Under the Rose
Epilogue- One Week Later
Miss Solaro regarded the drawings with a restrained reverence, as a teacher who knew that the student was through with all of what they had to give. That was how Jinx interpreted the look, but she hoped she was wrong; standing before her was the best teacher she'd had her whole good and evil life, and there was never an end to lessons from those people.
"If they don't give you at least a generous partial scholarship," her teacher finally voiced, "they are blind."
Jinx laughed. "Then let's hope they aren't! Thank you."
Her teacher smiled. "Have a wonderful Christmas, Miss Thompson."
Jinx smiled kindly, stopping at the wooden double doors to wave on final time. And after that final stop, Jinx took her black duffel and exited the art building, making the trek to North Hall.
The exams were over, the papers turned in. Grades would be mailed soon. Jinx was eager to see how she did. Would being captured by a super villain the week before the test effect her performance? Ha. Jinx snorted. Not like she was any good at chemistry anyways. She tucked a piece of her ebony hair behind her ear with a yawn. If those all-nighters didn't pay off, she'd drop out of school. But not really.
Next semester she'd be in different classes. Something new, something exciting, something more to learn about art. And she would work hard. After all--Jinx thought of a certain Pizza Place apron tucked away in her bag-- this education was coming out of her paycheck.
But not just a part time worker salary. There had been a pretty penny out for information about Rouge and Elusion, and Jinx split that reward money with Wally. Even only half was sufficient help for any need.
Ten minutes later she stood outside his building, teeth chattering a little. The weather was unusually cold in Jump City this Christmas. She stuffed her hands down into her pockets, tugged her soft scarf closer to her neck.
The door opened, and he shoved his own bag out onto the sidewalk right before leaning down to kiss her playfully on the nose. "How does it feel to have a cleared name, Miss Thompson?"
"Pretty good, I guess." Jinx smiled wryly at him and Wally laughed, taking her bag from her hand and throwing it over his shoulder.
"Come on," he said, "My car's just down the street. Are you ready for Christmas Break with the Allens? I'm warning you, Barry and Iris are on the creepy side of friendly."
Christmas with a real family, with Wally? "It sounds perfect," Jinx replied. " But we're stopping at the hospital first, right?"
"I got the gifts we bought them in here," Wally said, tapping his bulky bag. "We're gonna drop by on our way out."
Jinx smiled. They would love the stuffed animals, she hoped.
They stopped by a black convertible, and Jinx smirked. "Not red? You like red."
"Uncle Barry wouldn't let me be that ostentatious with my reward money," Wally replied. He opened the trunk and loaded the bags, slamming it shut with his characteristic flair. Jinx opened the passenger door, but then he shut it before she could get in. Jinx rolled her eyes and reopened the door. And then it shut. Without her in the toasty warm car.
"What's the big idea, ginger?" Jinx put her hands on her hips and glared at the offending Wally. "It's cold!"
Wally just smiled and held out a small box. Jinx looked at it. "What about it," she asked.
Wally rolled his eyes. "Traditionally, at Christmas, one is given gifts."
"Oh. Well I never had many traditional Christmases," Jinx pointed out.
"Now's a good time to start." He looked at her intensely, catching his companion off guard. Jinx took the box carefully and unwrapped it. Inside was another velvet box. And inside that was a ring. Her jaw dropped.
Wally looked at the ground, blushing a little, tapping his fingers against his pant leg. "Don't get all girly on me, we're only freshman. It's not that kind of thing, it's for your right hand. I dunno, the lady told me that these sorts of things were good Christmas gifts..."
The ring with its small pink jewel, a square shape, twinkled in the sunlight. It was outlined with smaller white diamonds that sent rainbows across the ground. And it fit perfectly on her right hand. Like it was always meant to be there. She took it back off and inspected it some more. It was beautiful to look at. She put it back on again, reverently.
"So I wanted it to be like a promise thing, I guess," Wally continued quickly, mumbling a little. "Like I promise to always trust you, you know, I promise to always help you reach those somedays I talk about all the time, and make you laugh, and be there for you...and I guess I'm promising that there's a someday that both of us can look forward to together, maybe..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I couldn't really say all of that with Barry and Iris around so I thought I'd give it now, partially because I was so excited about it but also 'cause they would embarrass me to no end if they heard what I'm saying to you...it's corny, isn't it?"
Jinx bunched her fist in his shirt and pulled him to her for a fierce hug. "I love it," she said, placing a kiss gently on his lips. "And you."
Wally laughed, relieved, and opened the car door for her. "Now you can get in."
Jinx watched him from her seat as he walked around to the driver side door, hair bright against the grey winter sky. How had she ever lived without the guy?
Wally plopped down into his seat and after buckling his seatbelt (and making sure she did the same, the little hero, Jinx smirked) keyed the ignition, revving the engine with a glint in his eyes that made his girlfriend roll her eyes at the male population as a whole.
She fiddled with the radio as Wally pulled out onto the highway.
She can lead you to love
She can--
"I'll be hearing that song from the jukebox at work a lot," Jinx muttered as she changed the station to something more upbeat. "So for now we'll leave it alone."
"Nonsense." Wally changed it back. "I mean, it's ours."
"Oh no, we're one of those couples with a song?" Jinx grimaced.
"At least it's not a lame one."
"But it makes me sound fickle and mean."
"But you are fickle and mean, Rosy-Jinx!" Jinx shook her head. He only liked the nickname because it rhymed with 'tiddlywinks'...
"Am not!" she retorted.
"Um...are too."
"Can I find us a song that makes the boy sound annoying and immature?"
"Those don't exist. Besides, I'm practically prince charming."
"The kind that bothers me. Not very charming."
"I saved you!"
"Yeah, after I did all the work!" Jinx retorted. "Stop arguing." She faced out the window, watching the scenery move past as they drove onward.
"You're cute angry, so get used to it. I'm going to be bothering you for a good long time!" Flash laughed, running a hand through his fiery hair.
That sounded like a pretty great life to Jinx, so even though she was going to scowl at his words, somewhere along the way it turned into a smile. She twisted the ring on her finger to make it cast sparkles around the car interior. Like little pieces of sunshine. Transparently happy.
The End
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Wow...it's...over? This was such a rewarding project, guys. I feel like I became a better writer through it, and I loved really getting deep into the characters of Jinx and Flash, and your reviews just made my day :D Thank you all.
This story was started...according to , 6-19-07-- and since that's just when my revised version was uploaded...it's been started MUCH earlier, haha. I've gotta say it feels so good to have this story completed, a big accomplishment to me.
I feel like it's my best work on this site. I hope it's told you not to give up on yourself? Work hard, you know? Is that corny? I'll say it anyways. Winston Churchill: "never never never give up!!!!"
Just so you know, this story is probably one of my last, too. I've gotten very out of the fanfic reading habit...I have one last short story planned, and that's in the Sailor Moon department and not Teen Titans. But beyond that...people just outgrow this kind of stuff, I guess. Maybe I'll try for something with my own characters for once. Who knows? Life goes on.
I hope y'all enjoyed this. I know I did.
Much love,
-Silver Miracles
PS... 'Always a Woman to Me' is still by Billy Joel...has been for the last 14 chapters