So, here we are, the finale! If only of the main timeline, because as you probably all know by now, there will be another round of AUs (quite longer than any before too!). But anyway, for those only interested in the main storyline, this is it, the end is here (for a value of an ending, because I honestly believe that some stories never end, not really).
Quick explanation regarding the chapter titles, because I promised I'd give it. As is probably obvious, they're all constellations, I chose them because each, either with the object or the myth behind it, represented well-enough what was happening in that particular chapter. Aries, the myth behind it is connected to the Golden Fleece and the creation of kings; Draco has many myths, but one in particular depicts him as a guardian, which is why it seemed right to have it be the title to the chapter that presents the Valar; Hercules, the hero, I think that one speaks for itself; Pegasus, the myth spoke about how the steed would take heroes to fulfill their destinies, but when one tried to abuse his power, it threw him off, which is why I connected it to Rose's Sight and her own choices regarding it; Lyra, because in the end, in some ways, we go back to where we started, where it's all about the music.
And by the way, the song for this chapter is "Hero" as sung by Mariah Carey.
So, this is it. Hope you will enjoy, and some of you might even hang around for the upcoming AUs, more on that in the End Notes.
Lyra
Music is a language that can be loved even by those who do not speak it.
All the Valar came together in the common floor once they woke.
"What did you do?" Wanda asked, without preamble. "I, I can feel something is different than it was when we went to sleep last night."
"We all can." Gamora confirmed.
"I sealed my Sight." Rose explained simply.
"Why?" It wasn't an accusation, but her family was still curious about her reasons.
"Because it's too much." Rose admitted quietly. "Last night… I… we… we saw… everything. All of our lives, from the very start, up to things that will not happen for years! We saw… people I know, their families, their children, I saw both of my godchildren grown and making lives for themselves. I… I don't think it's supposed to be that way. It's one thing to have visions far in the future, when they're necessary, but this… simply knowing things..."
"It makes life boring." Peter finished for her, a smile playing on his lips.
"Exactly!" Rose cried out with a smile.
Everyone knew that Nightingale had pretty much adopted Peter; which, as far as they were all concerned, meant he was family. Peter had been caught completely by surprise, even after the way Nightingale, and even Loki, had begun treating him while they were still in space, he hadn't really expected the way all his new siblings, and extended family just took it and went with it. Didn't understand the way their family worked… then again, he had yet to realize just how many people considered one another family with them…
"What if there's some kind of emergency in the future?" Edward inquired.
"I'll know." Rose assured them. "I did not erase my gift, it's still a part of me. It's just… been muted somewhat. I will not see things unless the force behind the vision is truly strong."
Which meant she would no longer be interfering with other people's destinies either, which was a good thing (one she might come to regret one day, but she hoped not).
"Sirs, ladies." JARVIS called from the nearest speaker. "Sir has asked me to let you know that a meeting has been called by the UN for noon in their HQs."
Which meant the time had come to answer for everything they'd done during the battle and, more importantly, what they'd become. Good thing they were ready for it, and they weren't the kind who backed down, not for anything (it wasn't going to be easily to explain what they'd become, some were still having trouble with the Aesir, and they weren't really gods, nor truly immortal, the Valar? They were going to blow their minds).
xXx
Tony and Steve were the ones leading the group, with their respective wives at their side; James, Sif, Darcy, Phil, Nina and Hakon behind them. The rest of the Avengers, Sentinels, League, a number of their families and a few others: like Viktor who, while not quite willing to deal with politics, wasn't going to let his lover go into things without him being there in case things went wrong; Sachiko and Karl in representation of the Mystic Order (since Stephen had a different role to play for the time being). And those were the ones the UN knew were there, since the event was public (it had been in the Accords, that any such meetings were to be open to the public, both those who wanted to be there, and transmitted live through specific channels and the internet) there were a few 'heroes' who still had secret identities, waiting in the galleries, just in case.
That was the moment, the 'make it or break it' moment. When they'd see if the Pax Accords were everything they were supposed to be, or if they'd failed.
If the UN members were surprised by the number of people who arrived (even if the families just stood with them long enough to make it obvious where they stood, before taking seats in the gallery) none of them showed it.
Everett Ross stood then, making a very official speech before asking for those responsible to make their declarations. Official reports had been collected already, they were just there to make things official, and public.
Coulson, as head of the Task Force, handled the more official side of things, before giving the others a turn to say their parts. Captain America was the first, he narrated the Avengers' part in the fight, while making sure that everyone understood as much as possible the risks they'd all taken, how badly Goblin had been injured. No mention was made of his family, he and Pete were two of the few still with secret identities and private lives to protect (the only ones in their team, in fact), and the last thing they wanted was to put MJ and her newborn son (the stress of Harry's injury had been enough to send her into labor prematurely… it was bad enough that if they didn't have as many gifted contacts as they did, neither mother nor baby might have made it), or Gwen's brothers.
Superman managed to inject just enough of his natural emotion, when his time came, to make those present understand how hard it had been, how dangerous, without risking someone recognizing Clark Kent in him (unlike with the Avengers, most members of the JL still held onto their secret identities, it was simply better that way).
Rogue took the floor next. Since she both was one of the field leaders, and the only one who wasn't psionic. It had been one of the requisites from the UN, they wanted there to be measures to ensure that psychics wouldn't be able to influence them. It was why the room was lined with the same material as the 'Mirror Room' in the Institute (Erik downright refused to reveal the composition of his old helmet, no way was he allowing the formula to be made public and risk the wrong kind of people to get their hands on it). For Charles and Jean to handle things they'd have had to either take inhibitor drugs, or wear a blocker; and while they both understood the necessity of such things, it was still painful for Charles, while Jean considered it too dangerous with her own power. Scott and Erik had both refused to stand there without their matches… in the end it was simply easier for Rogue to handle things (she had more tact than Mystique, and didn't unnerve people quite as much as Destiny tended to, sometimes without even really trying; both whom would have been the only other two options).
Daisy/Quake was the last of the leaders who'd been on the field, to be called forth to give her report. Grant stood beside her, as always, but let her handle things. He knew that not everyone understood it, especially those who knew that he was an Agent, and just how good he was, the experience he had, the talent. Many didn't understand why then he was standing as second, instead of as leader. Even those who might suspect a reason, would believe it was solely due to the 'Queen' title that usually went with his wife's name, and while that was part of it, it wasn't the only reason, it wasn't even the biggest part of it. He knew that if he'd suggested it, Daisy would have let him take the stage, presenting it to her people as making him liaison or something, so they wouldn't complain. But he knew, better than almost anyone else, just how good his wife was, and it wasn't her power, not really. It was her heart, it was the way she could see someone and believe in them, how she saw the best of them, and made sure they did too; how when she gave her loyalty it was absolute and without hesitation, just like he loved wholly and unconditionally. Just like she believed in him, saved him, without even knowing she was doing it… He knew she was capable of doing the same not just with her own people, but with everyone she came across.
After what everyone had said regarding their reasoning for choosing the desert as a battlefield, and the guarantee that the enemy wouldn't take advantage of their strategy to attack some unprotected area, Sachiko and Karl were called to explain how that was achieved. The explanation was easily given, the true debate came when one of the members in the panel demanded to know why the magic users didn't just leave the shield in place indefinitely. He used such a tone, that it was obvious he'd little (if any) respect for Sachiko, which made Karl bristle and come close to interfering, only for Sachiko to place a finger discreetly on his wrist, focusing on her magic to communicate serenity and ease, she could handle it. She was Sachiko Mordo, Master of the New York Sanctum, she could deal with a man who either did not believe in her and her people, or simply was looking to cause trouble. Either way, she wouldn't rise to the bait, and she would handle things, she'd show that, regardless of her youth, she'd earned her place:
"Why don't you leave your lights turned on all day?" She asked, seemingly out of nowhere.
The question certainly took more than one person by surprise.
"What…?" The man blurted out, confused. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I'm aware that y… that most people in this room do not possess the gift of magic." She made the pause on purpose, but managed to make it seem mostly accidental. "So I'm trying to explain it in a way that everyone can understand. I'm sure most of you have lights that you turn on at night, or simply when it gets dark. Why not keep them on all the time? It'd be easier."
"Yeah… you'd also rack up a hell of a bill!" One of the people in the back yelled.
"Precisely." Sachiko smiled beatifically at him. "Magic has a cost as well, and it's not something that can be paid with money, no, it requires energy. During the Mad Titan's second to last attack, several months ago, the shield could only be held up for an hour, even with all magic-users working in tandem. That was our limit. Anymore would have seriously threatened our health, and even the lives of quite a few of us. What was done in the more recent battle… the shield was held up by adding the use of crystals to our efforts. Those crystals were used as… batteries, you could say. They held the energy we all worked on collecting, over close to six months. All of that together was what allowed us to hold the shield in place for a little over 24 hours."
"Can anyone put their energy in such battery?" One of the women wanted to know.
"No." Sachiko shook her head. "It has to be magical energy. While many may have the potential, without training it doesn't work. There's relatively few of us, in relation to the planet's population. And it takes a lot to create a shield that is physical, and that can stop the kind of attacks the Titan's army could bring to bear. So you see, it wasn't easy, or simple. It required a lot of power, and a lot of effort. And even if we were to miraculously double our numbers there is no way that shield could be held permanently."
"Is there any plan to make improvements, in case a new threat comes in the future?" Ross inquired, quite more respectfully than others before him.
"There is." Sachiko nodded. "All covens and enclaves are in possession of crystals. Every day, at the end of the day, each magic-user will pour as much energy as they can into those crystals. They are the same crystals that shall be used the next time the shield needs to be used." She made a pause, before adding. "Also, some individuals have agreed to relocate to make sure there will be capable magical protection everywhere it may be needed."
There was some muttering in the background, and everyone waited, tense, for what would be said next. It wasn't that bad in the end:
"As long as that is done following the laws of each country..." Queen Ramonda of Wakanda eventually spoke up.
It was a reminder, but not a bad one, and not a threat. They decided it was good enough for the time being. So Sachiko simply agreed. And thus her participation in the meeting concluded.
It was obvious that not everyone trusted gifted, and that at least a few wanted things to be far more strict than the Pax Accords ended up being. But things weren't bad in that moment, and the gifted would make sure to never give any government a reason to try and make things worse.
Finally the time came, the moment they'd all been waiting for (and some were half-dreading too). As all eyes turned to the twelve figures that, through it all, had been waiting at the back.
The Valar were there, dressed in their usual attires (which meant Loki, Nightingale, Thor and Jane were in their Asgardian ensembles; Helena and Stephen in their sorcerer robes, and the other six in what clothes they favored in their respective hero teams, though they were all wearing gloves).
"According to all reports." Everett spoke up. "The twelve of you were the ones to dispose of the warlord threatening our planet, Thanos, the one called the Mad Titan. The report stated only that you surrounded him and released some kind of unexplained power, there was a lot of light, and then the Titan was gone. Considering that until that moment we'd been lead to believe that Thanos was nigh-unbeatable, this panel would like an explanation on how that was achieved."
There was a silent debate in between the twelve, before Loki stepped forward. Thor and Jane were the ones who, being Crown Prince and Princess of Asgard, held the most political power, while Rose was the one the most known in their planet, Stephen and Helena had their own authority as the top leaders of one of the three magical factions, and Peter and Gamora had gotten a lot of attention by virtue of arriving from a different galaxy (even if Quill was technically half-human, most people had focused more on his other half, being the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the arrival of all of them during the previous battle); still, Loki and Nightingale were well-known as the people who had already represented Midgard with leaders of the other realms… and Loki did have such a way with words…
Both Loki and Nightingale stepped up to the podium together, though it was Loki who spoke, not just for the two of them, but for all the Valar:
"The history of the universe, and even just the Nine Realms, is longer and more complex than anyone, you, or us, could possibly comprehend." He began, speaking slowly, but full of purpose. "Individuals who might have once believed to be gods, yet weren't. Gifted, have walked your world, and all others, since the beginning of that history. A long time ago, so long it would be impossible to tell the exact number of years, it was decided that the Nine Realms, that Yggdrasil, needed to have a group of guardians, dedicated to the protection of all who lived in them. That group were gifted, though their abilities surpassed that of almost all others. They were offered the duty, and chose to take it up. They were known as the Valar."
It was obvious that, as intrigued as many might be by Loki's words, most didn't understand what they had to do with anything. And then Nightingale took over, injecting just enough magic into her words for people to really listen. She'd never bend their will, not only because she couldn't do such a thing, but because it simply wasn't in her nature; all she wanted was to make sure people listened, that they didn't just dismiss what was being said because they didn't believe it possible.
"The Valar are not gods." She clarified. "They are gifted, tasked with guarding over your world, and the others that are connected through Yggdrasil. The last time the Valar were needed, it was because of a great threat as well. They dealt with it, and then they were gone. Vanishing back into obscurity when they weren't needed anymore."
She did not say it was the same threat, there was no need for those paranoid enough to begin some rumor that Thanos was coming back. Things would be hard enough as they were. Also, the whole 'vanishing into obscurity' wasn't strictly true, though one might call 'dying' that, so she technically wasn't lying. Again, those were details common people did not need to know. It did not affect them; and most didn't have the open-mindedness and the willingness to comprehend something like the true history of Yggdrasil.
"The threat of Thanos made it obvious that greater power was needed, if the Realms were to survive." Loki took over the narration. "As many amazing Gifted as this world possesses, it might not have been enough. And even if they'd been able to achieve victory, the losses would have been terrible. And so, the Valar stepped up again."
"We stepped up again." Nightingale added for good measure.
Some might have been able to see where the whole speech was leading to, they still made sure there was no doubt left. There was no need to explain they were same Valar who'd fought the same enemy ages ago, before Earth/Midgard as such even existed. All the humans really needed to know, all they really cared for, was the fact that there were individuals capable and willing to protect them. That was the Valar.
Still, the meeting went on for a couple more hours as the representatives questioned every single thing the Valar had done during the previous two battles, as well as why such a revelation hadn't come before (like maybe during one of their previous confrontations against the Titan's armies). In the end, while it couldn't be said that everyone went home happy, they were at least satisfied that questions had been answered. A battle had taken place, Gifted had gotten involved, and then they'd answered for their actions before the UN, all following the rules stated in the Pax Accords.
Things just might work out after all!
xXx
There was a press conference, immediately following the UN meeting. Tony was put in charge of that. Really, they'd most of them already said all they needed to say, and the 'transparency' rule in the Accords made it so, everyone who was interested in knowing, would have seen it live already (whether on TV or the internet, it didn't matter). All that was left was the Q&A portion of things, and it was much easier if one person handled matters, instead of having over two dozen reporters fighting to get anything resembling an interview from any and all of them. Also, a part of Tony simply loved playing with the press (especially when he knew they were after him, and others, for good things, and not bad ones).
"Ok people!" He called loudly, with a bright smile, at the same time he pushed his sunglasses over his head.
Considering they'd just stepped out of the building, some might even say he only put them on so he'd be able to do exactly that… and really, everything was possible with Tony.
"So, I'm sure you all know everything already, since everything that went on in there was public and all." Tony went on. "So, how about we skip the protocols, the boring part of things and get to the point, so we might all go home, and you might all go do your jobs?"
There was some scattered laughter, and then hands began rising.
A lot of the questions were simple and easy enough: people wanting to know more about the origins of the more secretive heroes, if they'd any plans for the future; one seemed to be have a particular interest on whether those who were from other planets were planning on leaving soon or staying. That one was a bit tricky, while no one was really in any hurry for leaving, and the Kryptonians and Martian really had nowhere else to go and thus were planning on staying, the GotG were another matter entirely. Even if two of them were Valar, they might still be needed elsewhere. Also, they were used to drifting, to going new places. So, while they might not be in a hurry, they would be leaving eventually (though they'd already promised to drop by for a visit every so often… it's not like they didn't have enough time).
One particular reporter wanted to know if there was some way to contact the heroes to request their service. At first there was some bristling, as a few of them wondered if they intended to use gifted as their employees now, until the man in question explained further:
"I've spent some months in Africa, doing investigative work." He clarified. "There are some communities there with so little resources… and even when good companies and people might wish to give them aid; food, water, etcetera, it's next to impossible to get the resources to some of those communities… at least for us no… baseline humans. However, some of your people might be able to do wonders on that front."
Tony looked at the others over his shoulder to confirm what he already had in mind:
"The Cartier Foundation." Tony announced. "Some kinks are still being worked out. But all Non-Profit organizations wishing the assistance of the gifted to bring aid to those in need can seek that aid through the Cartier Foundation. They will find the right person and make whatever arrangements might be necessary."
Because, of course, heroes couldn't just go into other countries whenever they wished, not even to give humanitarian aid. It would have to be coordinated through the UN. Hopefully they wouldn't make things too complicated.
They were all becoming more than a bit tired of it all by that point, so Tony decided to allow one more question. The reporter: none other than Christine Everheart.
Tony and Christine had a bit of a complicated relationship. While the whole one-night-stand hadn't gone too well, ever since Christine had given him those pictures, the proof of Obadiah's under-the-table dealings, Tony had come to respect her. He'd slipped her a few things here and there, which she would then build up on. She'd been the first one to realize that the cover-up for Stane's death just did not seem right, yet did nothing about it until Tony gave her a heads up about the kind of information that was coming out in the aftermath of SHIELD's fall (while Natasha focused on deleting it all, while Darcy and Skye did their best to salvage what they could, some things had begun coming out after it was all said and done). Christine took advantage of that heads up to get it all out before most people in the media became aware the information was there.
So… they respected each other, even if they didn't say so. Which was why Tony allowed her into all his press conferences, and always called on her sooner or later.
"Any plans to shock us again any time soon, Mr. Stark?" She asked with a mischievous smile.
He knew what she was doing, she was asking him to do something memorable, something shocking. And because Tony was Tony, he complied.
"Well, I'm not sure what can possibly be more memorable than my 'I am Iron-Man' announcement." He quipped with a winning smile. "It's been ten years since then, did you know that?" He pondered on it. "Actually, it'll be exactly ten years tomorrow, since that day." He whistled. "It's shocking, to think over everything that's happened since. Back then the world thought that an insane billionaire flying around, blowing things up in a suit of armor was the most insane things could get. They'd no idea. We had no idea. That was just the start. Yet as insane as some things have been, as bad… I cannot say I regret it. I don't think any of us do."
Behind him, there was a general shaking of the heads, none of them regretted things. Not really. And yes, some had been bad, beyond bad even. But in the end, they'd agree, it had all been worth it. And they'd make sure it continued being so.
"So no Miss Everheart." Tony got to the point, lowering his sunglasses purposefully. "I don't have plans on shocking you any time soon." He made a pause, having half-turned around already, looking over his shoulder and raising his sunglasses on one side to look at everyone. "But, who knows? If the last decade has proven anything, it's that everything is possible."
He winked at them, before walking off the stage that had been previously arranged, everyone else walking behind them. It made for a powerful image, even with their backs turned on them all. The heroes walking together like that. It was an image none would soon forget. While they all waited for the next thing that might shock them.
xXx
Tony wouldn't call what they had that night a party, then again what he considered a party was huge, with a lot of noise, food, booze, and tended to get extremely messy. On the other hand… that hadn't really been his style for a while by then, not since the birth of his daughter at least, possibly longer. He still went to all the galas and parties where he needed to be, and even drank, but had taken to leaving earlier (he'd taken to pretending that he drank more than he actually did for a while, since the end of the mess with Killian, at least). Nowadays his idea of a good night was a family dinner and perhaps a drink or two with that same family while they chatted; or maybe a movie marathon in their cinema-room, while pigging on popcorn, soda and all sorts of candy.
So there was dinner, a home-cooked meal prepared by those among the group who were actually good at it, and enjoyed it. Afterwards, Nightingale had a treat for them.
"Princess Tawariell and Prince Caél sent this, with their compliments." She announced as her beloved waved a hand. "They wish us the best and we all have standing invitations for both their Realms. Also, Tony, Caél said his smiths were particularly interested in seeing your creations."
Tony smiled brightly at the news. Though their attention was soon pulled by the two boxes Loki had just magically pulled from one of his pocket dimensions.
"The first one holds elven wine, the second dwarven ale." He informed them.
"Elven wine is particularly sweet, much like some iced wines in this world, unlike them though, it has a high degree of alcohol." Nightingale elaborated. "You don't feel it as you drink it, but you must be careful, otherwise you'll truly regret it."
"Dwarven ale is stronger all around." Loki stated.
"Is it stronger than Asgardian mead?" Rose asked, curious.
Both her parents' eyes narrowed at her, before they turned to Sif in unison.
"It was her graduation!" The goddess of war defended herself instantly.
"I've only drank from it twice." Rose explained. "The first for a toast Will and I made. It was only a sip. Then..." She took a deep breath. "After the first anniversary of her death Peter was… he wasn't alright, complained about not being able to get drunk. He was the one doing most of the drinking that night, I only took a few sips. I put it away the moment he began looking tipsy." He considered things. "There must still be half a bottle or so left in Westchester."
Pietro tightened his hold on her hip briefly, to show his support. After what she'd done he'd lost a lot of his life as Peter; though he still had the memories of the dreams he'd had in his current life, and a connection to that past he hadn't had beforehand, not even after knowing he was in fact the same soul, and Rose's match.
"As interesting and potentially blackmailing as the story sounds." James said in a drawl. "I'm more interested in something else." He pulled out one of the bottles of ale. "We can get drunk truly drunk, on this?"
Several nods were his reply.
"Man that is awesome!" He exclaimed with a giddy smile. "I don't think I've gotten properly drunk in… what? Seventy, seventy-five years?"
Following that lead it was those with superhuman metabolisms who took the ale, while the rest chose to try the elven wine.
"So… should we make a toast or something?" Pepper proposed.
"Sure." Sharon agreed completely.
"May we be loved by those we love." Phil offered, raising his own glass.
"To those whom we all call family, by blood, by name, by word, by deed…" Nightingale offered in a soft tone. "May the stars' blessings follow us and allow us to share not only this lifetime, but many, many more, till the last of those stars falls from the sky."
"May we always find one another." Loki, Rose, Helena, Stephen, Karl and a few others agreed wholeheartedly.
"May we always be family." Darcy, Skye, Grant, Hakon, and many more said in turn.
After the toast the self-acknowledged family spent several hours just chatting about this and that. Mainly concerning their plans for the future. While many of them had been living in the Tower for months, or even longer, the threat of Thanos being gone meant that they had options again. And while they all enjoyed living there well enough, some liked the idea of going on a trip, or many. And it wasn't just their world available to them anymore, but all of them.
It surprised no one at all when some began throwing looks Nightingale's way. There wasn't even any need for them to say anything at all. Her singing when they were all together had become as much of a tradition as anything else. What was probably more unexpected (though perhaps not, considering it wouldn't be the first time, was when she turned to the other members of the family).
"Together?" Was all she said simply.
Loki, Helena, Rose and Skye threw a look at each other before nodding practically in unison. They might not have prepared anything beforehand, but as had been proven already, that wasn't really necessary when it came to them. Music was a language they were all quite fluent at, and creating a song had become as natural as holding a conversation. Loki's magic started the music, to which Stephen then added. Then, it was a light humming from Nightingale that set the rhythm, and Helena started the song proper, the four taking turns and singing solo and together, following their instincts:
"There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away"
"And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you"
It was a beautiful song, one they could all feel inside, reaching into their very cores. Because it didn't matter how different they all might be, the words in that song were completely and absolutely true for each and every one of them. It was one of the things that united them, certainly not the only one, but perhaps the one that began it all, that set the first stone to them becoming what they were celebrating being in that very moment: family, by blood, word, deed, and above all, by choice.
"It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear"
"And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you"
The men didn't really sing, they didn't want to intrude into what seemed to have become a very important bonding moment for the women in their family (also, Pietro and Grant weren't sure they would be any good at it, and the last thing they wanted was to ruin the song with their voices). Stephen and Loki were content enough holding the spells that allowed the music to follow their loved ones' song. Perhaps one day they'd sing all together, but in that moment there was no need.
"Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away
Hold on
There will be tomorrow
In time
You'll find the way"
"And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
That a hero lies in you
That a hero lies in you"
As the song came to an end everyone couldn't help but look at each other and smile. Nothing more needed to be said in that moment, the song had said more than enough, and that was the beauty of singing, it said so much more than usual words and speech could ever express… and it could make the most simple of statements all the more wonderful and amazing. There was a reason why it was so important, not just for Nightingale, her daughters and granddaughter, but really, for every single one of them. And it always would be.
xXx
In the middle of the night, Loki woke to find the other side of the bed empty. Still half asleep he followed the bond to his love, standing in nothing but her sleeping clothes, feet bare, surrounded by roses. With the danger past, and plans for traveling, they'd decided to spend at least a week just the two of them, alone in Salani mansion in Maine. The place where everything began, the first place they both called home, together…
"A'maelamin?" He asked, voice husky, arms going around her waist instinctively.
He didn't need to ask her if anything was wrong, he knew it wasn't. Them becoming Valar had managed to enhance even more their already amazing bond. They were so connected they were basically a single soul in two bodies, like it had been so many ages ago, like it was always meant to be. It was perfect.
"Couldn't sleep." She admitted softly. "Couldn't stop thinking. What Tony said on that press conference, about it being ten years since his 'I am Iron Man' speech. It made me think how long it's been since things began for us, since the day we met…" She closed her eyes briefly. "I ran the numbers in my head: Ninety two. It's been ninety two years since we first met, when I was eleven and you were pretending to be thirteen… when you gave me the name of Nightingale because of the birds I so loved and wanted to be like..."
"And you saw right through my disguise." He went on. "You saw right through me and still wanted to see more, believed me when no one else should have, and promised me to be there, be here, no matter what. I couldn't help but believe you, even if back then I could have never dreamed where it'd all lead…"
"It's been amazing." She rested against his chest, turning her head to place a kiss on his shoulder.
"Yes, it was." He agreed completely, kissing her hair almost reverently. "You are amazing. The most incredible gift the stars could have ever given me. And mine, all mine..."
She turned in his arms, never letting go of him, allowing the two of them to kiss. A kiss so full of love, the kind only true matches could share.
"Until the last star falls out of the sky." They separated just enough to whisper those words against each other's lips, before kissing again.
Which was never, for just like energy is never truly created or destroyed, only transformed, for every star that burns out, a new one is born. And as there would always be stars, so their souls, and their love would live on. Always and forever, as it was meant to be, as it had always been.
So what do you think? Did you like it? Hate it? Something in-between? I'd love it if you people would tell me. I learn as I write, and much of that learning I owe to your constructive criticism so...
On the topic of the AUs. I'll be taking a month off. To relax some, and probably to recover... I already have my tickets to watch Infinity War! (They're for the 28th...) Now, there will be no spoilers, I promise, and ask you all for the same. The AUs will begin a month from now (or more like four weeks), and like before, will be updated every other week, with new ones coming three weeks after the ending of the previous one. Right now I have plans for many, and if any of you has ideas you wish to see in one of those, let me know, I'm always open to suggestions.
So, please don't forget to review/comment! I hope you've enjoyed this series, it's been a hell of a journey (and only the main part of it is over, more is yet to come in the AUs!). My deepest thanks to everyone who reviewed, or just read, who followed, favorited, gave kudos, recommended. Thank you so much! It's been an honor and I hope you'll continue enjoying my works, both in this series and through my others works. Works that, in fact, include two original novels (available through both Amazon and Barnes & Noble), with a third coming in a couple of months. Thank you so much and I hope to see you in the AUs!
The Stars bless you all! Namarië!