authorsnote: I can't stop writing darklina so help me goddddd
anywho, I wrote a tomione oneshot the other day that included this speech (which I have listed to like two to three...hundred times), and was inspired to write this speech! btw if you're a fan of tom/hermione in harry potter do check out that fic for a lil crossover, it is called Fresh Poison (shameless plug)
I do hope you enjoy this, do follow my page as more darklina oneshots are coming! review and tell me watcha thought!
songrecs: dark horse - sleeping at last
'All these years, you never truly appreciated who she is'
The boy never had, not really. He'd never understood just how wonderful his Sun Summoner is, had never appreciated her, nor treasured.
He did, he always would.
When her hands came together to cast the dazzling lights she could bring so easily, when her fingers flickered the lights into streams, when they expanded to send the lights flying through his shadows. She was magic made real, made whole.
Magic.
So the opposite of him. Whereas her hands conjured light, his summoned darkness. Whereas her fingers shimmered with the sun, his moved with the shadows.
Light and dark, sun and shadow; balance.
But there was more, more to her than just what she could summon. Her smile, her laugh, her naivety (which he so enjoyed). Her. So few had seen her for who she really was, so few had appreciated her, so few understood her.
'But it's alright because I do'
And he had, he did, he always would.
Whereas others feared her (more than all other Grisha, almost the same as him), where others were in awe, false worship, whereas before her talents were known others had dismissed her, he didn't, he never had, he wouldn't.
He remembered training with her, encouraging, before in the Little Palace, watching her in awe as she dazzled the guests, eyes locked on him, and now, her eyes would remain locked on him still, as they travelled, as they commanded, her power only having grown.
He'd always appreciate her, for who she was, Grisha, Sun Summoner, Alina.
His.
'Take away my shadows and I still have something that you don't'
'Patience'
One of his better qualities. He'd once asked her that, what she considered his finest qualities, in a moment with her lying in his arms, when he'd listed hers – beautiful, kind, intelligent, unique, light forged from the sun, he'd flipped back to her and asked her – handsome, brave, smart, powerful, loving.
He hadn't expected the latter, but had smiled at before rolling them over, his lips on hers.
She hadn't listed patience, but it was what had gotten them to that point, it was what had saved them, saved him, saved her. His endless amount of patience had seen them come together, just as he had known, just as he had said.
'Alina may well take years to forgive me, but I can wait'
She had.
He had.
Years of shouting, of crying, of refusal to help him. Years of denial, grief, anger, upset.
He had given her everything she wanted, had forced her into his arms when she sobbed, had tried to reason with her. Years of hardship, of challenge, and yet it had all been worth it in the end.
He remembers each first. The first time she came to him, the first time she relaxed in his arms, the first kiss after all of that, their first time, her first moan of pleasure, his first smile, real smile. Every first is memorised in his head, tattooed across his brain.
He remembered now how much easier it was, now she'd accepted her place at his side. No more tears, no more misplaced anger, just an understanding and love. Love made things easier in more senses than it made things difficult.
It had taken a long time, too long really, but he had been as he had said, patient.
'Meanwhile you will grow old, your hair will grey, and she will remain ageless'
'Like me'
They did, not a day aged on their faces from the moment they had met.
He remembered that moment, her dirty and a little wild, he intrigued by her but half expecting a fraud. Oh, his joy when she had been real.
He remembered the light streaming from her, the feeling of warmth in his soul, or his heart, his soul likely long gone. He remembered her beauty in that moment, surrounded by sunlight, dazzling.
The beam of light shining through the tent, he remembered the look in her eyes, fear with just a hint of wonder. He remembered how he had smiled, almost smirked, his eyes locked onto her. He remembered the mutters, the whispers, a yell outside, the light consuming all.
Even now she remained the same, beautiful, unchanged, as was he. Others aged, all they knew withered and died, but not them, never them.
They endured, and always would. She knew that now, understood that, understood he was her choice, her only choice if she wished to be with her equal.
'And one day, maybe a year from now, maybe 50, she'll realize that she has only one equal'
It hadn't taken a year, but it hadn't taken 50.
He hadn't counted the days, no, he had just waited, for her, for forgiveness, for love.
It had been challenging but worth it in the end.
He remembered the day she had come to him, having been less frosty, less upset for months, he remembered her at his door, almost looking resigned, ready to accept a fate she did not want.
He had refused her.
He had turned on her then, expecting her to come to him, made her work for it, knowing if he accepted her in resignation it wouldn't work. He wanted her, had since he'd met her but had resisted, knowing it was for the best.
She had come back to him then, they had reforged a friendship, it had taken two decades, but they had gone from enemies, to something easier, perhaps friendship? And then quickly into love.
Love. Something he'd never thought he could feel, not anymore. Perhaps he couldn't, but whatever was closest was what he had with Alina.
And he knew she loved him, and that was enough.
Enough for her and for him.
'That there are no others like us. And that there never will be'
Just the two of them, enduring, throughout. Time moved on, people died, the Fold eventually destroyed by them after he had used it to the end the war. Everything changed, Ravka expanded, Grisha finally safe, he ruled from the shadows, her face in the sun.
None like them, never.
She was the Sun Summoner, known and revered by all. He the Darkling, feared and respected. They balanced. Light and dark, sun and shadow.
No others like them, ever.
'I'm not going to kill you, Mal'
'I don't need to. Time will do it for me'
It had, long ago.
Time had killed all they had known but them, just as he had known, intended. Now it was just them, any friends they made gone, any connections would perish, leaving just them.
Of course, she'd come back to him, who else was there? They had each other to endure the passage of time and would only ever have each other.
Still, it was enough, as she stood in his arms, smiling, the sun beaming down on them, as his lips captured hers in a kiss. 100 of years had passed and they'd see 100 more, together.
Light and dark, sun and shadow, Aleksander and Alina.
Always.
sooo thoughts?
a little short one, but I so enjoyed writing it! please lemme know if you want more darklina, I LOVE writing them so I hope you like reading them!
speak soon