Work Text:
.
that day, i knew we'd meet again
once the snow stopped.
“Luke! Happy birthday!” Rosa exclaimed happily, with a cheesecake in both hands, adorned by pieces of orange and mango. She was standing in front of him, eyes beaming with joy.
With one hand still holding the door knob, Luke froze, his coral eyes widening slightly.
“W-Watson?” His voice cracked with surprise, didn't expect anyone to give him any surprise, let alone his childhood sweetheart.
That was what Rosa imagined a few days ago when she planned all of the surprises and prepared for the birthday party if the birthday boy is here.
She had been waiting for hours since early evening.
“To your parents’ home? Why would you want me to come there? But alright! I will be there at six!”
That was what Luke said on the phone when she told him to come over. And it was already nine o'clock in the night, and she still saw no sign of him. Was he busy? Was he caught up in his work or client? It's really not like Luke to not keep his promises, especially when it comes to her or her invites.
He would come running every time it's her who invites him.
But this time, it didn't seem to be like that at all.
Inside the attic, Rosa looked up to the square clock above the cupboard, its hand ticking slowly, passing the number nine to ten little by little. A wave of anxiousness started to wash over her as she shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. Her eyes took a slight look toward the colorful candles on top of the cake, its light dimming slowly, consuming the wax as the candle melted into a smaller form.
The flame had already consumed almost all of the candles lit on it, leaving only a small amount of it.
She bit her lip, the anxiousness grew heavier as she fidgeted with the hem of her dress.
Did anything happen to Luke?
She shook her head hard, trying to push away any negative thoughts. It's impossible. It would be impossible. Luke is not a person who would get involved in anything bad, or anything serious that could make him not show up to her at all.
Luke will always keep his promise. He wouldn't keep her waiting for too long without telling her anything in advance.
The previous eight years of no contact was an exception.
Luke had already told her that he would never leave anymore, and that he would stay by her side, always.
Rosa believed him. She always believed in him.
And so today, she would still believe in him. Even if it's been four hours since she had arrived in their memorable attic, waiting for him to show up with his sunshine smile.
Luke stood behind the corner of the street a few blocks away from her parent's house, his head hanging slightly. He leaned against the cold wall heavily, trying to support himself as his body trembled violently. A bouquet of sunflowers pressed itself tightly against his tailored suit, wrinkling the wrapping paper cruelly like it would never get back to its original form.
He clutched his chest using the same hand as the one he used to hold the bouquet, his breathing heavy and labored, forming puffs of uneven white smoke coming out from his lips.
It doesn’t snow often in Stellis, but today, tonight, it snows. Heavily.
And it had to be specifically on December 5.
Luke had already guessed, more or less, why Rosa asked him to come to her parent's house. Especially when she told him to wear his best suit, in a very cheerful voice.
He had celebrated his birthdays three times with her since his return to Stellis. Today, he believed, would be the fourth time. Over the years, she always had the same excitement over her voice when it comes to his birthday, and it still stayed the same this afternoon when she gave him a call.
“Luke! Come here to our old house! To the attic! And wear your best suit!”
Over the phone, she exclaimed happily, her tone full of joy clearly visible. Luke could already imagine how bright her smile was, beautiful and mesmerizing. He would give the world anything to see that smile one more time.
“Alright! I will be there at six!”
And he said yes, just like that. He would never refuse any invite from her, no matter how absurd it was. It was just normal, to accept every invite coming from her.
It's her, after all. His Watson. His childhood sweetheart.
Or so, he thought.
But here he is now, leaning heavily against the wall on a corner of the street a few blocks away from their old house, one hand clutching his chest tightly.
His illness had to act up in the worst timing possible.
And to make it even worse, he forgot to bring his pillbox. He was so excited to see her that he forgot to bring the pillbox, and came running right after he finished his work at the antique shop.
He left the pillbox inside the drawer of his desk.
“Urghh—”
He coughed violently afterwards, clutching his chest even tighter. Few petals of the sunflower fell down onto the white ground near his feet, leaving some bright yellow traces in contrast to the dull night as he gripped the bouquet harder.
Luke squeezed his eyes shut.
The pain became even more unbearable, spreading torturously all over his body as he tried to control his trembling figure.
The snow grew thicker and thicker, the searing cold biting his skin mercilessly despite his three-layered suit. He didn't know how long the time had gone since his arrival here. He couldn't even think straight. But, there was one clear thing he knew a little bit too well.
His Watson.
His Watson had been waiting for him for four hours.
And nothing he could do to turn back the time, or at least, to stop the pain and run towards the old house.
Luke gasped for air, his breath coming in ragged heaves. The pain didn't wait for another second before he slid down the wall, hitting the snowy ground with a muffled thud.
“Arghh….”
He let another painful groan escape his lips. The bouquet had already fallen down as his right hand went limp to his side, trembling uncontrollably. The beautiful sunflowers were now all scattered pitifully on the snowy road, some of the petals were blown by the cold wind.
Just like him.
Slumped pitifully against the wall, on the snowy, chilly road, only a few blocks away from their attic, alone.
Without any sign of the pain to at least subsided for a bit.
The snow grew even thicker, covering his shoulders and hair, sending him a freezing cold sensation. He couldn't tell if his body was trembling because of the cold, or the pain coursing through his system.
Both are agonizing.
He moved his other hand with difficulty, reaching into his pocket in search of a phone. He needed to call Aaron, he needed him to bring his pillbox, to give him a stronger painkiller so that he could still come to the attic and make up to her.
This is pathetic. He had never failed any mission during his time with NSB. He had always succeeded in taking down groups of criminals, no matter how hard it was. He had always fulfilled every order and assignment given by his higher ups.
He had always been successful. He had never failed.
But this time, he failed.
He had failed to keep just one promise to her. Miserably.
And he doesn't know how to make it up to her.
In the fourth birthday since his return to Stellis, Luke Pearce had failed her.
The time kept ticking, never once considering to stop even for just one second. Outside the clear window, the snow had grown heavier and heavier, wrapping the balcony with blankets of fluffy white flakes. Beautiful, and enticing.
Only if Luke Pearce was here.
The beautiful smile on Rosa's face had long gone since an hour ago. It is already eleven o'clock in the night, an hour more before it reaches twelve.
Before December 5 ends.
She stared bitterly at the cheesecake on the table, her peridot eyes heartbroken. The flickering light on the candles had long vanished, just like her smile.
Luke did not come. He did not show up at the door. He did not keep his promise.
She had tried to call him more than five times, and none of her calls went through. She had sent him a bunch of messages, and none of them were even read.
Worry and fear weighed her figure down.
What happened to Luke? Did he get an urgent request in his antique shop? Was it his client that was slowing him down? Was it another client from his detective work? Or… was it NSB?
Did he get a sudden and emergency mission from NSB? Was it so sudden and confidential that he didn't have time to even tell her?
Should she… believe in it?
Rosa bit down her lip, clasping her hands anxiously.
She should. She would. She had to. It must be a new sudden mission from NSB. That was the most reasonable possibility to happen right now. After all, it would be impossible for Luke to get involved in accidents, right?
It's Luke Pearce.
There's no way something bad could happen to him.
It would be impossible.
So, again, Rosa would believe. She would believe in him, as she always did.
Luke's trembling fingers hovered over the phone, it had been ringing for so many times before it died down again.
Watson's name flickered on the screen.
She had been calling him for the umpteenth time since an hour ago, and he didn't have the courage to pick it up.
He couldn't pick it up, not with his current state.
He had managed to send Aaron his location. Just his location, before his hand dropped helplessly onto his lap, plunging his phone to the snow.
Luke could feel his consciousness drifting away as the pain agonizingly intensified, and the cold only made it even bitter. If Luke could think straight, this would be his worst birthday to spend with. Not being able to see his Watson, and slumped pitifully alone on the road.
He had always hoped for his illness and pain to be lifted from him and his whole being. Very. But this is the first time he really wished for the pain to be lifted immediately, right now.
Please. Be it a fantasy.
He would trade anything for the pain to be gone right now, tonight, before December 5 ended. So that he could see his Watson. But, as usual.
Fate always loved to play with him in every way possible.
“UGH—”
Luke coughed again, this time, harsher as his eyes blurred. There were black dots on the edges of his vision, threatening him to cloud him into complete darkness. But Luke is always the one whose survival instinct is the highest. He fought harder to stay conscious, refusing to succumb to his pain.
Aaron would be here in one second.
So, he would stay.
The time went on, never stopped, never waited. The clock hand now had pointed near the number of twelve. Ten minutes left before December 5 ended.
And Rosa's beautiful face had gone dreadful and dejected, her eyes devastating. She clutched one of the gifts tightly, her lips quivering. Inside the gift was a scarf she knitted herself, special for Luke. She was never great with handcrafting, but this time, she managed to finish it graciously after lots of failed attempts.
Luke would love it. It would keep him warm in the cold winter.
And it would serve as her token of affection, of love, for him only.
But he did not even show up himself to her.
Five minutes left before December 5 ended, and Rosa smiled bitterly, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
Her hand, slender and soft, trembled slightly as she reached a ceramic plate and a knife. She grabbed the knife, cutting the cheesecake slowly as she took an uneven slice.
Two minutes left before December 5 ends.
Tears trickled down her face freely, falling uncontrollably as she scooped a spoonful of the cake.
“My Sherlock…,” her words cracked, her lips trembling. “My Greatest Detective….”
She stopped hard by a choked voice from her throat before continuing again.
“Luke… Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birth—”
Her voice broke into an uncontrollable sob, her heart breaking into pieces.
She couldn't fight the cry anymore, her body shaking violently as the tears kept falling down mercilessly.
Luke never showed up.
And the clock reached twelve at midnight.
“... ke…!”
His coral eyes fluttered a bit at the unclear voice reaching his ears.
“... Lu… ke!”
He forced his eyes open.
“LUKE!”
His eyes widened for one second before fluttering shut again.
Luke didn't have the strength left anymore to even keep his eyes open as he saw a silhouette of a man in a navy blue jacket running to him. But Luke didn't need to use his eyes to know who it was.
Aaron Yishmir was only a few meters away from him.
Luke's breathing became even more labored, the pain intensifying all over his body, and his consciousness was slipping away; he couldn't handle it anymore. The pain was too much, and he had endured it for only God knows how long it was. He had a high pain tolerance, but this time….
He gave up.
It was when Aaron had stepped right in front of him when his eyes closed completely, and the alarm from his phone rang loudly.
The screen showed the time exactly at 00:00.
December 5 had just ended.
And so did Luke's ungranted wish.
the snow never stopped.
and we’d never meet again.
.