heartgear

The Answer

Added 2025-06-09 16:00:19 +0000 UTC

“P-please. Astraea, you’re scaring me. Let’s just…let’s just go! The door is right there!” She reaches out again. No salt barrier this time. No one to hide from and nothing to stop them, if only Astraea will let her. L’s braced for another push back, but it never happens. Her hand settles on Astraea’s shoulder. L smiles, and hopes it’s reassuring. “We can go home.”

“Yes.” Astraea stands a little straighter, smiles a little softer. "Yes. Because, see, I worked it out. At the roundtable. When I saw your face. When you decided.”

“Astraea - “

Her words slow, her breath grows steady. “That’s when I realised.”

“Astraea - “

She puts a finger to L’s lips, and pulls in close, touching their foreheads. “How to protect you. How to make things right.”

Astraea leans forward and kisses L on the cheek, her hands lingering on L’s shoulders a moment more. “Thank you, L. For giving my life meaning again.”

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Excerpt from Imago Ch25: The Chaff and the Fire

TT^TT