Aurora fled after the kiss. She didn’t want to see Esther’s reaction let alone face the aftermath of it. She wasn’t ready yet. There was one last thing she needed to do.
She had to force herself to let go.
She couldn’t hold out hope for a love that would never be returned.
She finds herself in front of Mercury’s door again. It had been awhile since she’d been here. She tried to limit her alcohol intake and late night drinking habit after she moved to COSMIC and by the time she got home from a mission, she was ready to sleep through all her days off.
Aurora knocks, and it hurts. Every fiber of her being is telling her to not do this.
She does it anyway.
It isn’t long before Mercury opens the door, their hair in rough, messy buns, and their eyes looking more tired then usual. Stars, how Aurora wanted to run her hands through it; to hold their face and tell them to take a break. She couldn’t. Mercury would never allow it.
“Aurora. Good to see you. Do you have that report for me?” Mercury asks, all business and very little fun.
Aurora sighs, “Yeah, I have the report.”
“Excellent! Come in.” Mercury says as they move out of the doorway.
She follows, not saying a word until they’re at their spot. Aurora’s surprised they led her here and not to their home office.
“So. Any news on Saturn?” Straight and to the point they are.
“No. To my— limited— knowledge, Saturn didn’t show up in the city. You never know with the whole changeling thing though.”
Mercury’s face tightens, “Of course. Let’s just hope they’re arrogant enough to reveal themself whenever they are in your proximity.”
“Yeah…” Aurora trails off. She knows she has more to say but stars is it hard to get out.
“Um…” She starts. Here goes nothing—
“I— I found out I had a sister today.”
That… That was not what she meant to say.
“Oh?” Mercury tilts their head curiously.
“Yeah. Apparently my mother and father got a surrogate and… replaced me… She’s a sweet kid though. ‘Could never hold it against her.” She sighs, leaning back into the bean bag chair and reaching for a drink that wasn’t there. Right. Stopping that habit. Nothing but strict professionalism from here on out.
“That must’ve been quite the shock. I know I’d be quite surprised if I learned I had a new sibling to replace me.” Mercury gives an awkward chuckle.
“Were you surprised to find out Novia was a half sibling?”
“Not really. Blessed by Omne and Omne’s creation are very different.”
“What about cursed by Omne?” Aurora quietly asks.
Mercury looks at her, “Where did you hear that?”
Aurora glares, “So you do know what it is.”
They scoff, “Of course I do, I know a lot of things, especially about Omne.”
“Then can you tell me why you never told me I was cursed?” she asks coldly, unable to restrain her anger.
They sigh, sinking into their chair; rubbing the bridge of their nose, “Aurora, how in gods sake was I supposed to tell you something like that? To place that burden upon you sooner then needed. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“Yeah well, you seem to have a knack for it.” She grumbles.
“Excuse me?”
“All you do it hurt me Mercury. You just bring me pain and misery and suffering, and I can’t do it anymore. I can’t!” Her voice raising as she stands up. She knew she was being unfair, being irrational. She couldn’t help it. Everything was so confusing and she just needed an outlet.
Mercury stands as well, “Aurora, I have done nothing but help. How in the hells have I hurt you?!”
“That! That’s how! You sit there and care about me and my well-being and actually give a shit about me but… I know your holding back for some reason. You know we have something.” Aurora’s voice fades, her energy sapped.
“Aurora…” Mercury hovers over her slumped form, “I can’t be in love with you. We both know that.”
“Why not?! For Omne’s sake, live a little!” Aurora glares, Mercury stares at her with a resolve she wasn’t expecting.
“Aurora. I don’t think you understand. I can not love. I’m not built for it. I was built for protecting and exploring the universe, to be Omne’s vessel, not to be in a stable committed relationship— let alone anything stable or committed.” Mercury huffs out a self deprecating laugh. “This is my fate Aurora. It does not have to be yours. You deserve the best, ma chérie. You deserve happiness, someone who can give that to you without…”
“Without what?”
They sigh, “Without counting down the days till they lose you… for good. Aurora, I will outlive you. I will outlive all of you and I dread the day I do.” Mercury says as their pale yellow eyes grow misty, but they don’t let any tears fall.
“Go live a life I can’t, and don’t you dare feel guilty about it.” They say with a watery laugh. “You will live a good and long life if I have anything to say about it.”
Aurora laughs with them, her eyes now matching Mercury’s, “Okay… I’ll try…”
“That’s all I ask for. Now go hang out with Esther, I have work and you have someone else you’re in love with to pursue.” Mercury smirks a bit.
She rolls her eyes but holds out a hand, “Walk me to the door at least?” she smiles.
They smile back, “Of course.”
The two walk to the door and it feels like heading to the gallows, or a new opportunity, Aurora can’t tell yet. She feels her eyes water nonetheless. They make it to the door all too quickly. Aurora stands on the other side of the open door, hesitating.
“I’ll see you around, yeah?” Aurora asks timidly.
“Of course,” and Mercury leans in for a chaste peck on her cheek, “I’ll see you around.”
It wasn’t a goodbye. It wasn’t the strings of fate being cut by Omne themself. Just… the closing of a chapter. One that would only end in tragedy. They both knew it.
Aurora turns to leave but can’t help but look back, Mercury is still there. “Do you believe in other realities?” she asks.
Mercury looks surprised but their face quickly goes back to neutral, “I can’t say I know for certain. Do you?”
“I like to think they’re real. That maybe in a different life, we’d be together. It’s quite childish, isn’t it?”
They smile at Aurora, a soft one that feels like a well earned reward, “I don’t think it is. It’s a nice thought.”
“Yeah… it is.”