Reminiscence Eternal | tears of themis
synopsis; under the sun with the twinkle of the shimmering sea reflected in his eyes, you couldn’t ask for anything more in life. together with him, you had all you ever needed.
features; you and luke pearce
[au]
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
You think if happiness were a person, it would look a lot like your childhood friend; Luke Pearce.
He’s always there for you, a bright smile on his face and a warm greeting readied at the tip of his tongue. He’d frazzle your hair with those gentle fingers of his, laughing all the while as you pouted with puffed cheeks. There had yet to be a day you hadn’t been welcomed by his presence and oftentimes you wondered if your relationship with him was tied by fate itself. You thought it had to have been because even after he left and you assumed he had forgotten you as nothing more than a figment of his past, he was right there again at your side. Still smiling, albeit a little differently than before.
You could never think of him as a complete stranger to you, the numerous years you spent with each other wouldn’t allow for that, he was just more mature. Much more mature than you ever thought he could be.
It was almost strange how easily you two were able to pick up where you left off those eight years ago. How effortlessly you were able to laugh at his jokes and how the conversation between you never died off into that strange awkward silence you would’ve expected from a precious friend that left without so much as a goodbye. You thought you would be angrier at him. . . you thought you would completely ignore his presence should he ever come knocking on your door. You rehearsed that scenario in your head multiple times; fantasizing about the words you’d tell him as you feigned forgetting his name. You imagined his hurt expression and the numerous hoops he’d jump through just to get you to forgive him. You thought of it all.
It was almost funny how you couldn’t bring yourself to do any of that the day you ran into him.
You remember it all so clearly. The stutter of your heart in your chest, the way your eyes seem to moisten just a little bit as you recognize his tall figure. You really did think you’d forget about him too after all this time, yet his name rolled off your tongue with such familiarity it was almost as if you hadn’t been trying to erase every bit of his enduring presence. You couldn’t deny the relief of seeing him alive and healthy. There was once a time you thought he might have been hurt or worse, dead, and that was the reason he hadn’t attempted to contact you. The nights you spent awake wondering whether you’d ever see him again were still fresh in your mind. You missed him. You missed him so terribly it was hard to admit after all these years you kept denying yourself that. You recall having to keep yourself calm with fists clenched at your sides in order to keep yourself from dragging him somewhere more private to grill him about where he’d been and why he left. Your job was the only reason you hadn’t done that and Luke. . . well, he was no longer someone you could just pull around like you used to.
The two of you were adults now and far from the teenage years he’d left you at. Though, for you, it never really felt as if time moved on from that day. Seeing him again after all that time made you reminiscent about the past; your childhood days the two of you spent doing nothing more than playing around and entertaining the other's antics. Still, you wanted an explanation and he had yet to give you a decent one that didn’t sound as if he were making an excuse but you didn’t press him for one. You would wait, as you always did, because whether it be now or later on in the future, Luke would tell you. You trusted him to; you knew he would.
He was the one person you could count on. The only one who knew you like the back of his hand- eight years apart or not, he would still be the first person you’d turn to in your time of need. He completed you, acting as the other half of your whole and it was only when you met again that you finally felt like something lost was finally returned to you.
To you, Luke Pearce is your fate. From the kid who grew up with you to the man you now stand beside, there was no place better suited for you. He was your home in every aspect of the word and your source of comfort. Without him, you couldn’t see yourself standing against the hardships of life and sometimes you wondered how you managed these last eight years alone. Maybe, you never truly were doing as okay as you might have thought. Luke has a way of doing that to you. . . making you realize things you hadn’t noticed before.
You once thought your relationship with him would never be anything other than friendship. In the past, you never looked at him as something more than an older brother figure. He was someone so close to your heart that you’d consider him family. But since he came back. . . you’ve been feeling differently. The time you two spent apart did more than just consolidate his place in your life, it opened your eyes to an emotion you never thought you’d experience.
Luke was your fate, yes, but he was also the person you loved dearly. By that, you meant you loved him as more than a friend; you loved him far more than you could ever express in words. From the cheerful glint in his coral eyes to his overbearing protective nature you sometimes found to be endearing; you loved all aspects of him.
You breathe in, inhaling the salty cold breeze of the sea with closed eyes and serene features. Wind licks your exposed skin, fluttering your hair gently along its current and the sound of waves lapping against the coastline is almost like music to your ears. You like the sea, you love the sound of the ocean, but most of all, you adore the person who brought you here.
Luke stands at your side, his warm hand enveloping yours and you don’t have to look at him to know he’s staring at you. You could feel it just by the flutter in your chest. It’s a warm feeling, one tender enough to lift the corners of your lips in a delightful smile. Nowadays, you’ve begun associating such gentleness with him and much like the radiant afternoon sun shining down on you, Luke is plentiful with his affection.
“What,” You grin as your eyes slowly open to meet his, the tone of your voice light with tease. “Is there something on my face?”
Behind him, lies the sea and the sun. From where you stand you can see the neverending stretch of the ocean as it seemingly melds in with the pinkened sky above. In the distance, you can hear the familiar call of seagulls and the sun shines prettily onto the waters below, each ripple and wave sparkling under its rays. The sight is already so enchanting and with Luke standing just before it, a halo of light surrounding his form, you think it's breathtaking.
He has yet to explain why the two of you ended up taking a random trip to the beach, but after such a romantic day of eating by the seaside and enjoying all the sights this little coastal town had to offer, you had a feeling. He let you dictate where you two went and what sights you wanted to see first with no complaints; merely a smile and a kiss to the cheek as he held your hand in his. Sometimes, when he thought you weren’t looking or he was feeling particularly nervous, you’d see him fidget with something hidden in his pocket. It didn’t take a genius to figure it out. Luke rarely did things without purpose and trips this special had to warrant just as grand of a reason.
His eyes avert from yours for a second, a slight squeeze to your fingers telling you of his embarrassment at being caught. When his gaze returns, you can see the makings of a shy smile lift his lips.
“No,” He says after a pause of silence. “You’re as beautiful as ever.”
You blink, his words slowly registering in your brain before your grin grows a little bashful and your head dips slightly. The gentle breeze doesn’t allow you to hide your face in your hair like you wanted to, anything to obscure his vision of your reddening cheeks.
How was it that you’re the one embarrassed when you set out to tease him?
"A-Anyway," You huff, nervously tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear as you gently pull him along. "Let's hurry before the fireworks begin."
You try to ignore the burn of your cheeks as well as the laughter that follows your words. You should have been more than used to his compliments as Luke showers you in them from time to time; especially in moments like this. He regarded each day spent with you to be more precious than the last and he hadn’t let you forget how much he treasured you. It was embarrassing, but you didn’t hate it. You could never hate his displayed affection for you.
On the boardwalk, there is quite a crowd gathered. Many were here for the local summer festival, which happened to coincide with your trip to the coast. You had a feeling Luke planned for this, but it wasn't like you minded too much. The lively atmosphere warmed you and much like the festival you celebrated back in Stellis, this one was just as fun; especially since you were with Luke. Your gaze flits around, taking in the sights of the rides that were beginning to turn on their lights now that the sun was going down and the vendors who loudly called out to all who passed to look at their goods. Children ran around with treats in their hands and laughing amongst themselves as they dragged their exhausted parents along. In the air, you could pick up the scent of food mixing with the saltiness of the ocean and it reminded you distantly of your childhood. For a moment, you wondered if you had attended something similar to this in the past. Even the feeling of leading Luke along was familiar.
"Wait," You hear him call from behind you and when he stops in his tracks, you follow suit. You turn towards him, your hands still joined together as you shoot him a curious look. He grins, coral-colored eyes glancing off to the side as he motioned towards a stall. You quickly look over and your eyes brighten at the sight of pastel-colored treats resembling small clouds. "Do you want some?"
His grin never once fades from his lips as he asks, almost as if he were entertained with your small display of excitement. You nod before you even realize and he leads you over to the stall without another word. As the two of you weave in between people, Luke's hold on your hand tightens, and with the number of people pushing past you, you were sure that if he hadn't you would have been swept away in an instant. Once you finally make it to the stall, the vendor, an older man with greying hair and an easy-going smile, greets the two of you.
"You two interested in some free cotton candy?" The vendor says as he begins spinning a small stick of colored floss. Besides them, children excitedly peer over the counter of his stall to see the cotton candy machine spin out its sugary delight. Before you or Luke is given a chance to protest, he continues. "I've been seeing young couples like you all day today and none have turned me down. . . don't be the first."
With a widened smile and hearty laughter, the man gently hands over a poof of cotton candy to you. Its color is a rosy pink that distinctly reminds you of Luke's eyes. You glance back up at the older man, a sweet smile spreading across your lips as you happily thank him for the gift.
"And what about you, young man?" The vendor turns his gaze towards Luke who merely shakes his head.
"I'll share with her, you don't have to worry about me." He simply replies, throwing you a glance to which you politely nodded in agreement to the vendor, and from there the two of you continue down the pier.
By the time you got to the end of the dock, arriving at a large opening where dozens of people stood around the railings in wait for the fireworks, the sun was at its lowest and the sky turned deep indigo with the last of the daylight fading. Above you, the twinkling of stars was beginning to show through and the sea breeze softened to a calming billow. While your hands were no longer conjoined together, Luke still maintained his closeness to you and in turn, it brought you a sense of comforting peace.
You busied yourself with lightly pulling off pieces of your cotton candy, happily placing them into your mouth as you indulged in its sweetness and soft melt. It was a childhood favorite of yours and even still to this day, you couldn't imagine attending a festival without at least buying some. It reminded you of a particular day in your past where you and Luke sneaked off to a night festival far past your curfew and shared a bag of cotton candy together. You remember that although you began that outing feeling anxious that your parents would catch you, it was Luke that made you forget about it as soon as he dragged you around to all sorts of rides. You had fun that day and even if your parents still found out and scolded you, you never once regretted it.
"[Name]," At the call of your name, you break from your thoughts. You turn your attention towards Luke who stares down at you with a sort of expectant gaze. "Didn't you say you were gonna share your cotton candy with me?"
"Hm? Oh." You blink as you offer the last remaining bit of pink puffball out to him but when he makes no intention of moving, still looking at you as if he were awaiting something else. Your lips dropped into a slight frown. ". . . do you want me to feed you?"
From the way his lips curl and the slight red you could spy dusting across his cheeks, your answer was apparent. It wasn't as if you minded doing things like this. You've been together for a while now and you've fed him dozens of times; though he's never requested you to do it like today and in public at that. You were just a bit. . . taken off guard. You took a moment to glance around, your eyes flitting across the pier in search of anyone who might have been watching, and then you turned back to Luke as your fingers pinched off another chunk of pink fluff. You lifted your hand, slowly guiding it towards his lips as he leaned forwards to meet you midway. His eyes lock with yours as he opens his mouth, allowing you to press the piece of cotton candy onto his tongue before his mouth closes and the tips of your fingers brush against his soft lips. You blush, blinking heavily almost as if you were coming out of a daze, and before either of you could say a thing, the sound of loud popping suddenly goes off.
You're the first to break your gaze away from Luke's and turn your attention towards the night sky as it lights up with dozens of fireworks. Over the booming, you could distantly hear the sound of awe from the other people around you and even you allow some gasps to escape you as you grin up at the sky above. The fireworks are pretty and combined with the darkened sky and sea, each color appeared vividly. You're so taken with the sight before you that you barely register the feeling of Luke grabbing your hand and entwining your fingers together. You glance over to your side, catching his gaze once more that only makes your cheeks burn once again from the remaining embarrassment of the incident before.
You’re just about to turn away from him in order to cool down your burning cheeks but then you feel the brush of his hand against the side of your head, sweetly tucking locks of your hair behind your ear as he lifts your chin to meet his gaze once more. His eyes stare into your own, a shining coral that almost matches the dusky rose-colored firework that just went off, and in them, you can practically see all of his unspoken feelings.
He’s told you he’s loved you before, you didn’t need him to say it every day for you to understand that. Each second he spent with you he conveyed all he felt in his actions. You knew he loved you in the way he held you and the way he softly pressed his lips onto your skin. You could accurately pinpoint all of his differing emotions; all the words of adoration and love he hadn't yet said to you. You were so familiar with him and his warmth, it was almost second nature to you, but under his tender stare at this moment; you felt as if he were confessing them all for the very first time.
Your heart stuttered in your chest, your stomach erupting into butterflies as he peered so closely at you it felt as if you were just about to drown in him, He held you tenderly, lovingly, with gentle fingers spread across the small of your back as he pulled you closer. When his lips finally met yours, you didn’t hesitate to return his kiss.
“Marry me,” He breathlessly whispers in between kisses; his eyes darkened by his lashes, gaze into your own with languid desire. You hear his words clearly over the sound of fireworks and in surprise, you blink. "Marry me." He repeats again as if cementing that thought into your brain himself.
This was the event you anticipated since he brought you out here and though you might have thought it as a possibility, it still ended up taking you by surprise. This was the question you knew he was ruminating on during the day; thoughtfully deciding when it was the right time to ask you. You couldn't imagine the nerves it took for Luke to put himself out there, waiting with bated breath as you were left with the decision that could ruin the two of you. Your heart skipped in your chest again, a gasp leaving your parted lips as he kissed you once more.
You wondered if he was afraid of your answer; kissing you to prolong your decision as if that were to change something. You already knew what you wanted to say. You knew it from the day you first confessed to him with blushing cheeks and a stutter Luke swears was adorable. You knew it from the day he finally told you about his sickness; swearing to you that he’d do everything in his power to extend his time here if only to have a few more months with you. You didn't need to think twice about your decision. There was no use in giving the excuse of needing time when the answer was standing right before you clear as day. There was no going back. When you accepted his feelings for you and when you first told him you loved him, it only finalized the ending you already knew best.
Luke is your fate and no matter the consequences that followed; your place was at his side as it always was. You’d gladly tie yourself to him if only it meant to spend just a little more time basking in his presence. He was the only one you could count on, your home in the sea of unfamiliarity, your source of strength in the face of hardships.
Your happiness in a bleak world.
“Okay,” You say after he breaks from you again, his lips wet from your lip gloss and expression blanking as he processes your words. “Let’s get married.” Finally, his eyes light up at your affirmation and you can barely suppress your grin at his obvious excitement.
You squeal as he suddenly lifts you off your feet, twirling you around as he tightly embraces you against him. He laughs in your ear, a warm tenor that has you bubbling with a feeling of happiness. Your cheeks hurt from the grin you hold but you don’t drop it for even a second. You were excited for the future; for the days to come and for the years that would follow after taking his last name.
As you watched Luke slip the ring onto your finger, the precious gem catching the light of the colored fireworks above, you couldn’t think of a better feeling in the world than the bliss you felt in that moment.