She said it's cold outside: for bestwithablade

[taser_warrior]

It finally hit Darcy one day that all was not fairy tales and rainbows with her and Fandral, and it wasn't  a magical epiphany in the middle of a great debate or a rousing bout of artistic inspiration

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[bestwithablade]

Fandral was really quite pleased with this stint on earth. It was so different than he remembered, but fascinating, and all these marvelous people were intriguing and wonderful. And Darcy. Darcy who was far better to him than perhaps he deserved, but he loved her, and it was the first time in nearly a millennium that he'd really ever found someone quite like her.

Of course, there were ... Things that they hadn't talked about. Fandral would outlive Darcy, far longer than she could imagine. It appeared to him that maybe they were ignoring that, and so he was content to play along.

At three in the morning, upon realizing he was alone in bed, he decided it was a fantastic opportunity to get a sip of milk. He made it to the kitchen and placed the carton to his lips before he heard her. With a frown, he set the carton down and knocked gently at the door the laundry-pantry.

"Darcy?"

[taser_warrior]

She’d silently been sitting in the dim light of her pantry for the last minute, just staring at whatever was in front of her. She was going to die, and he’d be spending eternity, another eternity remembering her. She couldn’t do that to someone. She couldn’t have him watch her grow old. This wasn’t Highlander, and she was not cruel enough to let Fandral watch her wither.
She starts slightly at the sound of her voice, unconsciously curling further into an upright fetal position.

[bestwithablade]

His frown deepened a little.

"Darcy - My darling, is everything all right?" Fandral waited a few moments until he deemed it acceptable to open the door. No, he could tell that everything was certainly not all right.

Crouching next to her, he reached to touch her shoulder gently.

"What is the cause for this sudden sadness?"

[taser_warrior]

Darcy took a moment to focus on him, eyes going wide and shining slightly as she suddenly launches herself into his arms, her fingers curling into the long hair at his nape and her nose pressed tight at the apex of his shoulder. She vaguely wonders if she’s being dramatic, but the feeling of him close just drives everything home for her and she curls tighter against him.
"Oh god I'm sorry."

[bestwithablade]

He couldn't help but laugh, softly, wrapping his arms around her as he kissed her hair.

"And what possibly is there that you have done that you need to apologize to me?"

[taser_warrior]

She breathes deep, inhaling and wincing at the sound of his laugh. Normally it makes her smile and love him but right now it just hurts to hear. "I can't do this to you again Fandral. I can't."

[bestwithablade]

"Do what? You have done nothing to me. Stop being foolish and come back to bed."

Fandral gives her a gentle squeeze and stands, pulling her up with him.

[taser_warrior]

She stands with him, but pulls back at his words, centering herself as she stares at her bare feet.
"I'm going to die one day Fandral."

[bestwithablade]

Oh. Oh. So apparently they are not ignoring it.

Fandral runs his hands over her shoulders, down her arms, then back up again before tilting her chin up.

"Come now, you will live many years yet. Decades. And it will be a full life full of the happiest memories, and it will be a life that I am honoured to share."

[taser_warrior]

"But what about when I'm old? What about when I'm wrinkled and can't keep up with you or Thor, or Steve, or anybody? what happens then Fandral? What happens when I can't be there for you? What happens then?" She got more quiet with every word, eyes searching his face desperately, as if he could find anyway to quiet her fears.

[bestwithablade]

The frown comes back.

"Do you think so low of me to assume that I would leave your side?"

[taser_warrior]

"No. But I...Fandral. You still think about her. Even after all this time, and I know some days it still hurts you. I do, I see it every time you talk about her, no matter how small a feign it may be, and I know there's still fond memories, but...I can't break you like that. I just. I can't."

[bestwithablade]

"I do not - Quite understand."

What is she saying? Surely she understands. She must have thought back on previous loved ones herself, right?

"You're simply over thinking matters."

[taser_warrior]

"No I'm not Fandral. I'm going to get old and die, and you are going to be left alone for however long, I can't be the second girl to leave you like that. I can't. I love you and the idea of you watching me die hurts okay." She's only lost a few people Fandral, and she had to accept it because it would happen to her one day.

[bestwithablade]

"And yet ... The idea of you telling me this does not hurt you."

[taser_warrior]

She scoffs, moving slightly to wipe a tear from her eye before it can fall. "Yes it does god damn it. I don't know why I'm bringing this up but I can't fucking handle all this sudden influx about the idea that I'm on borrowed time."