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Stelle rested against the railing on the edge of the building, gazing at the shooting stars and the sunrise lighting up the world. Not because of any death wish - Stelle simply trusted it to hold her up. Firefly’s secret base was safe, wrapping her up in warmth even with the constant ache in her chest.
That ache was a good thing though. It meant she still remembered Firefly. It meant she still remembered her longing for a normal life. And how Firefly had never gotten her wish.
Stelle never knew what Firefly planned to do. That girl had so many secrets she kept too close to herself. Maybe if she’d shared some of them with Stelle, she could’ve helped.
Stelle had always known she was keeping things from her. It was obvious - Firefly was many things, but she wasn’t a good liar. Maybe Stelle should’ve pushed for more.
But she didn’t.
“I never would have answered your questions,” a familiar voice said behind her. Stelle jerked her head around at the sound, gaping.
Because it was Firefly, unmistakable in her beauty. The billowing sleeves and symbolism on her dress, calling back to her namesake. The graceful, quiet confidence she carried herself with. And her eyes that Stelle could stare into for hours. A soft smile rested on her lips as she joined Stelle on the railing, never looking away from Stelle. Had she always been so dazzling?
“Is this… a dream?” Stelle asked herself in awe, a hand reaching out to cup her face before her awareness caught up with her. Stelle’s face warmed up. Too much-! That was definitely too much. Before Stelle could pull her hand away, Firefly reached up, holding it in place.
Stelle froze. Firefly’s smile widened. “What do you think it is?”
Firefly had always been shy with her during their short time. She was opening up, but… she was the type who blushed at the slightest suggestion they were on a date, quickly denying everything. The real Firefly wouldn’t be so forward.
Stelle sighed, a little disappointed. “This is a dream.” A real one, separate from the dreamscape of Penacony.
Firefly leaned onto Stelle, touching shoulder to shoulder, and rested her head against Stelle’s shoulder. “You always wanted to hold me like this, didn’t you?”
Stelle stood stiff, too afraid to lean into the touch and risk the illusion being broken. “… Why? Why are you here?”
“To make your dreams come true. Well - as true as they can be in a dream.” She looked up at Stelle with warm eyes. “Because the ‘me’ that you remember would never want you like this.” She gently wiped a tear from the corner of Stelle’s eye - one that Stelle didn’t realize was there.
Firefly nuzzled the crook of her neck, standing on her toes. As she did, Stelle quickly placed a protective hand on the small of her back so Firefly didn’t lose her balance. Firefly’s long, soft hair easily reached that spot, brushing Stelle’s hand. She still smelled like honey and chamomile in the dream.
Oh, Stelle never wanted this to end. She wanted to hold Firefly forever, to hide her away from the world and keep her safe - but she already failed her. She could only have this. Stelle already dreaded the time this dream would end.
“Of course, this is only the side of me that you knew. Who knows what other things I’ve been hiding.” Stelle’s fingers faltered and froze. “For all you know, I could’ve been plotting to kill the Nameless.”
“… You wouldn’t have,” Stelle whispered, wrinkling her brows. Firefly had always been consistent on that front. She admired the Nameless, and loved listening to stories about them. She’d been tempted at the idea of joining them.
“But I could’ve wanted to. Like, you for example.” Firefly forced her chin down, making Stelle meet her eyes. “I could’ve been jealous of you. How come you get to have these grand adventures with the Nameless while I was rotting away? It could’ve been the other way around. I could’ve been the one with the Stellaron. You’re not special, you just got lucky,” Firefly said, with a calm, pleasant look in her eyes.
Stelle pulled her chin away, heart pounding, but Firefly only grabbed her collar, pulling her close. “But you’re oh-so-charming, aren’t you? Savior of worlds, flirting with every pretty girl you see? What am I, number thirty-two?”
“No, you were - you were more. So much-” Stelle gasped as she was shoved back.
“Liar. We only spent a day together. You’ll forget me. My death, my care for you, my everything - it’ll be nothing to you in the end.”
Stelle felt whiplashed by the sudden shift, but when looking at Firefly - that didn’t matter anymore. She had the same heartbreaking look in her eyes as when she was telling Stelle what she was becoming in reality, outside of their beautiful shared dream. Stelle stumbled back, tugging her into a tight hug. “Believe me. I think - I think I love you. I would have wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.”
It was too fast, it was far too fast, but Stelle had fallen for this girl whom she barely knew.
Firefly tensed up and Stelle braced herself for an explosion, but instead of anger, there was a loud, broken sob. “I would have too!” Firefly’s knees buckled and instead of trying to hold both of them up, Stelle let them both fall as gently as she could. Now, Firefly clung to her just as fiercely as Stelle did, tears staining the front of her jacket as she sobbed. Stelle couldn’t bring herself to care. She was crying herself, after all.
“I’m sorry,” Stelle sniffed. “I couldn’t protect you.” She followed Qlipoth, the path of preservation. She saved an entire world from an icy death. Somehow, she couldn’t save one girl.
Firefly shook her head, speaking with her voice muffled. “It was too far beyond you. There was so much plotting, so many different factions, all surrounding the Watchmaker’s Legacy. It was easy, being with you. Like a breath of fresh air.”
These were all things Stelle knew, consciously or not. Her own mind couldn’t make up things she didn’t know, but something inside her fell into place inside her after actually getting to hear those words. The tense winding inside of her dissolved into peace. This might be closure, filling the void inside of Stelle that had been present since she saw that monster rip through Firefly’s chest.
“I’m glad I made things easier for you,” Stelle murmured, kissing the top of her head. “I’ll always miss you.” Stelle would never stop thinking of their what-if’s, if only they had the time together.
But now, she thinks those moments might taste sweeter than they do bitter. She’ll think of how Firefly might’ve smiled at a sight instead of just wishing she was there to see it.
Firefly pulled back, eyes softening. Her hands cupped the sides of her face. “My trailblazer.” She said, like a declaration. Stelle’s heart skipped a beat as Firefly placed a soft kiss to her nose. “Go forth.”
With one last smile, her form shifted and melted away with the wind into a thousand shimmering fireflies, joining the meteor shower and sunrise in the constant task of lighting up the world.
Stelle stayed in the dream as long as she could, keeping them company.