Work Text:
○●𓄿●○
Two weeks after the incidents with Corey and the Abyss, some peace returned to the lives of the four teenagers.
Swann's move was unexpectedly postponed until next year, and Kat's illness began to heal.
Swann wondered if the Abyss had made this possible. She couldn't imagine this miracle any other way.
It was just 3:00 p.m. when Swann's pink phone rang.
"This is Swann Holloway."
"Dude, guess who had her last treatment today?" came the familiar voice of her best friend.
"Kat, hey!" Swann happily lay down on the bed and pressed the phone tightly to her ear, as if it would bring her closer to Kat.
She hadn't been able to talk to Kat much lately because she was in the hospital so often. She hated it, but since she miraculously improved from one day to the next, her family insisted that she receive the best possible treatment until they were 100% sure the cancer was gone.
"Does that mean you're cured? I mean, really?" Swann squeaked excitedly.
"Fuck, yeees! I'm fucking healthy again. It's weird to say it, but it's really the truth!"
Swann could hear Kat jumping up and down. Apparently, she was just as excited as Swann. And rightfully so.
"I thought we'd do something. If you want."
"Of course! I can't wait to see you again. We just need Nora and Autumn—"
"I actually meant WE do something together. Just... we... both... so... um—"
"Kat! Just ask her out! This is unbearable.”
"DYLAN! Fuck you! Get off the line!”
A brief crackle, then a short silence.
Kat exhaled, annoyed.
“Sorry…”
“Um, it’s okay,” Swann said quickly. She was glad she wasn’t standing directly in front of Kat, as she was probably turning as red as a tomato.
“Swann?”
“Yes…?”
"Ah, okay… I just thought you hung up,” Kat laughed quietly.
“I would never do that!” protested the redhead.
Kat laughed again. “I know, I know. Well… What do you say? Would you like to go on a… date?” came the almost shy question from the blonde.
Swann’s heart began to pound.
“A real date?”
“Aren’t there any real dates?” Kat asked amusedly.
"Well... among friends..."
"Ah, that's what you mean. I mean a real date," she then said in a confident voice. "I know I haven't said much positive about relationships and everything that goes with them in the last few weeks. But my future wasn't not a option for me anyway. I never thought I might like it... going out with someone..."
"Kat..."
Kat seemed to be searching for words. "But ever since I met you, Swann, I've felt good, and my heart beats when I'm around you... Fuck... I didn't mean to talk so much cheesy stuff. It's embarrassing."
"No... That's really sweet," Swann said quickly. She needed to process everything the poet had just said to her.
Kat cleared her throat. "I want to see you." The words coming out of her mouth sounded impatient, demanding. "And I want you to finally tell me if you'd like to go on a date with me?”
Swann nodded quickly until she remembered that Kat couldn't even see it.
"Geez-o! Yes, I do."
Kat laughed again. "We'll get to the proposal later, though."
"Wh...what?"
Kat giggled. "Fine. Meet me at the Movie Palace later?"
"5 o'clock?"
"Perfect."
"I'm looking forward to it. See you later, Swann," Kat said cheerfully.
"Me too. Bye, Kat," Swann replied, happily putting the phone down.
A Date
A Date
A FUCKING DATE WITH FUCKING KAT MIKAELSON!
Swann grabbed her pillow and screamed euphorically into it. Shadow looked at her in astonishment.
"Fluffbutt! I have a date. A real date. Omg! What should I wear? Should I put on makeup?
Swann suddenly felt nervous. She didn't know what kind of clothes Kat liked about her, and whether it even mattered to her.
Swann searched her closet for something cool and grabbed a black shirt with a headphone on it, which reminded her of Kat.
She also wore blue shorts. She was far too inexperienced with makeup. The few times she'd worn makeup, Kat had done it. Kat was actually quite talented at it.
So Swann decided to leave it alone.
○●𓄿●○
When she arrived at the Movie Palace, Kat was already waiting for her and approached her happily. Even though it had only been a few weeks since they last saw each other, it seemed like an eternity to Swann. Kat's short hair seemed to have grown a bit, and her skin no longer looked so pale. It was immediately obvious that the poet was feeling much better, and Swann almost had to hold back tears.
Kat was healthy. And she was here. It was truly a miracle.
Kat wore her light blue overall and a dark shirt underneath. Like the day they finally saw Kat again after the failed mission to rescue her from the Mikaelson farm, her eyes were lightly made up. But her lips weren't this time.
She also wore her orange headphones. She looked simply beautiful to Swann. Kat had something very boyish about her now with her short hair and her stature, but Swann had to admit that she found the blonde's look quite attractive.
Kat hugged her, and for a moment the girls simply savored the moment.
"It's so good to see you again. I've really missed you," Kat said as she broke away from the hug and smiled at Swann.
"Me too, Kat.”
Kat's eyes now moved up and down, examining Swann's outfit. "You look good. I like the shirt," she said, winking at the redhead.
Swann swallowed. "Thanks. You look good too."
Kat tilted her head slightly. "I think it's time I got some new clothes soon. Ever since my parents found out about my illness, they stopped buying me new clothes. Honestly, most of them are still from when I was 12."
Kat's eyes darkened slightly. "My body hasn't changed much since then. The doctors say it might be related to the cancer."
Swann sympathetically took her hand and squeezed it gently. She didn't know what to say. She had never thought about how much an illness like this can change the body.
"Um... After all, you're still at least 1cm taller than me."
Her gloomy expression brightened again, and a grin appeared on her lips. "That's true. And maybe I'll grow a little bit after all." She looked down slightly. Swann followed her gaze and blushed, understanding her ambiguity.
She cleared her throat. "I like your overalls, by the way... They suit you. They're kinda… you."
Kat smiled, and Swann could see her cheeks flushing slightly pink. "Actually, I really like them too... Maybe I'll find similar things.”
Swann nodded in agreement. "Sure. So... what do we want to do?"
Kat grinned and took Swann's hand. "First, we'll go down the street. There's a beautiful little shop there with lots of unique souvenirs."
Swann looked at her in surprise. "Really? I didn't know that."
Kat nodded. "I got lots of little things from there, like this necklace." Kat pointed to the necklace with the raven. Swann remembered first discovering the pendant in Kat's room. The raven reminded her of the ravens of the Abyss.
Kat and Swann eventually arrived at the place Kat was referring to. A small shop a little way off the street. Seann thought it looked a bit like a witch's house from the outside.
As the two girls opened the door, the doorbell rang and an old woman greeted them.
"Welcome—Oh, Kat," she said cheerfully.
"Hey, Gran." Kat greeted the old woman.
"You haven't been here in ages, dear. Oh, and I see you have a new haircut. It suits you, sweetheart."
Kaf grinned. "Thanks. It's been busy lately. But today I'm here with a very special girl." Kat's head tilted to the right, where Swann nervously played with her fingers. "Hi," she said.
The old woman looked at her, a warm smile appearing on her lips. "You must be Swann."
Swann looked at the shopkeeper in surprise. "You know my name?"
The old woman nodded. "Kat once talked about you for an entire hour."
"Did she?" Swann looked at the blonde, who cleared her throat and scratched her head. "Fuck, Gran... Don't tell her that. It's embarrassing."
Gran waved her hand with a laugh and then went behind the counter where she picked up an old book. "Young love."
Swann smiled.
"Swann, look here." Swann looked over her shoulder where Kat was taking two pendant necklaces from the shelf.
On one was a moth and on the other a raven.
"Wouldn't these suit us perfectly?"
Swann nodded enthusiastically. "They're beautiful!"
"Aren't they?"
Swann pouted. "It's a shame I've already spent all my pocket money for this month."
"Don't worry! I'll buy them for us," Kat said quickly.
"But, Kat—"
"No buts," the blonde interrupted, turning and walking over to Gran.
"These two, please."
"Nah keep it, girl. It'sa gift," Gran said with a satisfied smile.
"Gran, I can pay for them," Kat said.
But Gran shook her head. "Its all right sweetheart. Now give your beloved one of these charms. They bring good luck."
Kat's eyes sparkled. "You can never have enough of them."
"Exactly."
"Thanks, Gran."
Kat approached Swann again and grabbed her hand. "We're off then."
"Bye," Swann said quickly as Kat pulled her out of the store.
“See you, girls.”
○●𓄿●○
"Open your hand," Kat said.
Swann did so, and Kat placed the pendant in her palm. Their hands touched, and for a brief moment, the best friends looked deep into each other's eyes until Swann, embarrassed, returned her gaze to the necklace and Kat slowly pulled her hand away.
"The raven?" Swann asked, surprised.
Kat nodded, her gaze fixed on the little raven in Swann's palm. "It will always remind you of me. I know you're moving to Vancouver next year, and even if we can't see each other for a while, you'll have something to remind you of me. The same goes for me with the moth.
Kat took the necklace from Swann's hand and placed it around her neck. "It suits you."
Swann, touched, took the pendant in her hand and stroked it gently. Even if they had another year together, they would have to part. The thought of that made Swann's heart ache.
"Can I ask you something, Kat?"
"Dude, you can ask me anything."
Swann nodded and looked the blonde straight in the blue eyes. "The day we sealed the cabin... What do you remember exactly?"
Kat tilted her head. "That day was crazy. I listened to a song and we were all dancing. I remember how my body suddenly felt as light as a feather. The pain that usually consumed my body was gone." Kat paused briefly and then took Swann's hands in hers.
"We danced."
Swann nodded. "We did."
"And... kissed."
Swann nodded again and smiled. "So it was real. For us, anyway."
Swann could see Kat biting her lower lip. Something she often did when she was nervous, Swann noted.
Swann herself felt the same, looking anywhere but into Kat's eyes. Their hands still clasped, Swann felt Kat lightly circling Swann's palm with her thumb. Swann swallowed. Kat gazed there, lost in thought, a gentle smile on her lips.
Swann tried to stay completely still and used the moment to look closely at the blonde girl with short hair. The times Swann was able to observe Kat like this were when she was filming Kat and the others for her memoir.
She had always loved filming her friends, but her heart always beat especially fast by filming Kat.
Swann widens her profile as she examines her sensually curved lips. Her throat went dry and she had to swallow, knowing exactly what they tasted like.
When Kat raised her head after what felt like an eternity, there was an expression on her face that Swann had never seen before. A look that, Swann thought, could see into her soul.
Swann suddenly got goosebumps. An eerie tension hung in the air. Swann felt Kat's hand tighten around hers, gently but demandingly pulling her toward her.
Kat's blue eyes looked from Swann's eyes to her mouth. A smile appeared on her lips. Swann placed her free hand on the back of Kat's head and stroked the blonde's soft, short hair for a moment. Then she pulled her toward her. Their lips were only centimeters apart. And-
Suddenly, the redhead felt something cold and wet on her neck. The two girls looked up at the sky at the same time, where it suddenly started to rain heavily.
"Fuck!"
"Geez-o!"
Laughing, hand in hand, the two friends sought shelter under a large tree.
"That was unexpected. It was just such beautiful sunny weather," Swann said, shaking her head to clear the raindrops that had collected in her hair. Fortunately, they quickly found shelter under the tree. Now the sky poured down on Velvet Cove like a waterfall.
"It would be better if we—"
Swann paused in surprise when Kat suddenly ran into the rain. It didn't take long for the blonde to be soaked with rain. Laughing happily, she spun around with her arms outstretched and jumped into the puddles.
Swann could see in that moment all the worries and fears that had plagued Kat for the past few years washed away by the rain.
She was free.
Free from pain.
Free from Corey.
Free from dark thoughts.
Free from the birdcage.
Kat was free.
Swann smiled. This is how it should always have been. The little bird with the broken wings could finally spread its wings and fly again.
"Swann!" Kat called. "Come on. Join me."
Swann nodded and ran towards her friend and danced with her in the rain. Swann immediately had a déjà vu of the dance at Fawn's Rest.
Happiness flowed through Swann like liquid gold, and she could have cheered so loudly that all of Velvet Cove could hear it.
They danced and danced until, exhausted, they pressed their wet heads together and had to catch their breath, forehead to forehead.
"You... are... crazy..." Swann snorted, laughing, and placed her hands around Kat's narrow waist, gently pulling her towards her.
Kat grinned. "I guess we can cancel my planned picnic for today."
"You planned a picnic?"
Kat sighed. “I did.”
Swann smiled. “You're so sweet. We can do this anytime.”
Kat nodded. “Fuck, you bet.”
It was one of those moments when Swann would have loved to capture Kat's unique smile on camera. Kat was beautiful. Maybe it was because Swann was madly in love with this sassy girl... But she couldn't imagine anyone more beautiful than Kat. Inside and out.
Raindrops falling on her head.
“Kat?”
“Hmm?”
“May I kiss you?” Swann whispered softly.
The rain, whipped up by the wind, danced around them, repeatedly landing on Kat's short hair. The rain drops ran down her forehead to her nose and her half-open lips. Swann looked into her pupils, could almost see the beautiful blue sparkle.
Kat's eyes blazed, as if a fire had been lit inside them. She leaned forward a few centimeters, only to bend toward Swann the next second.
Swann closed her eyes.
Her heart stumbled, only to then beat as fast as a bird's wing. Swann moved toward her and briefly felt Kat's soft lips against hers, moving in time with Swann's.
Then Kat's lips were gone again, only to let her lips brush delicately against Swann's. The tingling sensation that shot through Swann's body intensified.
"You're mean," Swann breathed. She felt Kat's breath as she laughed harshly.
For several agonizing seconds, Kat made Swann squirm before her lips pressed against Swann's.
Everything inside Swann shuddered. With a gasp that was barely audible in the rain, Swann opened her lips. This kiss was somehow different. It was wild and unbridled. The rain was forgotten for a moment. Only this kiss existed.
Swann was nervous about doing something wrong and let Kat take the lead, who now moved her mouth more gently against Swann's. Swann could feel Kat smiling into the kiss.
An unfamiliar tingling sensation spread through Swann's body.
She wanted more.
More of her.
To taste more, to feel more, to kiss more. She felt the need to press herself even closer to Kat. But just as Swann was about to indulge these feelings, Kat's lips left hers.
Somewhat dazed and unsure, Swann stared at Kat, who was also looking at the red-haired girl with a hint of embarrassment and pride. Swann recognized a small, knowing smile on the poet's lips.
"Fuck... wow," Kat said quietly.
"Geez-o."
The rain continued to pour down on the two bloom and rage members.
Kat sneezed.
Swann smiled. "Come on, Firecracker. Let's go to my house and warm up. I don't want you getting an cold so soon after you've completely recovered."
Kat rubbed her nose and nodded.
"Good idea. Let's go!”
○●𓄿●○
As Swann unlocked the front door, she noticed Kat had quieted down a bit and was nervously fiddling with her fingers.
“Are you okay, Kat?”
“Yes. It's just… I've never been to your house before… And I'm going to meet your parents.”
Swann couldn't help but laugh.
Kat blushed. “Hey!”
“Sorry, sorry.” You're just so damn cute.”
Kat wrinkled her nose. “I'm serious, Swann…”
“My parents aren't home… They're visiting my grandparents. They won't be back until tomorrow evening. “
“Dude…couldn't you have told me a few minutes earlier…” Kat said grimly.
Swann laughed and looked at her apologetically, leading the blonde upstairs to her room.
“And what's even worse…you're not inviting me to stay the night?”
“Would you like to stay the night?”
Kat nodded eagerly. “Of course!” They entered Swann's room, where Shadow greeted them cheerfully.
“Hey, Fluffbutt!” Swann said, picking up her cat and cuddling him. Then she looked back at Kat, who held out her hand to Shadow with a smile. Purring, he let her pet him.
“I didn't know if you… Well, you never…-”
“I know. My parents locked me up because of my illness. But now that I'm healthy, I can finally stay the night with a good friend.” She smiled and winked.
"Then I'm officially asking," Swann said, pretending to propose to Kat and getting down on one knee. Shadow lay down contentedly on his favorite box.
"Kat Mikaelson. Would you like to stay the night?"
Kat placed her index finger to her chin as if she was thinking carefully about her answer. Then she smiled.
"This is so sudden... I don't know what to say."
"Dork," Swann giggled.
Kat cleared her throat and put her hand in Swann's. "Yes, I want to stay the night."
Swann grinned and stood up. "But now we're going to change. If you want, you can take a warm shower."
Kat nodded. "I think that would be not a bad idea." She looked down at her wet clothes dripping onto Swann's wooden floor.
"The bathroom is right next door. I'll put some clean clothes out for you. Even though most of them will be too big for you."
"If you still have any underwear from your childhood leave it for me."
Swann was just about to ask if Kat was serious when the blonde flashed out of the room.
After a few seconds, Swann heard the water running.
Meanwhile, Swann rummaged through her closet and, in the very back corner, found clothes that were actually much too small for her.
Kat's body was much slimmer than perhaps necessary at her age, and she knew that deep down, Kat was ashamed of it. But these things didn't matter to Swann. She liked everything about her.
Swann put the clothes in front of the bathroom door and then went downstairs to the second bathroom to take a quick shower.
When Swann was finished, Kat was already sitting on her bed, freshly showered, looking at her wall, which was now covered with posters again.
The black shirt Swann had given Kat was, as expected, a little too big for the poet, but the shorts fit her perfectly. Swann had received them as a gift when she was 12.
“Hey.”
“Hey, you,” Swann said, sitting down next to Kat.
“Can I call at home for a minute? I want to tell Dylan I'll be sleeping here tonight.”
“Of course.”
Kat smiled. “Thanks.” She picked up the pink phone and dialed the number.
“Hey, Dylan, it's me, Kat. I'm staying over at Swann's tonight.
…
What? No…of course not…and yes, we… Fuck Dylan, I'm not a little kid anymore, I know what you mean… Yeah, yeah. See you tomorrow. Bye!”
Kat hung up. Annoyed, Kat rolled her eyes. “Dylan has really made it her mission to teach me how to behave in a relationship… This afternoon, she even tried to explain what sex actually is. It's like she things I'm living under a rock!” Annoyed, she slumped back and stared at the wall.
Swann laughed awkwardly. "Sometimes I think I really do...live under a rock, I mean."
Kat raised her head slightly to look at Swann.
"Since no boy ever liked me or I've never really been in love, all I had were my novels."
Kat snorted. "Tss, boys are so stupid. Fuck them. None of those guys deserve you anyway. You're beautiful."
Swann blushed. "Oh, um...T...Thanks, Kat...I think you're beautiful too."
Kat raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Really."
Kat laid her head back and played with her moth necklace, a small smile on her lips.
"Nora and Autumn have experience in this though," Swann said quietly.
"Yeah... Nora said she just had sex with some random guy... I couldn't do that. I mean... Feelings are important to me. It should be with someone you trust." Kat said.
Swann nodded. "I agree."
"But I don't worry about things like that anymore."
"Oh yeah?"
Kat nodded. "I found you." I'll never want to touch anyone else.
Swann blushed again. Soon, she'd probably look like a red balloon.
She wanted to touch her?
"You mean you're sure we'll stay together forever?"
Kat raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you?"
Swann poked at her pillow. "I'm just saying... Now that you're healthy... The world's yours now. You can see new places and meet new people..."
Kat tilted her head. "So? You think that's why I go out and pick up some women?"
Swann had to laugh at his choice of words. "You're impossible."
"I'm just being honest," she replied.
Swann moved a little closer and took her girlfriend's slender hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"I wish we could stay together forever. And as soon as I'm an adult, I'll come back to you."
Kat smiled and brought Swann's hand to her lips, gently kissing the inside of her hand. "I would wait forever for you."
"I'm glad we feel the same way," Swann said. "We're so alike."
"Yes, we are."
"Remember when we filmed the Lovers bike scene?"
Kat rolled her eyes. "How could I forget."
"Yeah... I really thought it would be a good scene.”
“It turned out to be a good scene,” Kat corrected her. “I just wasn't the best actress.”
“You were great.”
Kat grinned. “Liar!”
Swann shook her head and then continued, “Anyway, I asked you and Nora at the end if you could make a stage kiss.”
Kat lay back and placed her hands on her stomach. “It seems like ages ago.”
Swann nodded. “I was actually dreading you and Nora actually kissing at the time,” Swann admitted quietly.
“Oh?” Kat looked at her out of the corner of her eye.
“Yeah… I literally had a whole mental picture of how the scene would end up, but then one thing stopped me.”
Kat rolled onto her stomach and looked at Swann with interest.
“It was stupid…”
"Tell me.” Kat begged, looking at her expectantly.
Swann took a deep breath. "When I imagined you and Nora actually kissing, I panicked."
Kat tilted her head. "You didn't want my first kiss to be with Nor?"
Swann bit her inner cheek. "I'm telling you, it's stupid. I didn't even know if it would have been your first kiss at all. Only one thing was clear to me at that moment... I really liked you, even though we hadn't known each other long... And maybe it was selfish to think about the situation that way."
Kat slid a little closer and gently placed her index finger under Swann's chin. Her blue eyes glittered in the light of the setting sun shining through the window.
"You know." Kat began quietly. "Knowing that you were attracted to me so early on makes me happy. I also quickly realized there was something between us... Something that felt like more than friendship, more than love," the poet breathed.
"Soulmates," they both whispered simultaneously.
Kat smiled. "Exactly," she breathed, tucking a strand of red hair behind Swann's ear.
"I even dreamed once that we'd known each other in many other lives."
Swann looked at her in surprise. "Wow. You mean our destinies are intertwined."
Kat nodded. "Sometimes I feel like dreams can be reality. Wouldn't that be fucking crazy?"
Swann snuggled up to her, and Kat pulled her into a tight hug. "Yeah." For a brief moment, the two teenagers enjoyed the embrace.
"I love you, Swann."
Swann broke away from the hug and looked at Kat with wide eyes.
Embarrassed, Kat looked away. "Don't look at me like that. You're making me nervous."
"I'm making YOU nervous?" Swann said, her heart pounding.
"Uh-huh, yes."
"Say that again."
"Uh-huh, yes."
"Not that goofball."
Kat looked back at Swann. "I love you."
It was just three words.
Three little words that two months ago, Swann would never have thought anyone would ever say those words to her. And now that it was happening, it was as magical and exciting as she had always imagined.
More than that. It felt right.
Kat was the lost piece of the puzzle she'd been looking for all these years. Swann always felt out of place. Disconnected. No one understood her. But the day Kat saw her, everything changed. They belonged together. She loved this crazy, strong girl so much.
"Kat... I... I love you too. So much.”
A radiant smile appeared on Kat's uncertain face, and she gently pressed her lips to Swann's.and pulled her onto the bed where Swann snuggled her head against Kat's chest and listened to her heartbeat.
"Kat?"
"Yes?"
"Tell me again about your dreams."
Kat gently kissed Swann's head. "Hmm. One dream that's stuck in my mind is what I called 'A night by your side.' You'll like the story."
Swann closed her eyes happily and listened to her beloved story, and in that moment, she was certain that Kat would truly stay by her side forever.
End.