Series Timeline: Conspiracy-Fortune
Note: Each part is inspired by a song of the same name by Black Lab, hence the lyrics within (besides this prologue). If you're interested and you haven't read it yet, "Something You Don't Know" is an Warrior-inspired prequel to this series.

Passion Leaves a Trace

"Love is the passion that we feel inside of our hearts that we can't hide. We pretend to hide it, but it burns us more and more until the pain grows and grows and it never ends."— Unknown

It was a single shot of an arrow, a moment of solitude in their world of chaos. Something was felt in the moment as their bodies lined up, hands entwined, his voice in her ear. Something they couldn't ignore once the arrow was released.

It was one night, a form of escapism from the life they chose. There were plenty of things that they wanted to forget: dead bodies, wasted time, tragic mistakes. Unfortunately, no amount of sex could erase the past, but they agreed that it was a beneficial relationship, as it brought life back into their breath, feeling back into their souls.

It was just physical though, as emotions had caused them enough damage. They were still friends, but with an unspoken agreement. However, emotions were destined to get in the way; they knew each other too well to ignore the insecurities the other faced.

It was just insurance, a loan that she had every intention of paying back, but even she could see the disappointment in his eyes when he correctly accused her of stealing from him. Trust was almost lost that day, but they found a way to move forward. They knew that the team had to stay together, that they had to hold their ground as colleagues. As the tension left their shoulders, their arrangement, one that relied on passion, began to change as something else had found its way to the surface.

It started with a gift, which turned into what he called a Pandora's box. He never intended to make her believe he misinterpreted their agreement, but he had seen so many people under-appreciate her that he didn't want to be another example. If only he realized just how much she meant to him, even then.

It was a hazard of the job, involuntarily going off the grid for hours, days, months. No matter the length of time, the determination to bring him back, to save her, was the same. All they wanted was the knowledge that the other was okay. Eventually, his trust of her was put to the test once more, and because he did trust her, she returned to him. That night, there was no more denial of the feelings they had developed. They re-admitted them all, and he had no intention of losing her again.

It started as passion, a need for them to be alive in any way they could. It started as a harmless arrangement, something that could have been broken at any second. Yet with each day, threads of a string began to form, eventually tightening itself around their relationship, as neither party wanted to lose the other. Even when the inevitable 'L' word was spoken, obliterating the arrangement they had, the string remained. It connected them for when she came back to him, connected them when she thought it was best to leave.

It started as passion, but it resulted in a ripped marriage certificate and a lost memory of their wedding night. Yet when their soberness returned, they pieced the certificate together and went home, celebrating their love in a similar way to their first time about a year ago in a building called Watchtower.

This is the story about a couple that fought through almost everything, including their own insecurities, to find happiness with each other. This is the story about the obstacles they faced after they crossed that line and began their new relationship. Trust, baggage, self-doubt, distance, sacrifice, they were all present.

But they did not prevail.

~End~