there's something funny about Jasmine Cephas-Jones going from playing the Other Woman seductress role in Hamilton then playing Swan who's fighting for her life trying not to give in to the flirty femme that wants to kiss her the same night they meet in Warriors lol
I know I usually write her as anywhere from silly goofy to absolutely fucking depressed but like, credit where credit is due. Look at her:
This woman is cool! Graffiti artist, hates men, can't read maps, no one is doing it like her!!
Also, from her verse in the cypher, and her little rap part she has with Ajax in Roll Call, I do think we missed out on a cool confident Rembrandt we could have seen before the events of the album.
"What?" Mercy's voice was quiet. Shell-shocked almost, eyes wide as she stared at Swan from the bed.
Who now felt incredibly awkward, hand going up to rub at the back of her neck as she repeated, haltingly, "I love you?"
It wasn't meant to be a question. It hadn't been, the first time Swan said it, pulling on her vest, untucking her hair from its confines and looking at Mercy. Sleepy, morning-drunk Mercy, dressed in nothing but an oversized t-shirt, the blanket resting around her waist and arms curled around Swan's pillow that Mercy stole as soon as Swan rolled out of bed. The curtains on their window let in the smallest beam of light that fell over Mercy, bathing her in gold and making her hair shimmer like something precious. Swan felt like her heart might actually explode.
And the whole time, Mercy mumbled about stupid early morning meetings and that she would probably be gone to work before Swan got home, but that she hoped Swan had a good day. Reminded Swan to grab her money clip from the dresser drawer, because she always forgot, and that if Ajax told Mercy Swan didn't get lunch, Mercy would be making her bagged lunches for a week. Which was an interesting punishment choice, if Swan did say so herself.
Somewhere, in all of that, the words tumbled out.
Now, Mercy sat ramrod straight in bed, the blankets pooled around her hips. Swan's pillow landed on the floor.
Fuck. Swan fucked up. It was too soon and her heart now raced in a bad way and her skin felt clammy and her face felt way too hot.
"You love me?" Mercy repeated.
Swan's throat tightened and she could only nod.
"You love me," Mercy said, again, more to herself, the words somewhat hazy and her eyes trailing away. Like she couldn't believe it. Which started to make Swan calm down a bit and focus back, because...
What?
"You love me," Mercy said, again, but forcefully and looking at Swan, again. Swan was starting to get whiplash.
"Yes." Swan said. Because...Yes?
She loved Mercy. It was a fact about Swan as true as any other. Swan had dark hair and eyes. She was a Warrior and Cleon's number two. She lived in Coney Island and hated heights, which made the Wonder Wheel interesting. She loved Mercy.
"You said it first," and, now, Mercy's voice was simply filled with awe.
"...yes," what was Mercy expecting here, exactly?
And, then, a new fear, because those were tears welling in Mercy's eyes and rolling down her cheeks and-
Swan all but threw herself onto the bed as Mercy dissolved into tears. Except, she hesitated, hands fumbling as they could not decide whether to hold or wipe away tears or do nothing because Swan still wasn't sure what Mercy's reaction meant and now she was crying-
Mercy fixed that by tackling Swan down onto the bed. Plastering their bodies to each others in that way she did, burying her face into the junction of Swan's shoulder and neck. Her body racked with sobs as Swan held her tight, feeling the tears hitting her skin.
Swan said nothing, but held her. Rubbed circles into her back. Pressed kisses into her hair and tried to not feel like the world's biggest asshole. Telling your girlfriend you loved her had a couple outcomes, but Swan never thought complete and utter devastation would be one. Had she, she wouldn't have sprung it on Mercy when she needed to leave in fifteen fucking minutes to go on a job with Ajax, of all people, the least patient of literally anyone Swan knew. Goddamnit.
"I love you, too," Mercy mumbled into Swan's neck as her sobs lessoned. As her breathing evened and her chest stopped heaving so violently. "I love you. I love you, so much."
"Oh." Swan said. Ever the eloquent one.
Mercy snorted, a soggy, but happy sound. "No one's- No one else has said it first. Before."
Oh.
...oooh.
"Yeah, well. They are stupid," Swan said, decisively. "And don't matter. I love you."
"I love you."
...
"I still need to leave, Mercy."
"No."
Swan did, eventually, escape.
She was five minutes late, though.
Ajax did not shut up about it for the rest of the week.
----------
I wrote this. In the middle of the night. Because I cannot sleep and I am hoping this will help me sleep somehow I guess??
But also a prompt from an anon! that I hope they enjoy!!!
I think it's likely that Harrow had more access to food on the Ninth than Gideon even if she refused to eat it, so my headcanon is that when Gideon was very hungry growing up she would sometimes eat Harrow's cold leftovers like a dog.
