protect him, even now. Surprise stunned her into stillness as a rift tore through the space behind her, Kado stepping through with the crystal still grasped in his hand. Keeping the rift active as long as he held it.

She blinked up at him, hastily wiping away her tears. Adjusting her position as if she could hide what she had found, not wanting him to see her father as he was. He stepped around her, holding her off as she tried to push him away in desperation. Never before having laid hands on him. Her hands latched onto his shirt, trying to get him away from Midas. Knowing how proudly he had displayed the hand that he had cut from her father, sickened at the thought of what he might do now.

“Don’t fucking touch him,” she whispered. It came out closer to a plea, and Kado glanced over at her, almost curious. Something flashing in his eyes that she wasn’t sure she had ever seen before. Almost pensive as he looked back to where Midas kneeled.

“I wouldn’t take him from here,” he finally murmured. Keeping his voice soft, as he finally looked back at her. “We may have had our differences, but even Midas is deserving of a final place to rest in the end.” A flicker of something, recognising it as a brief remnant of his humanity, stored deeply but surprisingly still there even after a millenia.

Fresh tears fell from her eyes as she looked away, shuddering breaths taken to try and stop the sobs that threatened to fall. Kado let out a soft breath, taking a step back towards the rift. “I think our time of working together is done. Find someone that is still alive, and I can let you go with them.” He saw the curious look on her tear streaked face before he lifted his jaw, looking away from her. “After that, we can call ourselves even.”

Looking back to the statue of her fathers body, her lip trembled as she nodded. Stepping towards the rift, unwilling to tear her eyes from him as Kado gripped her shirt, guiding her through. Not letting them close to even blink until Kado’s voice reached her once more. “Are you ready?”

She nodded shakily, watching the hole grow smaller. Gasping as her father disappeared from view for a final time, a golden statue of a man she had loved etched into her mind, the small pendant she had given him so long ago clutched tightly in her hand.

Kado stepped away, motioning for her to reach out for the crystal. Letting the energy of a million realities cross her, waiting for the pull of something familiar. Tears still leaked from her eyes, a soft gasp catching in her lungs as she finally latched on to something. The rift tore open in front of them, chest aching at the sight of Tina and Marigold seated against a large rock as Skye swam in a lake.

The energy caught their attention, and she could hear the way Marigold called her name. Rushing forwards with wide eyes. She looked to Kado as his hand slipped against the crystal, keeping it open while giving her the chance to let go. Of the crystal, and of what it represented. Once she was through, there was no going back.

“Thank you,” she murmured, receiving only the slightest nod of his head in return. She stepped through, feeling the energy fizzle behind her as Kado and his machine disappeared. Unable to stop the emotions that flooded her before she turned, Marigolds’s arms wrapping around her as she squeezed her into a hug. A golden hand was stroking through her hair as the woman searched her face, taking in the tear stained skin, the anguish she knew was still flooding from her eyes. Stepping back for a moment, her eyes caught on the pendant that was still held tightly in her grip.

A sad look crossed her face before she gave Jules a knowing stare. Lips trembling slightly before she spoke.

“You found him?”

Jules felt her face screw up, wrapped up in Marigold’s arms once more as tears stained into her shirt. Nodding against her shoulder as she finally let herself cry fully, shivers wracking through her body as she tried to catch her breath. When she finally seemed to calm, Marigold pulled back, swiping a thumb across her cheek to clear the wetness. Giving her a soft smile filled with understanding. Tugging her towards the others, sorrow still flashing through her in waves, mixed with a feeling of relief at seeing the rest of the team. Knowing that even with her father gone, she still had a little family to call her own. Knowing that it was only because of him that she had them, thankful all over for everything he had done.

“Come on, we’re here now.” Marigold wrapped her arm around her shoulders as she guided her to the rock, squeezing Jules between her and Tina. Unable to stop the soft laugh that fell from her, even with wet eyes, as Skye wrapped her in her own hug still drenched in water from the lake. The ache in her heart still crushing against her ribs, but almost bearable now. Almost.

#midas fortnite #jules fortnite #father daughter story #i also may have cried writing this i am too attached to fortnite characters #angst #character death #fortnite fanfiction #its ... kind of a happy ending?#a little bit?

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