Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The bell situated above the cobalt double doors of the Crystalabra chime, signaling an arrival to the crystal shop. The arrival is none other than Alice.

”Heinz?” She says the name of the shop’s owner, since she has something for him. 

“Ah, Alice, it’s wonderful to see you.” Looking to her right and above at the godlike man, Alice graces him with her sweet smile. 

“Hey, Lucas, how are you doing today?” Shutting the doors behind her, she steps closer to her friend, who’s sitting on the bench. His glasses are slightly tipped down the bridge of his nose with sweat, which is to be expected given the heat of the summer outside.

”Wonderful, especially now that you’re here,” Lucas smiles back at the pretty ranger. She was the first person he met in this lovely town, after all. He feels immensely grateful for her. 

“You’re very sweet, thank you,” Alice giggles at Lucas’ compliment. “I’m happy to see you, too. Where’s Heinz?” 

“He is downstairs with an important customer,” Lucas responds, pushing his glasses back up with a white-gloved finger. “I recently appraised a gem that fetches quite the price. They’re negotiating for it now.” 

“Oh, really? That’s neat.” Even though he exasperates her a lot, Alice is rather fond of Heinz and wants him to do well, especially since he leaves his shop in Lucas’ care much of the time (not that Lucas is ineffective at running it - quite the opposite). “I have something to for him, so I’ll just slip downstairs and leave it on his desk. Do you have a piece of paper and a pen?”

“I do.” Lucas raises his hand. “One, two, three!” Just like that, the items Alice requested appear in his hand. “Here you go.”

”Thanks!” Alice takes the items, smiles at Lucas quickly, and writes off a quick note for Heinz. “I’ll be quick.” Taking the note, she pulls what she has for Heinz out of her pack. It’s platinum - she got more than she anticipated while she was out mining with Martin and since she knew Heinz likes such things, she’s bringing it to him as a gift.

There are two voices downstairs, just like Lucas indicated. The conversation is easy and flowing, no sign of tension or argument which must mean things are going well. Alice does her best not to disturb them, but even with her quietness, Heinz looks up at her. (It’s the bright pink and white outfit/uniform she’s always wearing. It stands out against the darkness of Heinz’s quarters.)

“Alice,” Heinz says, his face at first surprised, then he smiles softly. 

“Hello,” Alice greets him with her own smile, “I didn’t mean to disturb you and your meeting. I’m sorry.”

”No, no, you’re alright, young lady,” Heinz’s customer assures her, holding up an easygoing hand. 

“Indeed, it’s wonderful to see you, my dear,” Heinz tells her with a bigger smile. 

“I’m glad to see you too. I brought you something.” She holds up the platinum and Heinz’s purple eyes widen then sparkle like amethysts. “Platinum!”

”Why, Alice, it’s lovely! Thank you so much!” Heinz stands up from his chair to take it from her hands, alongside snatching the note from her fingers. “Oh, what’s this?” Holding the piece of paper up to his face, he reads it.

I know you’re busy, best of luck! Have this as a reward for your efforts!

-Alice ❤️

“That is some pretty fine platinum,” the customer comments, standing up to look at it. “Where did you find it?”

”This morning, I went mining in a place called the Thunderous Wastes,” Alice explains. “It’s very dangerous, so please don’t go into it unless you have proper protection and experience.”

”I’ve heard of that place. It is quite a dangerous place,” the customer nods. He looks at Heinz. “You must be quite worried about her going into places like that.”

”Sometimes,” Heinz confesses, much to Alice’s surprise. “But, most of the time, no. She’s a very capable SEED ranger and the sweetest person. She can take care of herself.” The smile he gives her reaffirms his words, and she feels her face heating up.

”Oh, thank you,” she breathes gratefully. “I don’t mean to make you worried.”

“If I can be frank, it’s out of control,” Heinz replies. “I, and we in town as a whole, are always going to worry about you. You’re very precious to us all.”

”You can’t be frank,” Alice says, failing to suppress her grin and giggle at Heinz’s confused face. “Your name’s Heinz.” His sense of humor is rubbing off on her, and she doesn’t mind a bit.

Heinz gets the joke and bursts into joyful laughter alongside her. 

The customer watches this scene with a wistful smile. “You are very fortunate, Mr. Heinz,” he says, “to have your daughter work with you.” 

His remarks cuts both off their laughter and makes them pause with widened eyes. “Huh?” That’s all Alice can manage at that moment, too surprised to say anything else. This man thinks she’s Heinz’s daughter? A quick side glance at Heinz confirms he’s thinking the same thing she is.

“My children are much too young to travel with me,” the customer continues. “I would love to take them along, but that wouldn’t be fair to them or to my husband. They have lives of their own and it wouldn't be fair to demand they revolve around me. Still, it would be a great thing if they were with me, or I with them.”

Ever sympathetic, Alice speaks, “Maybe when they’re older, sir. You never know.” (She is a highly hopeful person and always wishes to spread it, no matter how much or how little.)

The customer smiles at her gratefully. “You’re a very kind young lady. Thank you, miss.” He looks at Heinz now. “I’ll take the gem. Is this enough for it?” He places a purse the size of an ore onto the desk, making Alice and Heinz gasp.

”That's so much! Is it really worth that much?” 

“It is,” the customer confirms for her, “and part of it is extra since you’ve warmed my heart.”

”I accept,” Heinz says with an air of grace and humbleness. “Thank you very much sir.” The two men shake hands, and Alice watches as Lucas comes to collect the man to sign over the gem to the shop, guiding him upstairs. “Alice?”

”Hm? What is it, Heinz?” When she looks at him, she sees a seriousness that is rare for him.

”I’m sorry for that awkwardness with the customer,” Heinz apologizes, pressing two fingers to his forehead and shutting his eyes with a heavy sigh. “And I'm sorry for burdening you with my worries. I know you’re strong.”

”I’m not sorry for any of it,” Alice informs him, surprising him. 

“Whatever do you mean?”

Alice smiles gently. “You’re worried about me because you care about me. I worry about you, too, because I care about you. And…since I can’t remember a thing before I came here, I…do think of you as a father.” It’s true. His dad jokes, tendency to embarrass her in public, and unconditionally support and encourage her, made her think of the crystal shop’s owner as the closest thing to a father she has.

Her admission shocks Heinz, his jaw hitting the floor, and despite his mouth being wide open, he can’t say a thing. If he could, he would thank her. Thank her for coming into his life, being her sweet, lovely self, always helping him out, and being concerned about him. And he would say he does think of her as the daughter he's never had. (And Lucas is the son he’s never had.)

His slack-jawed expression leaves him open for one last joke. “Close your mouth, you’re killing the flies!” Alice jeers lightheartedly before she runs upstairs laughing her head off.

Chapter Text

Cecil really hates being treated like a child. He knows it’s because everyone loves and worries about him, but they really shouldn’t! He’s a capable adult just like the rest of them (except for Hina and Julian, who are children)! So why do they handle him with kid’s gloves Terry is the exception. He’s responsible for getting Cecil into detective work, after all, and he also took him on as an apprentice. 

Martin may be a workaholic but Cecil knows that his big brother loves him. (He was searching for one of Fuuka’s ‘shinies’ one day when he overheard Martin confessing to Master Darroch that the only things he cared about were Cecil and blacksmithing. That felt really good to hear, and he made their favorite, fruit sandwiches, for dinner that night.) And as much as he may hate and protest it, he knows that Martin treats Cecil like a kid because he’s scared of losing him like they lost their (very much alive, just missing) parents, and doesn’t want his baby brother to get hurt. (For the life of him, Martin is horrific with his words, and can’t tell Cecil how much he really means to him.)

Alice has never treated Cecil like a child. She’s always treated him like a man. She takes him seriously at all times, and even agreed to be his friend on her very first day in town. Every day she comes to see him, and they talk about books and suspicious activities (like Fuuka’s scratch board, Ryker’s mysterious black bag, and the can Reinhard made Julian a toy from). Because of her kind heart and warm personality, Alice quickly became a very special person to Cecil. 

So when Alice took a temporary leave of absence from SEED and joined Terry’s detective agency, Cecil was over the moon. They would be partners! And partners they were! Sure, Alice’s stint as a detective was brief, but Cecil counted the days she worked with him and Terry as one of the happiest times in his life. (One of the worst times in his life was the day she returned to SEED, because he was ready to ask for her help in searching for his and Martin’s parents.)

Alice is Cecil’s best friend. She is very important to him and he will always be eternally grateful that she ended up in Rigbarth.

One day, Cecil is dashing to the agency when a beautiful sound catches his ears. Like a forcefield is thrown up in front of him, he halts almost immediately, his ears (and his soul) aching for more of that sound. Lady Luck smiles upon him because he hears it again right away. By the sound of it, it’s coming from the Great Tree Plaza. This is his own personal case, the Case of the Most Beautiful Sound He’s Ever Heard, so he heads off in a hurry to the plaza. At the entrance, a sharp turn of his head to the left has him find the source of the noise. 

Alice is the source of the noise. It rings out from her wide open mouth, her grassy-green eyes squeezed shut and tears pricking the corners of her shut eyes. She’s sprawled out on the grass in the plaza, her arms around Hina and Julian, sitting next to her, both of them playfully fighting for a place in her lap. Both of them settle for leaning heavily on her legs, wrapping their arms around the older girl. Julian has Alice’s ranger hat on his head and all of them are laughing.

Cecil is frozen in place. A subtle shudder rolls through his body like a winter’s chill and the next second it’s burned away by the heat in his face. Alice looks joyful as she usually does and is as carefree as the children she’s playing with.

The Case of the Most Beautiful Sound He’s Ever Heard has been solved. Alice is the culprit and Cecil suspects she’ll always be. Now begins the Case of Why He Gets Hot Around Alice.

He asks Mr. Terry about it, because Mr. Terry is the greatest detective he’s ever known. Mr. Terry’s eyes go wide for a blink before he sips the warm milk Alice brought him (she brings him a meal daily because she worries he doesn’t eat enough with his work) and takes a slow chew of his toast.

“Cecil, this is a case for you to figure out on your own,” Mr. Terry says with gentle firmness. “It’s important you do.” His answer confuses Cecil but he trusts Mr. Terry as much as he trusts Martin and Alice.

Alice, there’s her name in his head again, making his face hot and his heart feel lighter and beat a little faster. He needs to solve this case.

*

Cecil opens the door to the agency and Terry looks up immediately, thinking it’s a customer, but he’s surprised. Cecil usually makes bombastic entrances and is loud, but not today. He looks somber, sullen. Deep in thought, complete with the cupping of his chin as he lowers himself into one of the armchairs. He’s distracted and Terry understands that he’s solved his case. 

”I’d offer you warm milk but you hate the stuff,” Terry says, getting up from his desk. “So I’ll just listen, if that’s what you want.”

”Mr. Terry,” Cecil begins, not looking at his mentor, “I did it. I solved my case. Alice is the culprit?”

”Is she? That lovely young lady?” Terry acts like he doesn’t know this is the answer.

”That's right,” Cecil confirms. “She’s lovely as can be. And she’s a thief.”

A thief? That’s not at all Alice’s character, but Terry wants to hear all the details. “That doesn’t seem like her.”

Cecil smirks a bit, which is actually the most startling thing about all this. Cecil doesn’t smirk. Then he lets out a humorless, smug kind of chuckle, like a detective from a story who’s about to reveal the killer. “It’s always the ones you least suspect,” he says. “Alice is like that, too. She doesn’t even know what she’s done. A real accidental criminal.”

”Cecil, what did you find?” Terry prods gently, not liking this change in Cecil. (He’s getting seriously worried, wondering if he should go get Martin.)

Like a popped balloon, Cecil slumps in the chair. The smugness disappears from his features and he lets out a long sigh. Now he’s back to wearing his heart on his sleeve, and it’s blue. “I’m in love with Alice. She’s stolen my heart.”

Chapter Text

“I love you, Luda,” Alice whispers into her new wife’s neck. This isn’t the first time they’ve done this. They’ve shared the bed before (mostly at Ludmila’s house/shop, because Scarlett’s face takes on her namesake when she sees them together) and they’ve made love and whispered how much they love each other after midnight. Well, when they got together, Alice expressed her love for the succubus daily and Ludmila expressed her love for her Earthmate significant other daily too. They are now married, having gotten married the day before. Technically, it’s their wedding night.

”Oh, my darling,” Ludmila grins, her face glowing in the darkness (not like Alice could ever forget this gorgeous face) with the light of her massive smile. Her long limbs wrap like a plant around Alice. (One of her favorite things about her favorite person/thing in all the universe is how short Alice is - save for the children, Cecil, Fuuka and Priscilla, Alice is shorter than all of Rigbarth’s citizens. And Ludmila loves it! It makes it easier for her to hold Alice, carry Alice, hug Alice, spoon Alice, Alice Alice Alice…) “I love you so much more.”

The moonlight through the window catches onto blonde hair like a halo. Grassy green eyes sparkle like emeralds. “I don’t actually think so,” Alice admits with her own grin and a shy pink blush.

Heart eyes blink. “What do you mean, sweetie?”

”I mean”- Alice laces their fingers together, pulling their intertwined hands up to her mouth to kiss Ludmila’s knuckles, “-I have loved you since we met.”

Ludmila’s heart stops. This is it, she’s died, and she’s in Heaven. Testing the waters of her paradise, she pulls her hand out of the other’s grip and moves her hand to the soft face, cupping her chin. 

Alice keeps grinning, and she’s so real. They’re alive, and this isn’t a crazy dream Ludmila is having while she’s dying. “Really?” The succubus doesn’t trust her own voice anymore. Joy when her heart’s trying to make a getaway out of her body.

”Really,” Alice promises, the embodiment of truth. “I was just hesitant because I lost all my memories before I came here, and suddenly I meet this beautiful woman who’s into me?” The smile on her face becomes shyer, bitter? “I mean, I’m nothing special. And you’re…the most amazing person I’ve ever met. I’m sure if I could remember what my life was like before Rigbarth, I’d still think that.”

“No!” Ludmila shouts, startling Alice (and making her body shudder so wonderfully). 

There’s a thump on the floor. “Quiet!” Scarlett shouts from her room. “It’s 1am!”

”Sorry, Scarlett!” Alice shouts back, blushing. “I’ll have to take her shift tomorrow to apologize for that. It’s a good thing Captain Livia sleeps like the dead.”

Ludmila grabs Alice’s face, surprising the blonde once again. Alice is so beautiful, looking at her or hearing her wonderful voice or even just thinking about her is enough to fill Ludmila’s heart. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” the succubus says with complete seriousness. She isn’t even smiling, her normal dreamy tone gone. “You are everything to me, and I knew it the second I laid eyes on you. The first time we spoke, I knew how much you meant to me.” Ludmila was ready to lay her life down for Alice within the first minute. She runs her thumbs down her new wife’s face, and Alice shuts her eyes, pressing into Ludmila’s touch. “And…you saved me. Not just from the monsters in the hideout. You have literally saved my life, Alice. Never again will I be in danger of dying because of a broken, empty heart. I’ll never have to absorb anyone’s life force to stay alive. And I’ll never wonder if I’ll ever have anyone who loves me completely. You know why? You. You made all of this possible for me. You gave me a home, a job, and a dream. I’m a wife. My wife is the woman of my dreams. You did all of this for me.” Taking a deep breath, Ludmila grins at her wife, whose green eyes are filling with tears. “So, my darling, I’m pretty sure I’ve got you beat at the game of who loves who more.”

The tears in Alice’s eyes are happy ones. “Ludmila…I just love you so much,” she admits, burying her tearful face back into her wife’s neck and hugging her tight. “I can’t say any of that. But I love you so much. More than anything.”

“And that’s all I need. You and your love are all I need.” Ludmila kisses the part in Alice’s hair. Alice returns the favor by kissing her neck, making her shiver deliciously. 

*

The next morning, Scarlett goes up to the second floor of the Silo to scold the newlyweds for being loud last night. She’s got her lecture prepared-

-And she stops short when she gets there.

Alice and Ludmila are fast asleep, curled up in each other, close as they can be. Both women are smiling in their peaceful sleep. Their wedding rings are on the bedside table next to Alice’s diary.

The annoyance drains out of Scarlett. “I shouldn’t be so stringent, just this once,” she whispers to herself as she looks upon the couple. “They did just get married, after all. Next time, I’ll scold them.” Turning around, she goes to the staircase, putting her hand on the railing. Taking one last look at the sleeping couple, intertwined with each other, she smiles softly before she heads back downstairs to prepare for her day. 

Chapter Text

Martin fell in love with Alice at first sight. One day he’s going to tell her that, if she doesn’t already know it. She knows him like the back of her hand, and it’s been like that ever since they first met. Her earliest visits to the smithy quickly became some of the brightest times in his life, and it didn’t take him long to for her to become his favorite customer. He almost couldn’t believe that she’d fallen for him too, and still wanted to kick himself for not being the one to first speak about his feelings. Although, putting those feelings into words was his weakest point, so maybe it was better that Alice in all her courage was the first to speak up. At the beginning of autumn, they became a couple. They got married near the end of winter, which was one of the happiest days of Martin’s life. (It was on the same pedestal with the day Cecil was born and the day he started smithing.)

Eight days later, Alice came up to him after they just got up for the day. She was smiling, but there was a tiredness in it. Martin credited that to the work she’d been so busy with lately. “Ironheart,” she said softly, “I need to tell you something. Can we sit down?” 

“Sure,” Martin answered immediately, and they sat on the bed. “Steelheart, what do you have to tell me?” 

Alice laced their fingers together, squeezing his hand. “Captain Livia’s sister has gone missing, and we know where she is.”

”Alright. You two are going to retrieve her, right?”

”Yes.” Alice looked away from her husband, squeezing his hand tighter, which began to concern him. ”Martin.” Her use of his name, which she rarely did anymore, turned the concern into worry. “Where Captain Livia and I are going…we may not return.”

The room fell so silent, not even an owl crowed. Martin’s heart more than made up for it, hammering like his hand did at work. Molten gold eyes grew to the size of shields. “What?” That was all he could say, his voice a hollow shell of itself.

Alice shut her eyes and inhaled through her nose. “We’re the only ones who can do this. I can’t give you full specifics, but…if I come back, I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”

Martin’s mind went into overdrive. All of his thoughts were of Alice and the words she’d just spoken. 

We may not return.

If I come back…

His thoughts took a turn for the worse. They showed him the possibility of a life without Alice. The left he’d led a year ago was now undesirable, since his life then didn’t have Alice in it. A life where he loved and lost her? For him, that was hell. “No,” Martin whispered, shaking his head. “You can’t go. There has to be another way.”

Sighing heavily, Alice shook her head now. “There isn’t, Ironheart,” she told him gently. “This is the only way. Heck, I’m not even supposed to tell you a thing, but i refuse to deprive you of…of…”

”Of what, Alice?” Martin asked, heart pounding faster to the point it was painful.

”Of a goodbye.” Alice opened her eyes, and they were tearful. “I love you, Martin. And if I couldn’t say goodbye to you, I’d go with that as my biggest regret.”

Taking her smaller hand in both of his, he cupped her face with his other hand and had her look at him. The molten gold was now glowing. “Don’t let it be a regret, okay? Just come back to me. I love you, too.”

Through her tears, Alice was startled, but she couldn’t help giggling a bit. “I love how blunt you are, Ironheart. You always get to the point of things. I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to return to Rigbarth…and to you.”

They hugged tightly, neither willing to let go until Captain Livia arrived to regretfully break it up. Alice squeezed her husband, kissed him, and with a watery smile, she dutifully, resolutely followed her captain out of the Silo.

*

Alice and Captain Livia were gone for 5 days. They missed New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Everyone in Rigbarth missed them, especially Alice. Everyone missed her terribly.

No one missed Alice more than Martin. The heat of his beloved forge couldn’t compare to the warmth and light Alice brought into his life. The bed was cold from the lack of Alice, and he found himself clutching her nightgown, which held her strongest scent. All the days she was gone, her scent faded, and on the fifth day, there was barely any trace of her left in the nightgown.

Darroch was deeply worried about him. Martin was intense as ever at work, but he wasn’t taking care of himself. He nearly passed out while forging, and after that, Darroch forced him to go home to rest and eat. (Darroch knew that Alice and the Field Captain were out on a dangerous secret mission, and while it was left unsaid, the grim look on Scarlett’s face told them all that it was possible that neither would return with breath in their lungs.) Shockingly, Martin didn’t put up a fight to his master’s directions, and went home without a word.

Cecil came over for a long visit everyday. He did his absolute best to keep his older brother’s spirits up, including by making their favorite food - Fruit Sandwiches. Martin genuinely appreciated his younger brother’s efforts. One day he’d tell him that. He would never tell Cecil that Alice’s Fruit Sandwiches were superior. (In Martin’s opinion, Alice was a better cook than Elsje.) 

*

On the fifth day, Lucas opens up a portal, showing all of the town that Alice is possessed by the powerful creature she and Captain Livia were sent to defeat. There, it’s made real for Martin. Alice tried to warn him.

’I didn’t want to deprive you of a goodbye.’

Martin has been in denial about it all this time, until right now. 

I could lose my wife.

As if a bucket of ice water has been thrown over him, Martin goes numb. Losing Alice has never been a more real possibility than it is now. He goes stiff, crossing his arms, unable to do anything else but playback the horrific words in his mind.

”Everyone! Tell Alice how you feel about her!” Captain Livia calls for everyone desperately.

The ladies go first, each one proclaiming their deep affection for the young blonde. Then the spotlight is shone on Martin.

”Please, come back. You’re important to this town. And…you’re important to me, too,” Martin says, and Cecil quickly speaks up. He wants to stick his head into the forge for stating the obvious. Of course Alice is important to him, they’re married for gods’ sake! But he couldn’t let all of the things he really wants to say out. His knees and hands are shaking. 

The shaking doesn’t cease until he sees Alice. Bright and beautiful as ever as she walks down the Main Street of town, everyone happily greeting her. Their friends have him stand in the center, smack in front of the Great Tree, and when their eyes lock, Alice smiles even happier. Martin smiles back at her. They hug each other tight.

”I missed you,” she whispers in his ear.

His vocal cords aren’t working, so he just hugs her tighter and she giggles, getting what he’s trying to convey.

*Later that night*

”I don’t know about you, Ironheart, but I’m exhausted,” Alice yawns, pulling at her nightgown. By the tone of her voice, she’s smiling. “I missed my bed, after you and the town. I understand Elsje better now.”

Martin stands there, in his own nightclothes, frozen once again. Alice is here, and she is alive. She returned to town, and to him.

”Ironheart?” Alice says, noticing that he’s staring at her (through the feeling of being watched). He doesn’t answer her, just keeps staring like he’s in shock. Tilting her head, she tries again. “Ironheart?” Still nothing. In a few quick strides, Martin crosses the room to where she’s standing and wraps his arms around her, much to her surprise. “Martin, what’s the matter?”

Martin hugs her tighter in response, and she notices that he’s shaking. “I thought I was going to lose you,” he confesses, swaying a little, so he sinks to the floor, taking her with him. His grip on her doesn’t let up, in fact it gets tighter. “I can’t believe I almost lost you.” Burying his face into her shoulder, he sniffles. Relief washes over him like hot water. 

Alice’s eyes widen. Martin is crying. This is new for her, especially since he has trouble putting his feelings into words. “Martin?” His grip on her is so tight she can’t move her arms.

”I want to grow old with you,” Martin confesses, tears pouring down his face. “I want to be there for you. I want us to be together forever. And for a few days, I didn’t know if I was going to get any of that. You’re so important to me. Gods, I’ve always loved you. Always have, always will.” His tears soak the shoulder of her nightdress. 

Alice feels like her heart is about to burst. She has always known that Martin loves her, and he expresses it in his own unique way. That’s one of the many reasons why she loves her husband. Now he’s having word-vomit, voicing every one of his feelings.

”Don’t ever do that to me again,” Martin chokes out. “Please. I can’t handle it. This was the worst time in my life, not knowing if I’d get to achieve my dream.”

”Your dream?” Alice asks. Yes, she’s aware that Martin’s dream of being the world’s best blacksmith is extremely important to him. It is to her, too, but she has no idea what it has to do with any of this. Wait, Darroch did say something about him not being able to forge while she was gone. Guilt pangs in her heart, but before she can say anything in apology, he speaks up.

”You,” Martin says, “you’re my dream.”

Alice gasps in his arms. “Next to being the world’s greatest blacksmith?” She has to ask. 

“Above being the world’s greatest blacksmith,” Martin corrects. “So please…don’t take my dream away.”

Tears swim in Alice’s eyes now. “I promise you. I won’t. I’ll always return to you. Because you’re my dream, too, Martin. The most important one of all the ones I hold.” Martin’s grip loosens enough for her to hug him back. “I love you, Ironheart.”

”And I’ve always loved you, Steelheart.”

The couple spend another few minutes on the floor before they get up, hand in hand, to go to bed. They fall asleep hugging, kissing, promising, dreaming and most of all, loving. 

Chapter Text

“Try not to come home too late.”

Irony is the piano that accompanies Martin’s words to Alice after he gave her her lunch (strawberry milk - a favorite of hers) and before he kissed her and Iris goodbye. She kissed him lovingly as she always did, giving him a quick but tight hug. 

“I’ll certainly try,” she promised him as she handed him his lunch - a fruit sandwich, his absolute favorite. “Same to you, Ironheart.”

The flame of the forge hides his blush but isn’t as hot as the heat in his face. He loves their nicknames for each other. Her heart is strong as steel, in her kindness and convictions. His heart is like iron - constantly adjusting to the heat of his love for her, for his profession, and for their family and changing to become better than it was before. Not to mention if Simone were to open his chest up, there would be a miniature Alice in place of a heart. And now with their little girl, Iris. Iris would be in her father’s chest too, in her mother’s arms, with her uncle Cecil smiling widely, holding up his beloved magnifying glass (that was a gift from Terry).

The thought of his daughter brings a smile to the blazing face. Though she’s still so young, Iris has wisdom beyond her tender years and her personality is a culmination of her family - her mother, her father, and her uncle, Cecil. Serious, observant, and such a sweet thing. She looks just like her mother, who’s the most beautiful thing Martin’s ever laid his eyes on, and so she’s a beautiful one too. (Martin thinks his daughter is the most adorable child that’s ever existed. The fact he may be biased since he’s Iris’ father doesn’t even occur to him.)

“That’s it, Martin,” Darroch’s voice breaks him out of his reverie. “That’s the last one. Let me see it.”

Martin didn’t even realize he finished the sword. His mind was full of thoughts about Alice, Iris and Cecil. His family. So his body was on autopilot, getting him through by muscle memory. “Yes sir.” Making sure the metal is cool enough, he lifts it by the hilt and presents it to his master.

With a practiced hand, Darroch lifts it up to the dying lamp. “Amazin’,” he praises his right-hand man. “This is one of your finest works yet.”

Martin bows. “Thank you very much, sir. I do my very best.” 

“The customer will be ecstatic. Now, it’s time for you to go home,” Darroch says, setting the weapon down in its proper place, awaiting the customer to pick it up in the morning. “It’s almost midnight, and you have people waiting on you.”

“Yes sir, that’s true.” Ever since he and Martin got together, he actually looks forward to going home. When they were dating, she would come over for dinner with him and Cecil, and then they would go to the baths, hand-in-hand (as Cecil grinned like the Meowling who got the Pink Melon). When they got married, Martin made it a point to finish his work up as soon as he could without making anything sloppy  so he could return to Alice and their home. That feeling only increases with each passing day, as they love each other dearly. Now that they have Iris, it’s almost like an alarm.

“Don’t keep Alice and Iris waiting any longer,” Darroch continues gently. 

Martin has already put away his tools for the night, and has the door open into the summer night. “I will not sir. I’ll see you tomorrow, Master Darroch.” 

“Goodnight, Martin.” Darroch watches the young man leave, watching him rush to the Silo through the window of the smithy. There is a pull at the dwarf’s heart. He loves Martin, and sees him as his own son. Cecil, too. (Terry apparently sees Cecil and Martin as younger brothers.) Therefore, Alice is his daughter-in-law and little Iris is his granddaughter. As the dwarf lays in bed, shutting his eyes for the first time in nearly 18 hours, he wonders how he can swing a family forge visit.

*

The door to their home closes quietly. Iris is undoubtedly in bed by now and a glance at the bed confirms that. She isn’t alone. Alice lays beside her, mother and daughter snuggled into each other as they sleep peacefully, breaths sounding soft. Pink catches the side of Martin’s eye and a further glance to their guest bed confirms Cecil’s here, too. Judging by the detective books, paper, crayons and three empty plates at the table, they were having family time. Guilt pangs Martin’s heart until he sees there’s a fourth plate full of fruit sandwich, in his place at the table. 

They did not forget about him. 

Martin is the luckiest man to have ever lived.

He’s starving, but that can wait till morning. Quietly as he can, he removes his clothes to exchange them for pajamas. His gauntlets are suddenly the loudest things in the world, and with every squeak he winces, frantically glancing to see if he’s woken anyone up. Cecil’s occasional snore lets him know he hasn’t. When he’s in his nightclothes, he walks over to the guest bed, watching his younger brother sleep. He pulls the blanket over Cecil’s shoulder, something he hasn’t done since they were young, before he crosses back to his own side of the bed. Carefully lifting up the thin blanket, he slides right into place -

- And is startled by bright green.

”Hi,” Alice whispers, half-asleep but happy as can be. “Welcome home. I missed you.” She reaches out for him and he scoots as close as he can, hugging her and their daughter into his arms.

”I missed you too,” he whispers back. His fingers, constantly busy, draw nonsensical patterns into the back of her upper arm.

”Time for bed,” she whispers, motioning to Iris with her eyes. “I love you.”

Propping himself up, he steals a kiss from her, kissing the part in her hair. “And I’ve always loved you, Steelheart.”

Alice has a slightly infuriating habit of doing everything herself. Right now, she’s made Martin the happiest man alive, stealing his promise to her. 

Chapter Text

The unused second story of the Silo is no longer unused when Scarlett arrived back from the capital. The capital is where she technically “mainly” works, but her current assignment is here in Rigbarth. A long distance, long-term assignment. She loves the little town, and the assignment itself is a fairly easy one. It’s little, as she mentioned, and quiet, yet so full of character and spirit. They have long made her one of their own, for which she’ll always be grateful for and reciprocal of. She fully expected for it to just be her and Captain Livia in the Silo, save for the few rangers that the capital or other areas sent for backup and whatnot.

Captain Livia cheerfully informs her the morning she gets back (since she got back in late the previous evening), “Good morning, Scarlett! We have a new housemate!”

Scarlett hardly has the time to raise her eyebrows before the door to the captain’s office is burst open. The first thing the senior ranger notices is the SEED uniform, and her well-tuned mind is quick to dismiss it as simply another ranger from out of town who would leave the second their assignment here is finished. 

Her mind, which is keen and critical, doesn’t let her dismiss the ranger yet. There’s golden-blonde hair, falling to the shoulders in waves reminiscent of the ones on the beaches nearby, skin as creamy as the strawberry shortcake served at the Lackadaisy, and the biggest apple-green eyes full of determination, wonder and curiosity. Scarlett takes all these in as fact. 

“Oh good, you’re here!” Captain Livia chirps as Scarlett turns to face the arriving ranger. “Scarlett, this is Alice. Alice, meet Scarlett.”

“I’ve heard about you,” Scarlett says, not bothering with a greeting. The picture has been completed, now she has the face for the name. She’s heard of this Alice. 

“Oh, really?” Those big green eyes sparkle, and Alice’s unblemished lips curl into a pleased, somewhat bashful smile. Again, Scarlett takes this a mere fact. What cheek, the elf thinks with secret disdain, as it goes to serve her preconceived notions about the newest member of SEED’s rangers. “I’ve heard of you, too. Good things!” The lips lift into more pleasure.

”Let me get straight to the point. I cannot accept you as a ranger of SEED,” Scarlett states bluntly. Captain Livia gasps, then groans in exasperation and like she’s used to this. (She is.) Alice stops smiling and her eyes dim, not out of any negative emotion, but in curiosity. Her head even tilts. (Her cap is off-kilter. It’s driving Scarlett nuts but she won’t say anything. It may help get Alice released as a ranger.) “I am aware of the circumstances of which you come, and while I am sorry for them, it’s not enough. It takes hard work and time to become a full-fledged ranger of SEED, not pathetic circumstances and rescuing one missing person.”

”Scarlett,” Captain Livia sighs, but Alice shakes her head, eyes shut. Scarlett waits for what she has to say.

She doesn’t at all expect for Alice to slowly smile, her cheeks lifting into a toothy grin. Her eyes open, and they’re sparkling brighter than emeralds. 

“Don’t worry,” Alice says, “this will all be funny once we’re married.”

Captain Livia bursts out laughing. 

Scarlett is caught so off-guard she actually stumbles. She rights her posture right away, demanding “E-excuse me?!” that comes out as a splutter, much to her embarrassment. Her face is hotter than the Kelve Lava Caves. Alice hasn’t moved, she just continues to grin. “We’ve just met! And I’d never marry someone like you!”

”Alright, alright, that’s enough,” Captain Livia chooses now to step in through the cracks of her laughter. She clears her throat. “If you really feel that way, Scarlett, then I have a proposition for the two of you. We’ll settle this matter like rangers.”

A competition to see who can investigate the coincidentally, aforementioned Kelve Lava Caves. There’s been a runic disturbance that warrants the investigation. Scarlett accepts it right away, and snaps at Alice when she shows reservation at the danger. “Then stay home and take a nap or something,” the elf snaps, “and let me do my job.”

For the first time since they’ve met, Alice doesn’t smile. “I can’t do that,” she says simply, full of resolution. Her face takes on the determination that was in her eyes a few short minutes ago. She faces Captain Livia. “I also accept the challenge.”

The two of them waste no time in setting off, and split once they get to the entrance. Scarlett takes every shortcut, but to her surprise there are no monsters waiting for her or her dual blades. Her logic tells her why but she stubbornly refuses to listen. “A coincidence,” she decides, walking with the area with the blades in her hands, ready for oncoming attackers. “That’s all.” 

Those attackers do not come, and when she gets to the mouth of the caves she’s forced to listen to her logic.

Alice stands there, weapon in hand. She isn’t even panting. At Scarlett’s arrival, she turns and smiles at the other ranger who does not smile back at her. “Hey, you’re here! Great! So these are the Kelve Lava Caves, huh?”

”You’re already here?” Scarlett can’t keep the surprise out of her voice. She shakes her head. “No matter. Next time you won’t. This place is full of dangerous monsters, so if you want to head back, do so now.”

Alice shoulders her weapon, and tosses a toothy grin over her shoulder. Scarlett feels a mixture of annoyance, anger and disbelief at this. “No thanks,” she says easily and without hesitation, “people need our help. It would go against everything I believe to turn back.” The stark contrast between her lighthearted facial expression and the serious conviction of her words startles Scarlett into dropping her unfriendly frown, and conveying such emotions on her face. Alice’s face softens and she takes her weapon off her shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go in together. Then we can split up at the entrance and resume the competition.”

Just when she thought she couldn’t get more surprised, she does. “Why would you do that?” Scarlett blurts. 

Alice doesn’t look startled. She shrugs. “Because it’s fair?” She says it like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

Scarlett doesn’t have anything to say to that. She and Alice walk into the cave together. 

“Best of luck, Scarlett!” Alice calls before she darts to the right.

The competition takes priority. It absolutely does. Scarlett sends the monsters back to the Forest of Beginnings. She wonders how Alice is doing with her share of the monsters, then forces that thought away because Alice isn’t even a ranger in Scarlett’s mind.

Alice reaches the end of the caves mere seconds before Scarlett does. It weighs down Scarlett’s heart, because Alice has won, but before she’s forced to admit defeat, a man’s laughter rings through the area and both young women do not hesitate to draw their weapons. 

The man, using a giant runic circle that blows Scarlett back and sends Alice rushing to her aid, summons a Basilisk. 

Scarlett gasps at the sight of it. A hand - smaller but more calloused than hers - lays itself across the right paldron on her shoulder. The elf looks up at Alice, face full of determination, and Scarlett finds herself asking no one if this is Alice’s default expression.

”I’ll take care of the Basilisk,” Alice says, pulling Scarlett to her feet, “you look after this man.” Golden-blonde jumps in motion of the man’s direction.

”Alright,” Scarlett agrees, returning her attention to the man who summoned the creature. Her lips part, wanting to tell Alice to be careful, but nothing comes out and Alice is charging into battle.

Scarlett has to give her full attention to the criminal. She keeps reminding herself of this because the sounds of battle behind her are impossible to miss. Alice grunts and cries, but none of them are of pain. When the Basilisk roars, a swans song screech, there’s a heavy thud. Scarlett doesn’t look once.

Alice returns to her side, much to their prisoner’s disbelief. 

“I can’t believe it,” he says in wide-eyed fear, “you took care of that quick.” 

When he says this, Scarlett realizes why Alice was hesitant about this. She wasn’t worried for her own safety at all - she was worried about Scarlett’s. This realization should be a massive insult. On some level, she is, but her primary emotion is relief. 

She doesn’t have time to ponder why until the man escapes, the runes are restored to balance, and they’re back at the Silo.

Alice comes by her room, and she’s prepared to admit defeat until Alice holds out her hand, smiles and says “It’s a draw.”

Scarlett’s eyes - for which she was named - go wide, and she tries to get Alice to realize that no, no it isn’t. Alice did the bulk of the work, she got there first, and she even gave Scarlett fairness when anyone else wouldn’t have. 

Alice shakes her golden-blonde head, keeps smiling, and sticks out her hand. “It’s a draw, fair and square,” she says with finality, and Scarlett stops because she won’t win with her.

Maybe, she doesn’t want to.

She gets to feel Alice’s hand in hers as they shake. Their fingers wrap around each other’s hand, a firm promise.

“I look forward to working together, as colleagues and as rivals,” Scarlett says because there’s no way she can just say I like you, let’s be friends.

Alice giggles, a tinkling bell of noise. “I can’t wait, either, Scarlett.” Her smile is gold like her hair, and Scarlett is able to place her earlier relief since it comes back. She’s relieved at Alice’s acceptance and how she protected and trusted Scarlett. All traits of a good ranger. No, a good person.

*

Scarlett’s stubborn belief in coincidence starts fading away as she and Alice become closer. 

The apple she chooses for a snack at Misasagi's general store is the freshest, juiciest one there, as the were-animal owner points out with interest while she’s bagging it with Scarlett’s other groceries. Scarlett pretends to agree, and then is forced to agree when she eats it later that afternoon. Misasagi doesn’t know that the apple is the exact same color as Alice’s eyes.

Alice has a huge appetite, but she doesn’t sit down for a meal very often. At precisely 11:30am each day, Scarlett ‘happens’ to be wherever she is - whether she’s in her fields, in town, or out of it on a mission - and also ‘happens’ to have extras of her lunch. “You must get really hungry like I do,” Alice says one day over a mouthful of onigiri with strawberry jam. (The jam was a suggestion built from other suggestions from Yuki, Martin, and Beatrice. It was a pure coincidence when Alice enthusiastically agreed with those three about her enjoyment of fruits and jam.) “If you need two lunches! But thank you so much for sharing with me!” Scarlett doesn’t correct her on this. She also ‘happens’ to make extras at dinner these days and always invites Alice in to eat, since “a balanced diet is important part of SEED training”. It works out fourfold because Alice has a strong need to care for others, and if Scarlett is doing so much to help her she needs to repay the elf. So Alice starts making extra lunches for Scarlett and makes dinner for them every other day. She’s a much better cook than Scarlett, but she always happily compliments, then scarfs down Scarlett’s food. When she buys cooking bread, she says she wants to brush up on her cooking skills. It’s true, but it’s a coincidence she can’t own up to.

Scarlett has never been much interested in the beach outside of the social things she does with her friends on her off days. Alice, on the other hand, loves the beach. So when Alice tries to finish her work without sacrificing the quality of her work ethic, as fast as possible in the summer so she can soak up the sun and swim in the water, Scarlett is there more and more when Alice arrives in that adorable yet attractive pink swim-dress of hers. “Hey Scarlett! You must really like the beach, too! It’s awesome!” She cheers, literally jumping for joy. Scarlett’s face turns hot as the sun as she murmurs her agreement to the statement, too embarrassed to admit that the only sun she wants to see is wearing a pink swim-dress.

*

Gideon, the beloved leader and founder of SEED, is behind all the runic disturbances. Alice, who came to Rigbarth with only the clothes on her body and her bright, sunny, moral personality, is understandably shaken to her very core. Scarlett at least has her memories, her history, and knows where she belongs and where she came from - Alice lacks those. 

Scarlett remains with SEED, and Alice does not.

In the lonely hour of midnight, Scarlett softly weeps. She knows what she believes and what she’s going to fight for. Her life is meticulous and she plans for everything, if not at least anticipates it. But she did not anticipate this.

SEED was her whole life. Was, being the key word. No longer is it her sole reason for living. Well, it is now, but before Alice came into her life it was why she woke up. 

Alice showed her how much she’s loved by the town, truly. Not just a fact, but a feeling. She helped Scarlett realize how much she loves Rigbarth and how much she missed it while she was in the capital. Most of all…

…she did not anticipate how important Alice has become to her.

It isn’t like they won’t see each other. But without Alice in SEED, and Alice’s lack of memories up until the fresh spring of this year, there’s a distinct, frightening possibility that she may leave Rigbarth. There’s nothing really tying her here. 

Scarlett’s tearful eyes widen and she gasps. She never makes excuses, why is she doing so now? And she quickly realizes that it’s her anxiety simultaneously trying to distract and prepare her. I don’t want Alice to leave me, she thinks before turning over and forcing herself to sleep. She sleeps poorly that night, unable to admit that SEED was her convenient coincidence excuse for being close to Alice, and it makes her ashamed. She has all these feelings she doesn’t want to admit or think about because that’s another kind of admission to her stubborn personality.

Alice joins Terry’s detective agency because no matter what her strong sense of justice won’t let her take a break, no matter what anyone says. Scarlett doesn’t even care she’s not apart of SEED, she’s not leaving town she’s doing what she thinks is best, and that’s what matters. 

The troubles with the Gladeus Grasslands begins, and Scarlett becomes aware of Captain Livia asking Terry for help in secret. Terry is brilliant, for certain, but Scarlett has her reservations about asking a civilian for their assistance in such a dangerous manner.

That is, until Martin (her lunchmate before Alice became her lunchmate, and now that Alice is gone, Martin has his place back) casually lets it slip that Cecil told him that Alice is the lead detective on the case. Scarlett’s relief is cool mint on her tongue. She finishes lunch quickly to get back to work. Martin hides a small smirk behind his spoon.

Just like before, when Scarlett makes her way through the grasslands, there are no monsters in her way. At the gate just before the town, the ferocious beast preventing travel and transport of goods has been dispatched. And just like before, standing there with her weapon drawn, is Alice. She’s panting, but is unharmed, and the relief cools Scarlett’s body.

Despite being weary, Alice smiles when Scarlett gets to her side. “Hey, Scarlett,” she greets, stowing her weapon away. “Long time no see.” It really has, and hasn’t been. She quit SEED only six days ago.

”You dispatched the monster,” Scarlett says instead. “I’m not surprised. Are you alright?”

Alice can only nod before the two of them are rushed by a crowd of people. Grateful citizens from the neighboring town beyond the gate. Despite Alice’s casual clothing, they sing the praises of SEED for saving them and their livelihoods. Alice tries to correct them, but they don’t listen to her, too full of relief and gratitude.

Scarlett leaves to take statements, the discomfort at being falsely credited gnawing through her stomach. She reluctantly leaves Alice at the town gate, her wish for her to safely come back refusing to leave her tongue.

The next day, the week anniversary of her exit from SEED, Alice rejoins SEED.

Scarlett’s relief is an ice bath. Alice would stay in Rigbarth with her with everyone.

*

Scarlett takes it upon herself to fix Alice’s ranger cap every time they see each other, since the thing cannot keep itself straight it seems.

One day, the cap is gone. In its place is a purple ribbon.

Scarlett can’t stop staring at it. Alice grins impishly.

”Do you like it? I decided to personalize my look a little,” she says, smoothing the ribbon with her fingers. “And it raises my magical defense!”

”Really? It does that?” Scarlett asks, now looking at the ribbon curiously.

Alice bobs her head proudly. “Yep! Reinforced it with an amethyst!”

So that’s why it’s sparkling, Scarlett thinks. Then it dawns on her. “You made it?”

Alice bobs her head again, her waves bouncing. “Yep!”

The ribbon is not the main sparkle. It’s everything of Alice that does. Scarlett would lecture about the proper appearance of a ranger. She would, ordinarily, or perhaps…that’s in the past. “It looks very nice on you.”

Alice stops grinning, and pink dusts her cheeks. The smile returns, and it’s sweet. “Thank you,” she murmurs, softer than Scarlett has ever heard her.

Suddenly, her own face feels hot. In good conscience she can’t place it on midsummer. She mutters about having work, so does Alice, and they go separate directions.

The next evening, when Scarlett clocks off for the day, she finds bright green (not her favorite shade of it, but a close second) and a piece of paper on her table.

Its a green ribbon, and a note.

This would look very nice on you! Green is the color of intelligence and taking action, both very Scarlett traits! I hope you like it! - Alice

The heat on Scarlett’s face cannot be attributed to the summer night. 

The next day, Scarlett’s sun glows her brightest yet when she sees that the white ribbon that normally holds up the elf’s ponytail is now her second favorite shade of bright green.

*

"I love you!"

It's far too early for this.

"I don't like pranks," Scarlett sternly reminds her rival, not looking up from her puzzle. 500 pieces.

"I know. It's not a prank," Alice says, standing with her hands linked together behind her back, eyes bright as the summer leaves, which were beginning to brown, signalling the coming fall. No matter how serious she tried to appear, the blonde couldn't keep that smile off her face.

No matter what time of day it is, Scarlett knows it isn't healthy for one's heart to try and leap out of their chest.

She looks at Alice, takes all of her in, and is overwhelmed in the best way she's ever felt. She asks for a day, because while she knows exactly what she's going to say (at the very least, her answer will be yes), there's so much of it to say. Scarlett always prefers to be prepared.

Alice's smile turns even sweeter, yet at the same time is filled with deep understanding. "Okay! I'll meet you tomorrow!" With that, she turns around and exits Scarlett's room humming cheerfully.

That's the moment Scarlett is able to pinpoint that Alice is the one for her.

*

Alice is, as Scarlett thought, overjoyed that Scarlett returns her affections. It's not that Scarlett is arrogant, it's that she knows Alice. It's scary in a good way because Alice turns everything into an adventure.

The last rays of summer catch Alice, framing her wide grin. The winds - both from vanishing summer and arriving autumn - carry her happy giggles with them. Even the sun at its highest point in the sky could not match the brightness and warmth of her eyes. 

Scarlett wonders when she started finding Alice so beautiful.

*

On their first date, Scarlett admits that she may have been wrong. 

Alice is so much fun to be around, and finds immense joy in simply being with Scarlett. She shows her typical boldness by reaching for Scarlett's hand, but leaves it in Scarlett's favor by smiling kindly and offering her hand.

Scarlett is a decisive person. She doesn't hesitate to take Alice's hand. The smile she gets and the warmth she feels immediately makes her ask herself where the rope is so she and her lover, Alice, her actual lover, can always be connected.

Alice doesn't just make everything an adventure - she herself is the adventure.

*

"Ranger Scarlett, I'm putting a spell seal on your heart!"

The line is both so respectful and so purely Alice that it makes Scarlett break out in the biggest smile she's ever had in her life, she's sure of it.

"I humbly accept your proposal, Alice," Scarlett says, unable to stop smiling.

Alice grins, giggles, and hugs Scarlett so tightly it knocks the breath out of the elf. Not that Scarlett minds - she giggles and hugs her new fiancée back.

They get married that autumn, standing under falling golden leaves the exact same color as Alice's hair.

*

"Hey, Lettie?"

Shifting, Scarlett turns to rest on her side, facing her wife. Her wife, Alice. Alice, who is her wife now. "Yes, dearest?"

Winter is fast approaching. The leaves on the trees are getting fewer and fewer, and soon they will be bare. Cold seeps more and more into town every day, especially at night. The night sky itself grows blacker each time it appears, starkly contrasting with the silver sparkle of the moon.

Alice positively glows under the moonlight streaming through their window. It makes her look like an angel, save for her utterly mischievious grin. "Is it funny now?"

Scarlett frowns in confusion. "Is what-" Then it hits her. 

When she confessed her mutual love for Alice, she also confessed that she didn't at all like the blonde Earthmate at first. 

"Don't worry, this will all be funny once we're married."

Scarlett buries her face in her pillow, groaning. "Gods damn it."

Alice's laughter rings through Rigbarth.