Jason Todd (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
runningred) wrote2013-12-30 08:25 pm
runningred) wrote2013-12-30 08:25 pm
Entry tags:
For I have promises to keep...
Leaving Milliways for Chrismas
The basket of treats from Rae touches Jay deeply. Her friendship and kindness has meant the world to him. Not to mention her understanding. Ichabod’s too. And William and Jemma and Gavroche and Teja and Shephard and Alan. And all the other friends he’s somehow managed to make in such a short period of time. Fuck! Why would anyone leave a place like this?
But he has to leave. At least for a little while. Talking to Rae and Ichabod has made him realise there are things he has to do. Things he can’t leave as they are.
He takes the basket down to the garage with him. There’s more here than he could ever hope to eat before they go stale and that would be a waste beyond words. He lifts out the tin of lace cookies, too delicate to travel and stashed them somewhere safe before wrapping the rest and tucking them in his pannier bags.
The lift takes him and his somewhat updated and improved bike upstairs. He pulls the goggles down, knowing that time hasn’t passed on the outside which means a hell of a dust-storm is still waiting for him. At least he’s prepared for it this time.
He rides to the edge of the storm, finding a high dune to sit and wait out the rest of the day. He should make for the Ivory Coast. It’s three days hard ride, maybe two with the work he’s done on the bike. With time not passing from outside Milliways, Ali’s only been dead a day. His family deserves to know. But before he can go to them, Jay needs to see the stars. Ali’s stars.
He sits up on the dune and watches as the desert sky changes colour and each and every star visible with the naked eye comes out and shines. Under this sky, he and Ali held each other, holding back the loneliness just a little while longer and remembering what human kindness felt like. The tears come slowly, silver in the reflected light as the moon steals sky from the stars. It’s been nearly a month since Ali died, longer than Jay knew him but it only takes a single look to know. To fall in love.
And yet Jay hasn’t mourned. He hasn’t given himself that time. But here, alone under Ali’s sky, he can finally cry.
Before midnight, he kicks the engine into gear and heads out. He has promises to keep, Ali’s family to talk to and Rae’s food to share. It’s been a long time since Jay celebrated Christmas in any way. This seems as good a way to spend the holiday as any.
The basket of treats from Rae touches Jay deeply. Her friendship and kindness has meant the world to him. Not to mention her understanding. Ichabod’s too. And William and Jemma and Gavroche and Teja and Shephard and Alan. And all the other friends he’s somehow managed to make in such a short period of time. Fuck! Why would anyone leave a place like this?
But he has to leave. At least for a little while. Talking to Rae and Ichabod has made him realise there are things he has to do. Things he can’t leave as they are.
He takes the basket down to the garage with him. There’s more here than he could ever hope to eat before they go stale and that would be a waste beyond words. He lifts out the tin of lace cookies, too delicate to travel and stashed them somewhere safe before wrapping the rest and tucking them in his pannier bags.
The lift takes him and his somewhat updated and improved bike upstairs. He pulls the goggles down, knowing that time hasn’t passed on the outside which means a hell of a dust-storm is still waiting for him. At least he’s prepared for it this time.
He rides to the edge of the storm, finding a high dune to sit and wait out the rest of the day. He should make for the Ivory Coast. It’s three days hard ride, maybe two with the work he’s done on the bike. With time not passing from outside Milliways, Ali’s only been dead a day. His family deserves to know. But before he can go to them, Jay needs to see the stars. Ali’s stars.
He sits up on the dune and watches as the desert sky changes colour and each and every star visible with the naked eye comes out and shines. Under this sky, he and Ali held each other, holding back the loneliness just a little while longer and remembering what human kindness felt like. The tears come slowly, silver in the reflected light as the moon steals sky from the stars. It’s been nearly a month since Ali died, longer than Jay knew him but it only takes a single look to know. To fall in love.
And yet Jay hasn’t mourned. He hasn’t given himself that time. But here, alone under Ali’s sky, he can finally cry.
Before midnight, he kicks the engine into gear and heads out. He has promises to keep, Ali’s family to talk to and Rae’s food to share. It’s been a long time since Jay celebrated Christmas in any way. This seems as good a way to spend the holiday as any.