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Unconditional Chances

Kassandra Heit

    “Why do we do this?” Eboni asked, pressing their shared bottle of wine to her lips. The sounds of the city below were the only reminder that reality was waiting. Fortunately, the symphony of London’s citizens were down more stories than either of them had fingers. The distance and darkness of night kept their bubble undisturbed for the time being. “We both know we can only steal moments. Circumstances change. We get older, still debating wiser, but there is always something or someone separating us.”
    “Well, firstly,” Balto chuckled behind her, “we are most definitely wiser. We’ve learned a great plenty since our first encounter. Secondly, we do this, over and over and over, because we chose each other once upon a time. Considering we still scour the world over for each other, I’d say we haven’t changed our minds.” He murmured the words in her ear before taking the bottle from her hands and taking a swig.
    She peered over her shoulder at him, catching the slight quirk of his lips even around the bottle. “Awfully smug to say that. However, you aren’t wrong.”
    “We will figure this out. I promise,” Balto vowed. “We’ve spent more time in this world than thought possible. While finding the solution to our problem means spending time apart, the goal, my darling, is still spending eternity with you. One day, we will walk the path with Anubis into the Afterlife. We will reunite with our people. The lifetimes of searching, digging through history will all be worth it.”
    Eboni smiled feeling his arms wrap around her. She let her head press to his when his chin found purchase on her shoulder. “Imagine the welcome party waiting for us. How I miss those parties my father had. The joy, the music, the sparring. You seemed to enjoy them yourself if I remember right.”
    Balto grinned, fond of the memories that played like a movie behind his eyes. “I remember sneaking off with a young princess with a dazzling smile and a desire for mischief. Not my finest moment in the eyes of your father.”
    “But, not a mistake.”
    “Never a mistake.” Balto confirmed. “I wonder what he would think of me now.”
    Eboni slid her hand into his, twining their fingers together. “he’d think of you as a son, Balto.”
    That was their moment. Their one moment until the next time they found each other. The bubble that held their long and complicated past burst as Big Ben belted out a few notes to its own people.
    “Keep searching for home, my darling.” Balto ordered softly.
    Eboni nodded once. The disappointment of his arms retracting from her always hit hard, no matter how many times it had been done. “Be safe when you find your brother. I don’t need to hear another story about you being stabbed.
    “I’d rather not have another.” Balto admitted. He reached down and helped pull Eboni onto her feet. Before he walked away, he leaned down, pressing a kiss to her lips, and met her forehead with his. “Until next time?”
    “Always.”

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