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slyandthefamilybook · 10 months ago

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okay because I'm seeing some misinfo, here's the story on the Key Bridge collapse

What was the Key Bridge?

The Francis Scott Key Bridge (also called the Key Bridge, the Beltway Bridge, and the Outer Harbor Crossing) was steel-arch continuous-through-truss bridge spanning the Patapsco River south of the Baltimore Harbor. The bridge took 5 years to build and cost an estimated $145 million ($735 million in today's dollars). The full bridge project (including approaches) was 10.9 miles long, but the stretch over the Patapsco was 1.6 miles long and 4 lanes wide, and comprised a length of I-695, the Baltimore Beltway. It traveled between Hawkins Point and Dundalk, and in addition to the I-895 Harbor Tunnel was the primary way for Marylanders to cross from the Eastern Shore to the West. The bridge carried an estimated 11.5 million vehicles per year. There is a lane for ships to pass under the Key Bridge with enough clearance.

Was it structurally sound?

The bridge received its latest inspection in 2022 and received a 6/9 score, which is considered "fair" by federal standards. There was a concern with one of its columns, which was downgraded from a health index of 77.8 to 65.9, but it is not clear yet if this was one of the columns struck by the ship. In 1980 the bridge was struck by a different cargo ship which destroyed a concrete support structure, but the bridge itself was unharmed. There is as of yet no evidence that the bridge collapsed because of poor condition. Experts say the lesson to be learned is about the size and weight of modern cargo ships, and that the bridge was not to blame. Engineers have noted, however, that the bridge's piers lacked protective devices such as fenders.

What was the ship?

The MV Dali is a container ship flying the Singapore flag. It is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and operated by Synergy Marine Group Ltd. The ship is currently being chartered by Maersk, a Dutch shipping company. It was built in 2015 by Hyundai. The ship is 980 feet long and 157 feet wide. The ship's gross tonnage (its internal volume) is 95,128 tons (190,256,000 pounds). Its deadweight (the weight of cargo it can carry) is 116,851 tons (233,702,000 pounds). The ship was carrying 3,000 containers. The engine is a MAN-B&W 9S90ME putting out 41,480 kilowatts (55,626 horsepower).

Over its lifetime the Dali has been inspected 27 times, and only 2 faults were ever found. On June 27, 2023 the Dali was held in port in Chile due to an issue with the propulsion system. According to an inspector the pressure gauges on the heating system were "unreadable". The fault was fixed before the ship left port.

The Dali is crewed by 22 Indian nationals including 2 maritime pilots.

What happened?

The Dali arrived at the Port of Baltimore on March 23, 2024. At 12:44 AM on March 26, 2024 the Dali left port, beginning its journey to Colombo, Sri Lanka. At 01:26 AM the ship suffered a "complete blackout" and began to drift out of the shipping lane. It is not yet known what caused the electrical failure. The backup generator did not power the propulsion system. At around 01:26 AM the crew of the Dali sent a mayday distress call to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) informing them of the loss of power and that a collision with the Key Bridge was possible. The anchors were dropped as an emergency measure to attempt to slow or stop the vessel. At the request of one of the pilots traffic flow over the bridge was immediately halted. Black smoke was seen coming from the Dali, which experts believe was the result of the crew managing to restart the power system to regain some maneuvering capability.

At 01:28 AM the Dali, traveling at 8 knots (considered to be a fast speed) collided with a support strut beneath the Key Bridge's metal truss at the southwest end of the bridge. A Baltimore resident said he heard the collision and that it "felt like an earthquake". Emergency teams began receiving 911 calls at 01:30 AM, and the Baltimore Police Department were alerted at 01:35 AM. One of the officers present radioed that he was going to go onto the bridge to alert the construction crew as soon as a second officer arrived, but the bridge collapsed seconds later.

What was the damage?

The Key Bridge has completely collapsed. The metal truss relies on structural tension from the bridge itself to maintain its rigidity. As soon as one of the support columns was destroyed, the rest of the bridge quickly followed.

The damage to the Dali is reported as minimal. The ship was impaled by the bridge's structure above the waterline, but has maintained watertight integrity. The crew has not reported any water contamination from its 1.8 million gallons of marine fuel. 13 containers carrying potentially hazardous material were damaged, and are being inspected by a team of Coast Guard divers. At least 5 vehicles including 3 passenger cars and a cement mixer were detected underwater, but authorities do not believe they were occupied

Who was hurt?

The crew of the Dali reports no casualties, except one crewmember who was hospitalized for minor injuries. There was a crew of 8 construction workers on the Key Bridge filling in potholes. 2 were immediately pulled from the water by rescue crews, with 1 being rushed to emergency care and the other reporting minor injuries and refusing treatment. The hospitalized worker has since been discharged. 1 of those rescued was Mexican. The remaining 6 remain missing. Of those 6, 2 have been identified:

Miguel Luna from El Salvador

Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval from Honduras

Of the remaining 4, 2 are Guatemalan nationals. Neither have been identified, but the Guatemalan Foreign Affairs Ministry has stated that they were a 26-year-old from San Luis, Petén, and a 35-year-old from Camotán, Chiquimula. The other 2 are presumed to be Mexican.

Rescue Efforts

The Coast Guard was immediately deployed for search-and-rescue operations. Military Blackhawk helicopters were seen over the river. Rescue efforts were ended at 07:30 PM on March 26, 2024 due to darkness, fog, and cold temperatures. Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said "Based on the length of time that we've gone in the search, the extensive search efforts that we put into it, the water temperature -- at this point, we do not believe that we're going to find any of these individuals still alive". Recovery operations resumed at 07:30 AM on March 27, 2024 with all 6 workers presumed dead.

No divers have yet entered the water underneath the bridge. Supervisory Special Agent Brian Hudson of the FBI's Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team said "the debris field is pretty sizable and I know that’s why they’re hesitant to send divers down because some of the debris is still shifting, the heavy weight of the rocks". The FBI has deployed Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) equipped with cameras and SONAR.

Aftermath

At 05:08 AM on March 26, 2024 Transportation Secretary Pete Buttegiege posted on X (formerly Twitter):

"I’ve spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT’s support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response."

At 07:30 AM on March 27, 2024 President of the Maryland State Senate Bill Ferguson posted on X (formerly Twitter):

"Over 15,000 in the Balt region rely on daily operations at Port of Baltimore to put food on the table. Today, with Del. @LukeClippinger and colleagues representing Port, we are drafting an emergency bill to provide for income replacement for workers impacted by this travesty."

At around 09:40 AM on March 26, 2024 Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott declared a State of Emergency to take effect at 10:30 AM March 26, 2024, and to last 30 days. Baltimore's Emergency Operations Plan was put into effect.

More than 1,000 personnel from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have been deployed to assist with clearing the debris and rebuilding efforts. President Joe Biden has pledged that the federal government will pay for the entire reconstruction of the bridge.

Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the Dali's data recorder, and will be inspecting both the Key Bridge and the Dali to determine the cause of the crash and the collapse. She says the investigation could take up to 2 years to complete.

Was it intentional?

According to William DelBagno, head of the FBI's Baltimore field office: "There is no specific or credible information to suggest there are ties to terrorism in this incident".

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said: "There are no indications this was an intentional act".

At least 3 people have been killed in accidents related to ships operated by Synergy in the past 6 years. In 2018 a person on board a Synergy ship in Australia was killed in an accident relating to the vessel's personnel elevator. In 2019 an officer aboard a Synergy vessel in Singapore fell overboard while performing maintenance. In 2023 at least one sailor was killed when a Synergy ship collided with a dredging ship in the Philippines. In the first two cases safety inspectors noted that proper safety procedures had not been adhered to.

Sources

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

#atlas entry #this is still a developing story but all the information herein is accurate and current at time of publishing #baltimore #baltimore bridge collapse #francis scott key bridge #key bridge #I spent an hour collating all this info please give it a reblog

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deityoftherain · 6 months ago

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phases of the moon - Flower Husbands ATLA AU Fanfic

Rating: Teen

Relationship: M/M, Gen

Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Status: Completed Oneshot

Word Count: 5,388

Summary: Scott is the Tribal Prince of the Northern Water Tribe and he's not allowed to leave Agna Qel'a. Oh yeah, and his health is connected to the phases of the moon. Jimmy, on the other hand, is an ambassador, traveling back and forth between the Earth Kingdom and Scott's home. He wants nothing more than to settle down and cement his life by Scott's side. There's just one little thing he doesn't know yet...

This was written for Jelly, my artist, through @mcytblraufest!!

Full fanfic underneath the cut! Please reblog, leave kudos on the AO3 fic slash notes/likes here on Tumblr, comment either place, and etc if you enjoy the story :D

༻❀ Scott ❀༺

The times without Jimmy were always the hardest, though they were also the most abundant. Jimmy was an ambassador for the Earth Kingdom and Scott was the Tribal Prince of the Northern Water Tribe. Scott couldn’t leave his home while Jimmy traveled back and forth frequently.

Despite Scott’s better judgment, he fell in love with warm brown eyes, soft blonde hair, and sun-kissed freckles. Whenever Scott closed his eyes for too long, he could practically see the way Jimmy looked at him. Jimmy didn’t look at him like he was fragile and incapable like everyone else in Scott’s life did. It was refreshing and it was part of what drew Scott to Jimmy in the first place.

Jimmy wasn’t here now, though, and Scott had no idea when he would be back. Scott hoped no time soon for The Moon was barely a dim sliver of light in the sky. His body was currently being affected (he could feel it in his bones) and it would only get worse as it turned over completely to a New Moon. His strength would only return to him when it started to wax. Dealing with The Moon’s ever changing guidance was his price to pay for his life being saved as a newborn infant.

Scott ran his hand over the railing, using it to help keep him stabilized. Those who watched over him didn’t like him going off on his own, but he was an adult. They could do a lot of things, but they couldn’t prevent him from going on walks around the main city by himself, not that they didn’t try.

He was lost in his thoughts when he caught a glimpse of green in his peripheral vision. Green was an unusual color to see this far north because there was barely any plant life that could survive in such frigid temperatures. Plus, the standard Water Tribe clothing, both in the south and the north, were in shades of blue. Green was reserved for citizens of the Earth Kingdom.

“Jimmy?” Scott’s face lit up at the sight of his… friend wasn’t strong enough of a word, but crush didn’t quite describe what they had between them. They both knew there was more than friendship between them, but with Jimmy constantly traveling, they didn’t want to tie each other down… not that Scott had eyes for anyone else.

“Scott!” Jimmy grinned widely, waving his hand high above his head. In his other hand was a singular red poppy. While it was true that there weren’t many things that grew this far north, poppies were one of those exceptions for they were much more frost resistant than most other plants. Some people grew them themselves, but poppies were also known to pop up naturally and without human intervention.

Jimmy trekked through the snow, taking big steps to try and get to Scott quickly. His foot got caught on a particularly compact spot of snow and ice, tripping him. Jimmy fell flat on his face, laying in the snow. He propped himself up on his arms, snow now in his hair and on the fuzzy part of his heavy-duty coat.

Scott started to laugh, not out of malice but out of finding Jimmy undeniably charming. Even tripping over himself, he was simply adorable. Jimmy continued to smile, not minding the laughter. In fact, he seemed to enjoy hearing Scott’s laugh being carried by the breeze to his ears.

Jimmy held up the poppy proudly, the petals undamaged by his tumble. “It’s still okay!”

“Good job,” Scott praised, leaning against the railing. These simple moments almost allowed Scott to forget that his body’s functionings slowed, but the fatigue and general weakness were blaringly loud.

Jimmy got back to his feet and ran the rest of the way to Scott without problem. Well, that wasn’t entirely true, but he didn’t trip again and he stayed up right, so it might as well be true. Jimmy handed the poppy to Scott, who promptly tucked it behind his ear. “Thank you, Jimmy.” “A’course!” Jimmy placed his hands on the railing to help pull himself up and over to get to Scott. Scott hoped Jimmy wouldn’t notice his reliance on the railing. “I have good news.” “You returning to Agna Qel'a is always good news.” Scott took Jimmy’s hand in his, craving the contact even through gloved hands. Oh how Scott wished to remove some of their layers and cuddle close, to feel the heat of Jimmy’s skin against his.

“This is better than simply returning,” Jimmy promised, bouncing on his heels.

Scott reached toward Jimmy to dust the snow off of his hair and clothes. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense now. I’m curious.”

“I got a promotion!” Jimmy cheered, forgetting to elaborate until a few seconds later. He rushed to continue speaking when he picked up that he still had Scott mostly in the dark. “One of the other diplomats wanted to retire back to the Earth Kingdom, so there was an open position to be a full-time diplomat. I applied for the position, went through all the proper channels and even got some recommendations, and I got it! I got the job! I will be up here with you all the time now and we can be together, just like we wanted.”

Scott’s lips parted, but words failed to escape his throat. His vocal cords felt tangled up, almost like he was choking on a potential response. He stared at Jimmy with wide eyes, a wave of mixed emotions threatening to drown him. He wanted this, fuck, did he want this, but guilt and shame wormed its way into his heart. Scott has never told Jimmy about his condition. Would he want someone damaged like him?

“Is something wrong?” Jimmy seemed to shy away like Scott burned him, letting go of his hand and stepping back to give Scott room. “Did I come off too strong? Maybe I read into it wrong, or something, but I thought you wanted to be with me too-?”

“No, no, I do!” Scott panicked, though he tried not to show it. Dammit, he took too long to process. Scott didn’t want Jimmy to think his affections weren’t returned, because they were! Spirits, they were returned. “I do want to be with you. Jimmy, this is, this is fantastic news. I just, I didn’t expect-”

Before Scott could fully register what happened, Jimmy’s lips were on his. The anxiety in his chest loosened their grips as Scott melted into Jimmy’s familiar touch. He was comforting like a fuzzy blanket and gentle like a forgiving wave. Jimmy made Scott feel warm in a way that seemed impossible in the frozen tundra Scott called his home.

When they parted, Jimmy had a stupidly endearing grin and Scott was sure he mirrored Jimmy’s grin right back at him. At least, he was sure he did before his legs refused to move. It was like they were asleep, leaving Scott clinging to Jimmy. He buried his face into the crevice between Jimmy’s neck and the fluff of his coat’s hood.

Frustration overcame him, but it was mostly at himself. He hated being incapable and he hated being physically weak. He wasn’t weak! Not to inflate his own ego, but he thought he was rather intelligent. Scott was well read, he was a keen observer, he fared well in trade negotiations and smoothing over fights… he was all that and more, yet he rarely was acknowledged for these talents!

Being the Tribal Prince, one would think he was given more than dismissive respect (if one could even call it that), but he wasn’t. The Moon had saved his life as an infant, but had it been worth it? Was it worth living a life in what felt like a gilded cage?

Yes. Scott knew the answer to his own question. It was worth it, no matter how angry it got him. If he hadn’t survived, he never would have grown up and he never would have met Jimmy. Jimmy, a man with such a kind soul, a loud sense of humor, and a strong passion for what he believed in.

“I love you, Jimmy.” Scott wrapped his arms around Jimmy, his vision getting spotty. He silently prayed to The Moon to give him mercy, to give him just a bit more energy to be able to hold Jimmy close… just for a little longer, he pleaded. He knew he had been pushing it, going on a walk by himself, so close to the New Moon, but he thought he had time.

Scott knew he should make some sort of excuse and make it back to his room. He knew Cleo, the waterbender who usually assisted him, would not be pleased that he had ignored their orders to not stray far, especially alone.

“I love you too,” Jimmy replied easily, though there was a tint of confusion in his words. “Are you okay?” Jimmy’s concern was the last thing Scott could remember as he fainted in his arms, losing consciousness. At least he couldn’t feel pain if he wasn’t awake enough to register it…

༻❀ Jimmy ❀༺

Having his boyfriend go limp in his arms was not a foreseen circumstance when Jimmy went to go see his now-boyfriend. They had never officially said those words, no, but they’ve discussed it at length before. It wasn’t wise to be together and put their hearts on the line when they spent so much time apart.

That was Scott’s sentiment, anyway, but Jimmy would have been okay with the distance. They wrote back and forth, and Jimmy always did his best to travel to Agna Qel'a whenever he could. Jimmy understood Scott’s point of view, though. Why put their hearts on the line when it could be so very temporary? Jimmy had faith in them though, and he knew what his heart wanted. They fell hard for each other and they both knew it; there was no denying the care and tenderness between them. Even teasing each other, any onlooker could see their closeness.

Or, he would assume that so, but perhaps not when Scott was dangling off his shoulder. Spirits, being an earthbender would be so very useful right about now.

“What are you doing with the Tribal Prince? Who are you?” a voice sounded behind him, demanding answers. When he turned around, he was greeted by a waterbender in a fighting stance and lots of curly red hair. Based on hair color and their temperament alone, Jimmy might have guessed they were from the Fire Nation or had heritage from there, but Jimmy also knew better than to make assumptions like that.

“I’m Jimmy,” he explained quickly, “Scott’s boyfriend. I’m also a diplomat from the Earth Kingdom.” “Last name?” they interrupted sharply.

“Solidarity,” Jimmy answered before continuing what he was initially saying. “We were talking one moment and then he fainted! Do you know a healer?”

“Dammit, Scott, I told you not to…” the waterbender mumbled under their breath, voice so low that Jimmy realized that he wasn’t likely to hear any of it. “Give him to me. I’ve been attending to him every moon for years.”

“Every moon for years?” Jimmy echoed, furrowing his eyebrows. He did as he was told though, transferring Scott to their capable hands. “Why?”

“You said he was your boyfriend?” The healer stopped to glare at him. Jimmy tensed, getting the feeling that she wouldn’t believe him. He only slightly relaxed when they broke their glare and continued walking. “I’m only giving you a pass for now because I’ve heard Scott talk about you and I recognise a Jimmy Solidarity from the list of Earth Kingdom ambassadors. I would say I can’t believe he never told you, but that actually sounds like him. Self-reliant to a fault, he is.”

“Not tell me what?” Anxiety weighed heavy in his stomach as the cold nipped at him through his clothes. “And what’s your name?” “Cleo,” the healer answered as they entered a healing room. In the center of the room was a small pool of water held in a container similar to a bathtub. They set Scott’s limp body down into the water, which started to glow at Cleo’s touch. “If you are not aware of Scott’s condition, then he has chosen not to share that with you. If you two are truly together, then it should be him who shares the news with you.” Jimmy bit his tongue, gaze flicking from Cleo down to his unconscious boyfriend. He knew he wasn’t always the most observant person, and that he could be clumsy and oblivious, but he had improved a lot. Surely something this big wouldn’t have invaded him! Scott must have gone through great lengths to cover it up if such a thing has been burdening him for countless moons, as Cleo mentioned.

He sat down on one of the nearby seats as he observed Cleo, fiddling with the ruffles of his skirt. The poppy Jimmy had given Scott was still in his hair, though his long hair floated on the surface of the water. It wasn’t too spread out because the sides were held together with silver and blue bands and the back was tied into a low ponytail.

At least Cleo didn’t seem bothered by his company. In fact, they seemed to enjoy it after they relaxed from their initial hostility. The two fell into idle conversation as Cleo expertly bent the water and did whatever healing magic Jimmy didn’t know where to begin to understand. They stayed for hours like that and, at some point, Jimmy succumbed to sleep, unable to keep his eyelids open any longer.

༻❀ Scott ❀༺

Scott gasped sharply as he awoke, shooting upright and leaving the sound of dripping water in his wake. A shiver was sent down his spine as wet hair stuck to his back and face. He had been stripped of his clothes, but it didn’t bring him unusual discomfort. Scott was used to the removal of his layers for better access to his skin, especially on new moons.

“Good, you’re awake,” Cleo greeted him, her voice grabbing his attention. “I was wondering how long it would take you to wake up this time.” Scott choked on nothing, shame flushing his cheeks. Cleo’s words implied that he was out for a few days, which only happened when he had pushed himself too far and taken advantage of The Moon’s kindness. “I’m sorry, Cleo. I didn’t mean-” Cleo put her hand up to silence him and Scott took the hint. He clamped his jaw shut and stared down at his submerged hands. Tui, The Moon Spirit in the form of a koi fish, rubbed against his hand while La, The Ocean Spirit, created gentle ripples on the water’s surface, much like little waves. He smiled softly, running his fingers gently over Tui’s scales while muttering soft prayers and gratitude towards The Moon Spirit.

Scott knew that they had brought him to the Spirit Oasis as soon as he awoke enough to register sensory input. Even if the unnaturally warm weather for this far north wasn’t any indication, the two koi fish that swam around would prove it. He let his gaze wander to the lush landscape and allowed himself to enjoy the inviting and peaceful atmosphere the Spirit Oasis brought. Scott felt closer to The Moon Spirit here, not only in physical closeness, but spiritually as well.

“You never told me that you and Jimmy were officially boyfriends,” Cleo murmured, only sounding partly upset at the news as she started to dry Scott’s hair off with a towel. The two had grown rather close over the years, confiding in each other about a multitude of things in their lives. There was very little the two didn’t discuss, but there were times they had to stay formal in order to keep their healing arrangement secure.

Scott’s heart fluttered blissfully in his chest, unable to keep his cheeks from flushing. “He called me his boyfriend?”

“That he did.” Cleo smirked with a mild snort of amusement to accompany it. “New thing, then?”

“Yes, it only happened recently,” Scott confirmed with a nod. “Us actually getting together, anyway. We’ve been seeing each other for a while, and I planned to tell you, but- wait, Jimmy! I was with him!”

Scott whipped his head around frantically, hoping to spot soft blonde hair or flashes of green garments within the secluded cave. Cleo removed the towel and placed their hands on either side of his head to stop him from moving. “Careful, The Moon is only just starting to wax. You need to rebuild strength.” Scott obeyed, knowing Cleo was only looking out for him, but he still didn’t like it. He huffed softly, but did as he was told. She helped him to his feet and wrapped a large towel around his shoulders before helping him out of the pond. His bare feet brushed against the grass and he hummed a pleased tune. Scott only ever experienced grass here for the rest of the Northern Water Tribe’s territory was made of ice and snow. Not that Scott was ever allowed to leave the main city of Agna Qel'a.

His fondness for the grass grew bitter as he recalled the reasons for why he could never leave. Scott would like to travel the world with Jimmy by his side, perhaps go to the Earth Kingdom and see the place Jimmy called home, but he was forbidden. They claim it was for his safety, but had The Moon Spirit really intended for his life to be like this? Scott supposed there must be truth to what he was told. The Spirit Oasis was one of the most spiritual places in the Northern Water Tribe and it was where The Moon Spirit chose to keep a physical form, swimming in an eternal dance of push and pull with The Ocean Spirit. If Scott tried to leave, tried to run away, would he live to make it to the Earth Kingdom? It was a risk he wasn’t sure he could take.

Cleo tried to aid him in dressing himself, but he refused their help because he had enough strength to do it himself. Once dried and dressed, Scott asked again, “Where is Jimmy? How is he?”

“He is okay,” Cleo promised. “He brought you to me and insisted on staying by your side. To be honest, I let him stay until it was time to move you here. He was quiet when I told him to be and he did as he was told. As an outsider, I couldn’t allow him to come with me, so he should be back at the Earth Kingdom embassy. If he is not there, then he is likely doing other diplomatic duties. He… he cares about you a lot and it was nice to be able to talk to him myself after hearing you gush about him for so long.” Scott knew she was only teasing, but the teasing had truth to it. He tried to ignore his blush as he ran his fingers through his hair. Cleo smirked softly, retrieving a hairbrush that Scott hadn’t noticed and tutting at him to turn around. He obeyed, moving so his back was to her, and she started to brush out his blue locks. As she did so, she stated, “I approve, by the way. I mean, he tends to stumble over himself, sure, but he’s charming. I see why you like him, and I think you two are a good fit.”

“Thank you, Cleo.” Scott blushed a darker red, but, instead of embarrassment, he blushed from appreciation and joy. He felt loved and cared for, and it was a fantastic feeling. “That means a lot. Especially coming from you.”

“Of course, Scott.” Cleo barked out a laugh, though there was a fondness to their voice. “I know I can be hard on you, but that’s just my job as your healer and your best friend. At the end of the day, I just want you to be happy. He seems to make you happy, and it’s clear you’re both helplessly in love with each other, so, naturally, I approve.”

Scott opened his mouth to respond, but his stomach growled loudly instead. He put a hand to his stomach, wrinkling his nose. Cleo clicked her tongue as she finished brushing his hair and tucked the few things scattered around nearby into her bag. “Let’s get you some food and I’ll go track down your boyfriend, okay? You two probably need to have a long talk about, well, you know.” Scott sighed deeply, his muscles growing tense as he started to imagine the different ways that scenario could play out. There was no use to pushing it off for very long, but it couldn’t hurt to eat uninterrupted, could it? “Can you get him after I finish eating? I just need some time to think alone… to think about what I’m going to say first.”

Cleo pursed her lips for a moment before nodding. “Very well.”

༻❀ Jimmy ❀༺

Jimmy paced back and forth in his room after getting out of far too many meetings. The meetings weren’t the subject of his worry. At least they weren’t this time. He was good at what he did after years of experience and practice. There were times he put his foot in his mouth or got too worked up, sure, but he wasn’t the only diplomat from the Earth Kingdom here. His weaknesses were balanced out by others’ strengths. Besides, the Fire Nation diplomats tended to cause more problems than him, allowing him more wiggle room to mess up.

Usually after a day of meetings, Jimmy would collapse on his bed and take a long nap, but he was worried about Scott. It had been way too many days since Scott collapsed in his arms with far too few answers. Jimmy had felt more relieved when Cleo allowed him to be by Scott’s side, but, ever since Cleo no longer allowed Jimmy’s presence, his anxiety spiked.

What was this mystery thing Cleo had mentioned? Jimmy could only assume it was some sort of chronic illness, but why wouldn’t Scott tell him about it? They’ve spent so many late nights cuddled by the warmth of a fire (in the properly designated spots made of materials other than ice, don’t worry, they weren’t foolish) and baring their souls to each other, yet this had never come up!

Or perhaps it had and Jimmy didn’t notice? He could recall times Scott mentioned little things that Jimmy always brushed off as temporary, but perhaps those were symptoms to some sort of chronic disease? Surely it was manageable and he would be alright, right? He couldn’t be dying or Cleo would have told him! He hoped they would tell him if it was that dire, anyway.

The sound of Jimmy’s footsteps echoed off the walls with his furious pacing, the swoosh of his skirt accompanying it. His personal room in the embassy was designed to look more like a bedroom typically found in the Earth Kingdom, making it feel more like home and less like outside was an endless winter. The fireplace crackled and gave off enough warmth for Jimmy to go without his coat and thick wool leggings, leaving him in his long, layered skirt and tank top.

Without the extra clothing to keep him warm, it was something he would wear back at the Earth Kingdom. It reminded him of his home growing up, with his brothers and sister. Spirits, he missed them. He missed Grian’s pranks, Pearl’s lightheaded quips, and Martyn’s teasing jabs… but, even if he wished to go back, wished to leave his life behind here and leave Scott, there was no going back. They were all adults and all had their own lives going on.

Grian was traveling around the Earth Kingdom with his long-term boyfriend, Scar, in their “Swaggon” or whatever Scar called it. Grian had the habit of collecting shiny and interesting objects (as did Scar, to be fair), so they always had several momentos to showcase their travels.

Pearl teamed up with two of her good friends, Etho, a fellow Earth Kingdom resident, and Tango, a Fire Nation citizen, to work on a project to better connect the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation through communication. It all went over Jimmy’s head, but they had been making rather large strides in their quick transportation of mail and other goods. Plus, last he heard, she had been getting rather friendly with a firebender named Gem. Pearl has always been one to make a lot of friends, but there was a noticeable difference in her behavior when regarding Gem. Tango vouched for Gem when Martyn went into protective big brother mode, so that gave Jimmy some peace of mind, at least.

Speaking of Martyn, he was doing “absolutely fantastic, mate! Don’t worry your silly little head about it” last he heard. Martyn and his husband, Ren, were still going strong and had even opened up a business specializing in spiritual and physical protection, enchantments, and other related items together.

All of his siblings were happy where they were, and Jimmy was happy for them. Hell, he was happy for himself, too! At least, he would be if he wasn’t overtaken by worry-

The sharp knock at his door cut off his thoughts and caused Jimmy to jump, startled by the sudden noise. “Who's there?” “Jimmy, I need to talk to you.” The voice was muffled from the door between them, but Jimmy would recognize Scott’s accent and tone inflections anywhere.

He wasted no time to open the door and embrace Scott, paying no mind to the rush of cool air from the hallway. Jimmy pulled Scott close, suppressing the urge to jump with joy. “Scott! You’re okay! I was, oh, man! I was so worried, and you- well, you-”

“Jimmy, love, breathe.” Scott tried to sooth, placing one hand firmly on Jimmy’s shoulder while the other cupped his face. “Deep breaths. I’m okay.” Jimmy melted into Scott’s touch, taking a deep breath and then another. He continued until the unsettling rattling in his chest subsided. He leaned into Scott, who rubbed gentle circles on his back.

“I’m sorry for worrying you,” Scott tried to keep his voice from cracking, his voice barely above a whisper, “and I’m more sorry for not telling you about… that. I just… I should have told you.”

“Yes, you should have.” Jimmy picked himself enough to stand by himself, but he couldn’t stay angry at Scott for long. He gave him a bittersweet smile before gesturing inside. “Maybe tell me about it now? We could cuddle?” Scott hesitated a moment, inwardly beating at himself before giving in to Jimmy’s desires. He matched the smile with a soft hum of agreeance. Scott entered Jimmy’s room, stripping himself of his coat, and Jimmy closed the door behind him. He stumbled a bit, still weak from whatever came over him, but Jimmy caught his arm and helped him to Jimmy’s bed.

“Cleo was going to fetch you for me, but I convinced them to let me come to you instead.” A defeated half-laugh left Scott’s lips as he tugged at his hair. “If we didn’t get along so well most of the time, I wouldn’t be allowed out of my room after such an episode.”

“An episode?” Jimmy prompted, pulling Scott so close to him that he was practically laying in his lap.

“My… condition doesn’t work like most peoples’ tend to,” Scott started to explain, staring straight ahead as he continued to fidget with his hair. “That makes sense, I suppose, because my condition isn’t caused by normal illnesses or defects. I’m not supposed to be alive, but The Moon Spirit took pity on my parents and allowed me to live. My life source is connected to The Moon, so, the closer it gets to a New Moon, the less energy I have. Does that make sense?” Jimmy considered Scott’s words for several moments, recalling past information and committing the new information to memory. Finally, he nodded to indicate he understood. Still, he inquired, “Why didn’t you tell me?” “I was afraid,” Scott admitted. “Afraid that you would reject me or start treating me differently. Or not want me because I’m… I’m damaged, or something.” “Why would I do that?” Jimmy furrowed his eyebrows, genuinely confused. “Scott, you’re amazing! You’re not damaged, not to me! Why would, I just-?”

Scott stuttered a laugh, twisting his body to bury his face in Jimmy’s chest. The stuttering laugh turned into a sob, any words he attempted to speak getting stuck in his throat.

Jimmy bit his lip harshly, tightening his grip around Scott. He buried the lower half of his face in Scott’s hair, murmuring sweet nothings and comforts to his boyfriend to help him through what was clearly a hard and sensitive subject.

“You’re one of the only people who don’t treat me like glass, treat me like I’m weak. I hate being seen as fragile and incapable. I am very capable, yet people dismiss me just because they view physical capability as a representative of mental strength. I have a lot to say and contribute, but no one will hear me out!” The longer Scott spoke, the more infuriated he sounded. His hands balled into fists and his jaw clenched before forcefully relaxing. He let out a long breath and glanced up at Jimmy through his eyelashes, tears starting to obscure his vision. “I didn’t want you to start seeing me that way. I thought that, if you knew, you would start and… and maybe you wouldn’t love me anymore.”

“‘Wouldn’t love you anymore’?” Jimmy parroted, astonished and taken aback by the thought. “Scott, of course I love you! If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t have fought so hard to be by your side. You told me you couldn’t leave Agna Qel'a, so I made it my mission to come to you. I can’t imagine a life without you.”

Scott rubbed at his eyes to try and dry the tears. “Promise?” “Promise,” Jimmy confirmed, tone confident and sure. He cupped Scott’s cheek, using his thumb to help wipe away the tears that continued to trail down his face. “Chin up, Scott. Defeated and small isn’t a good look on you. The Scott I know is confident and lights up a room. He would look unshakeable, intimidatingly so because he’s just that clever! I envy you sometimes because you make it look so effortless, which is a talent in itself because I know it’s not.”

“You think far too highly of me.” The ends of Scott’s lips twitched up and a laugh fluttered in his chest.

“Impossible,” Jimmy claimed boldly, a grin wide on his face. “How can I think too highly of someone so wonderful that The Moon itself considers them worthy?”

Scott’s smile grew as he raised his chin. They stared into each other's eyes for several moments. Their eyecontact didn’t break even as Scott straightened his arms to help push him up, allowing their lips to meet for a brief, chaste kiss. “I love you, Jimmy. Words cannot describe how much I love you.”

“I love you too, Scott,” Jimmy promised. “I love you to the moon and back.” Scott snorted, ducking his head as he burst into a fit of giggles. “Spirits, that was cheesy.”

Jimmy’s first instinct was to be embarrassed, but this was Scott. Scott had a way of teasing him in a way that made him still feel loved and cherished. “You love me.” “I do,” Scott confirmed without a pause. He slackened the effort in his arms, falling down to be against Jimmy’s chest once more. Jimmy welcomed him with open arms, feeling fulfilled and blissful.

The stress and anxiety that had clawed at him melted away like ice held to a flame, from caution to genuine love and care… genuine love and care like what he and Scott shared. Jimmy scratched his fingers in Scott’s hair, which brought a soft noise of content from Scott.

They were safe, they were together, and they were loved. What more could they need?

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