I didn't think this story was going to have a sneak peek, but now it does and I'm not mad about it.


Photo #106: Luminous Hope

Eadlyn isn't sure why this photo exists but she can safely say the same about the majority of the ones up here.

It looks as if this photo was taken in the dark and the flash on her father's camera brighten up the setting. Her mother looks overexposed in it but still, she looks absolutely beautiful. Of course, she did because the flash was only her spotlight, showcasing her wonder. The photo looked candid yet not at the same time and only her mother could be that type of subject.

And for some reason, looking at it makes Eadlyn smile. She isn't sure why but this photo gives Eadlyn a feeling of hope during these times...

-o-

It was a normal evening in the castle and then, the lights went out. Everyone went silent as if they were holding their breaths. The mental clocks in their heads were ticking, waiting and expecting the lights to turn back on instantly. However, they all had to exhale eventually because this was not a fluke by chance. They were really in a blackout and the palace went nuts in an instance to try and fix it (not only for the functionality of the castle to get work done but because there had to be certain areas in Illéa experiencing this as well so there were going to be complainers).

From nearby, America screams which makes Maxon unexpectedly jump. He thinks that she's scared of the dark or suddenly got into trouble and wants to play the role of a hero when in reality, someone running to try and fix the blackout issue accidentally ran over her foot. But he obviously doesn't know that since he can't see and has no idea where she is (and frankly, the same applies to her for him).

"Don't panic!" Maxon exclaims to America wherever she may be. He tries to get a hold of her to calm her down but it's dark and he's having some trouble finding her. Thankfully, it's dark so nobody could see him resembling an idiot at the moment.

"I'm panicking!" America yells.

Maxon tries to follow her voice. "That's why I'm telling you not to!"

He smirks at his own witty response but America says nothing probably because she already has to deal with the dark and now with him. It's like the sound of America's eye roll suddenly becomes his lighthouse because when he starts to follow that, his hands end up in something soft. He brings it up to his face and smells it. Recognizing the scent of her hair, he smiles to himself as he hugs her over what feels like around her shoulders. He rocks her back and forth but slows down cautiously when he realizes that America still hasn't said anything. That's when he starts to wonder if he was actually hugging America.

Maxon unwraps his arms and slowly starts to back away. If he makes a run for it now and doesn't crash into a wall in the dark, nobody will ever know that he smelled some random person's hair and thought it was his wife's.

Small laughing from the unknown person starts to simmer. Maxon freezes on the spot, unsure of what to do or where to go.

"It's me."

It sounds like America but Maxon is still skeptical because everything sounds like America to him in some way.

He feels around his body and instantly grabs his camera hanging around his neck. He feels around it and holds it up presumably to where America would be. Maxon puts his finger on the button and clicks it. Instantly, the flash brightens up the room. In the quick second alone, America screams again and Maxon can verify that it's her because he saw the red hair fly up the moment she screamed.

"I think I went blind!" America exclaims.

"Me too!" Maxon exclaims, trying to blink and fix his visions. He's suddenly seeing colors in weird shapes which probably isn't good. That was a bad idea but at least he has another photo of his wife for the growing collection on his wall.

He suddenly feels cold hands on his hand and takes them into his warm ones. Maxon knows that they're America's and he holds them close.

"Prove you're my wife," Maxon tells her.

"Prove you're my husband," America fires back.

He laughs, kissing her hands. That is definitely her. He knew it was the whole time and if she ever asks, he never doubted it.

Maxon guides America backwards, slowly. He uses one of his hands to feel behind him and stops when he reaches a wall. Instead of walking along it, he and America sit on the floor. It's better to stay in one place and avoid getting hurt than wander around blind and accidentally fall down the stairs.

"Doesn't the castle have backup lights?" America questions.

Maxon shrugs even though she can't see that. "Maybe they're out as well."

"Then are they really backups? And why don't the backups have backups?"

"We're on a budget," he replies sarcastically.

"I think we need to have a budget meeting when the lights turn back on."

Maxon laughs a little as he pulls his wife closer. "America, you are my luminous hope in the darkness."

He can feel America's head look up towards him. It feels as if she's about to say the same thing back to him or maybe something even better, but the lights suddenly come back on and America springs back onto her feet in excitement. Maxon sits there, wishing he just had a few more seconds in the dark for America to call him her luminous hope as well.

"Aren't you going to say something?" Maxon asks as America helps him back up.

America plants a quick kiss on his lips. "Time for a budget meeting."


I wrote this in an hour and have no idea what it is. Is it breaking the fourth wall if I mention the photo wall in this? And is calling it the fourth wall a pun? (It's almost 2 AM while typing this and those are the kind of thoughts I have).

I have a strong feeling that I've written a blackout chapter before but oh well. Anyways, go check out my first Avengers Endgame Prequel if you'd like to:

Luminous Hope - After Thanos' snap, Tony is drifting off in space with little time left. Defeated and drained, he knows that he is going to die. However, something knocks on the window. Tony looks over and sees a woman right outside his ship, dressed in red and blue and outlined in a golden glow. (Avengers Endgame Prequel, OS)

And if you guys have the time, please go visit the poll on my page. It's for another one of my stories but you could just pick four choices at random to make the results more interesting.