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“Yes,” she responded confidently, hardly hesitating. Her heart had spoken for her and she blinked from the realization. Unable to give up contact just yet she nuzzled her nose against his cheek, trembling slightly from the intensity of her feelings and the events.

“I want to say always but I can’t promise..but I will try for forever. I want to be yours…” She continued, her words having a double meaning though she suspected they weren’t ready to go further than kissing for now. It was still too soon.

Unable to keep from touching her somehow, Jack nuzzled her in return. He tilted his head slightly, so that his forehead nudged affectionately against hers. The honesty in her words was sweeter and more comforting than any flowery promise would have been. 

“I’ll try if you’ll try,” he whispered back. 

The last thing she had said, I want to be yours, made him suddenly remember. Slipping one hand away from Katelynn’s waist for a moment, Jack reached into his pocket, and brought out the silver engagement ring he had given her on Valentine’s Day. 

“When you … when you left,” he said quietly, “I kept this. I’ve been keeping it with me ever since. I … I guess it was kind of a charm. A hope, that you’d wear it again someday.” He looked up at Katelynn, and offered the ring to her. “Will you?” 

She had nearly forgotten all about it she admitted to herself as her entire face colored in embarrassment. It was such a sweet, albeit bittersweet gesture. Lifting her hand to take it from him gently, she stated down at the beautiful ring and the promise it meant.

“I will,” she whispered, tears coming to her eyes even more as she smiled at him. Slipping the ring back on her finger, she couldn’t believe this was happening. The familiar weight was assuring as she twirled the ring around. “Because I still want it all with you. To have a life with you and only you.”

Looking up at him, she gave him a sweet smile.

He watched, love and hope welling up in a warm glow inside him, as she slipped the ring back on. And when she gave him that sweet smile, Jack pulled her into his arms again. “Then that’s what we’ll have, Katelynn,” he whispered against her hair. 

The two of them cuddled like that for a while longer. Nothing was said – nothing needed to be. They had been apart for too long, and simply wanted to be as close as they could, just for now. 

Eventually, though, Jack realized that her clothes were still torn, and she was grimy with soot and dirt. “Um … I guess you’d probably like to get cleaned up?” he asked, with an embarrassed smile. 

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It had been much too long, Katelynn’s eyelids fluttering closed upon the warm contact, giving a sigh of happiness. Responding to his kiss as she leaned in gently, one hand moved up his torso to gently cup the backside of his neck so she could hold on for dear life. She felt faint, like she could float away and gave no indication she wanted to stop.

Even if a part of her screamed that she didn’t deserve this love, another part craved it, relished it as her lips glided along his. How she had missed his affection, her misty eyes producing a tear as she snuggled closer against him.

Although his eyes were closed, Jack could feel her tears on his skin. As he cradled Katelynn close, his own tears began to roll down his cheeks. He knew it was stupid, and messy, to cry when he was finally kissing his love again, but he couldn’t help it – it was as if something tight inside him had finally relaxed. 

Her lips were just as warm and sweet as he remembered. Her body was warm in his arms, and he could smell just a hint of her familiar scent, under the smoke and grime from wherever she’d been earlier. He’d missed holding her so much over the past weeks; having her back again was so wonderful that it almost ached. 

He hated to break the kiss, but he needed to ask. “So … will you stay with me?” 

“Yes,” she responded confidently, hardly hesitating. Her heart had spoken for her and she blinked from the realization. Unable to give up contact just yet she nuzzled her nose against his cheek, trembling slightly from the intensity of her feelings and the events.

“I want to say always but I can’t promise..but I will try for forever. I want to be yours…” She continued, her words having a double meaning though she suspected they weren’t ready to go further than kissing for now. It was still too soon.

Unable to keep from touching her somehow, Jack nuzzled her in return. He tilted his head slightly, so that his forehead nudged affectionately against hers. The honesty in her words was sweeter and more comforting than any flowery promise would have been. 

“I’ll try if you’ll try,” he whispered back. 

The last thing she had said, I want to be yours, made him suddenly remember. Slipping one hand away from Katelynn’s waist for a moment, Jack reached into his pocket, and brought out the silver engagement ring he had given her on Valentine’s Day. 

“When you … when you left,” he said quietly, “I kept this. I’ve been keeping it with me ever since. I … I guess it was kind of a charm. A hope, that you’d wear it again someday.” He looked up at Katelynn, and offered the ring to her. “Will you?" 

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A sharp, nearly silent gasp rose in her throat at how close he was, heart pounding hard in her rib cage. She could feel his heat, feel his breath against her skin and she found herself leaning in close. It was like a strong tug that moved her.

Yet she stopped herself and squeezed her lips together for a few seconds before speaking. “Together..?” To live happily the way the people who had perished weren’t allowed? Would that really make up for it? No, helping people – that was the real way. To always do good and help anyone who needed it. She could. She would.

Her hands rested upon his chest, tentatively grabbing the material of his shirt.

“Together,” Jack insisted. And, cautiously, still terrified that she would pull away from him again, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. 

It had been much too long, Katelynn’s eyelids fluttering closed upon the warm contact, giving a sigh of happiness. Responding to his kiss as she leaned in gently, one hand moved up his torso to gently cup the backside of his neck so she could hold on for dear life. She felt faint, like she could float away and gave no indication she wanted to stop.

Even if a part of her screamed that she didn’t deserve this love, another part craved it, relished it as her lips glided along his. How she had missed his affection, her misty eyes producing a tear as she snuggled closer against him.

Although his eyes were closed, Jack could feel her tears on his skin. As he cradled Katelynn close, his own tears began to roll down his cheeks. He knew it was stupid, and messy, to cry when he was finally kissing his love again, but he couldn’t help it – it was as if something tight inside him had finally relaxed. 

Her lips were just as warm and sweet as he remembered. Her body was warm in his arms, and he could smell just a hint of her familiar scent, under the smoke and grime from wherever she’d been earlier. He’d missed holding her so much over the past weeks; having her back again was so wonderful that it almost ached. 

He hated to break the kiss, but he needed to ask. “So … will you stay with me?" 

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Staring at his hand for a long moment, Katelynn couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps she were dreaming, if she would wake up in Destruction Worker’s home alone as she had been. A part of her was used to the solitude however much she hated it while another found herself feeling so at home with him, as if she had never left his side.

Finally the hand that had been upon his cheek slid down and into his palm, using him as a bit of a crutch to get up. She was still so tired from the rescue and slightly sore but this was much more important.

“…Thank you..” She told him sincerely, giving him a tearful smile as she was led into the apartment. “For being so understanding and wonderful…”

Jack gently led her into the apartment, and over to the big couch in the living room. With his arm around her waist – the most contact he dared have yet – he guided her to sit down. 

“You don’t need to thank me,” he said gently, trying to keep from tearing up himself. “I know I haven’t always been there for you in the past, but I will be now. However you need me, I’m here. I promise.” Oh, he couldn’t keep from touching her any longer. He reached up and stroked his fingers through her messy brown hair, brushing some of it back from her face. 

Her immediate reaction was to move her face to the right to hide the scar, putting her hand upon it as casually as possible as if becoming thoughtful. It was too much of a reminder of her atrocities. “It’s so selfish to expect that, Jack,” she whispered, curling into herself a bit. “Especially because I’ve failed you so much…I’ve promised to be careful, to make you happy and promised myself I wouldn’t hurt you anymore.”

Her eyes stung with tears, blinking them away. “No amount of being sorry can make up for it. Sometimes I can’t even imagine why you would still want me despite what you’ve said. I thought you deserved better. I wanted to become braver and stronger for you, to help the supers and prove a human could do what they could…”

Looking up at him shyly from behind her lashes, she flushed and continued, “But it just didn’t feel worth it without you. I was so torn between what I wanted and what I thought was right..”

Taking a gulp of air, her shoulders hunched together as she gripped the edges of the couch. “S-Sorry…rambled…”

He’d been trying to give her her space, only allowing himself little gestures and touches. But seeing her like this now was more than Jack could bear. Before Katelynn could move away, he slid his arms around her and pulled her into a warm, gentle hug. 

“And my life doesn’t feel right without you either,” he insisted. “It’s not because of the future we’ve heard about. Us married, with a family … I’d like that, yes, but I don’t need it to happen. Katelynn … I just want you. I want to be with you, however our future turns out.”

He reached up and cupped her cheek, covering the scar with his blue hand. “What happened wasn’t your fault. But if you still feel like you need to make up for it … well, isn’t living a life with love the best way to do that? You p-punishing yourself isn’t going to change anything. But if you live your life well, and m-make people happy and do good for the world …” He hated how he stuttered, hated the hitch in his voice, hated how hard it was to express what he was trying to tell her. But he had to say it. 

“I’m not perfect, Katelynn. Nobody is. B-but I’ve already become so much better since I’ve known you, and I’ve seen how you have too. Maybe we can still get better, together.” He gazed into her eyes, so close that he could have kissed her if he’d dared. “I want to try, at least." 

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He left her speechless, her eyes not leaving his face. She knew he meant it because Jack wasn’t the type to say hollow words from what she had learned of him. Without thinking she reached a hand out hesitantly until her palm touched the skin of his cheek.

Her eyes were full if love yet mixed with sorrow. “..I still love you too…I thought..Jack I had thought I was hurting you too much..I don’t even know if I deserve someone so wonderful..but I wanted to see you..I missed you so much..I at least wanted to talk it out..”

“O-of course,” he stammered quickly. Just having her come to him now was enough to give him hope. And oh god, she still loved him too? 

Yes, they could talk this out. 

“We can talk as much as you need. Here,” Jack got to his feet, and offered her a hand. “Let’s go inside.” Please come inside. Please come home. 

Staring at his hand for a long moment, Katelynn couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps she were dreaming, if she would wake up in Destruction Worker’s home alone as she had been. A part of her was used to the solitude however much she hated it while another found herself feeling so at home with him, as if she had never left his side.

Finally the hand that had been upon his cheek slid down and into his palm, using him as a bit of a crutch to get up. She was still so tired from the rescue and slightly sore but this was much more important.

“…Thank you..” She told him sincerely, giving him a tearful smile as she was led into the apartment. “For being so understanding and wonderful…”

Jack gently led her into the apartment, and over to the big couch in the living room. With his arm around her waist – the most contact he dared have yet – he guided her to sit down. 

“You don’t need to thank me,” he said gently, trying to keep from tearing up himself. “I know I haven’t always been there for you in the past, but I will be now. However you need me, I’m here. I promise.” Oh, he couldn’t keep from touching her any longer. He reached up and stroked his fingers through her messy brown hair, brushing some of it back from her face. 

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Eyes going wide like saucers, she really hasn’t expected to hear him say that. It left her momentarily shocked, unmoving despite the bulldog fighting for her attention. “Y-You do..?” She whispered, as if unable to believe it. “…Why?”

Despite everything and how negatively she had thought the meeting to go, to hear this from his lips sent a warm feeling to curl in her chest.

It was hard for Jack to find the right thing to say. Painting and music were his gifts, not words. But, once he began talking, his feelings poured out. 

“B-because you’re wonderful, Katelynn. I don’t know why you can’t believe that. You’ve got the biggest heart of a-anyone I know. You’re so sweet, and kind – y-you even try to make friends with villains!” he chuckled weakly. “And you’re so brave. And you make me feel brave when I’m with you.”

He reached out for her, wanting so badly to hold her but so afraid she’d pull away again. “W-when you were drugged … that wasn’t you, Katelynn. That’s not who you really are. I know that. And it’s not your fault that it happened. You’re not weak because you couldn’t stop it. You’re brave, and you’re strong, and you’re kind, and I love you.“ 

He left her speechless, her eyes not leaving his face. She knew he meant it because Jack wasn’t the type to say hollow words from what she had learned of him. Without thinking she reached a hand out hesitantly until her palm touched the skin of his cheek.

Her eyes were full if love yet mixed with sorrow. “..I still love you too…I thought..Jack I had thought I was hurting you too much..I don’t even know if I deserve someone so wonderful..but I wanted to see you..I missed you so much..I at least wanted to talk it out..”

“O-of course,” he stammered quickly. Just having her come to him now was enough to give him hope. And oh god, she still loved him too? 

Yes, they could talk this out. 

“We can talk as much as you need. Here,” Jack got to his feet, and offered her a hand. “Let’s go inside." Please come inside. Please come home. 

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Hope blossomed in her chest as she stared at his eyes for a few moments before shame settled and she looked away. He was concerned about her? It was more than she deserved. Wiping at her eyes with her palms, she tried tried mustering up some courage, reminding herself why she was here and what she wanted to do.

“…” She tried speaking at first, trying to find the words to say, fists at her sides. “…I’m so sorry for e-everything…Jack…I don’t…I don’t know if you got my text..about t-talking..” She whispered, fighting the urge to cup her cheek over the scar.

“I-I-I did get it,” he choked out. Looking at her face, he spotted the scar right away, but paid it no attention. All that mattered to him was that Katelynn was here, now. 

“I’m s-so s-s-sorry I didn’t answer you. I … I don’t know why I didn’t. And I know there’s no excuse. B-but … Katelynn, I still love you. I want you back. P-please tell me you’ve come back?” Jack looked at her pleadingly, bright green eyes meeting soft brown ones. 

Eyes going wide like saucers, she really hasn’t expected to hear him say that. It left her momentarily shocked, unmoving despite the bulldog fighting for her attention. “Y-You do..?” She whispered, as if unable to believe it. “…Why?”

Despite everything and how negatively she had thought the meeting to go, to hear this from his lips sent a warm feeling to curl in her chest.

It was hard for Jack to find the right thing to say. Painting and music were his gifts, not words. But, once he began talking, his feelings poured out. 

“B-because you’re wonderful, Katelynn. I don’t know why you can’t believe that. You’ve got the biggest heart of a-anyone I know. You’re so sweet, and kind – y-you even try to make friends with villains!” he chuckled weakly. “And you’re so brave. And you make me feel brave when I’m with you.”

He reached out for her, wanting so badly to hold her but so afraid she’d pull away again. “W-when you were drugged … that wasn’t you, Katelynn. That’s not who you really are. I know that. And it’s not your fault that it happened. You’re not weak because you couldn’t stop it. You’re brave, and you’re strong, and you’re kind, and I love you." 

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Her heart leapt in both fear and amazement at the door opening, Stella squeezing through to leap at her mistress and lick her face.

But Katelynn’s eyes were trained on the handsome blue man before her, her hair hiding the scar from his view. There he was in the flesh. It had felt like too long since she had seen him.

And more tears collected in her eyes.

For a moment, Jack froze in his tracks, his green eyes wide as he stared at her. He wasn’t sure what could have gotten the dogs’ attention, but … he hadn’t been prepared for this. 

“K-Katelynn?”

But that was a good thing. Without time to think about it, it was easier for him to act on his feelings. He stepped over to Katelynn quickly and fell to his knees beside her. “A-are you all right? What’s happened?” He could tell by her torn, soot-stained catsuit that she’d been involved in something big and dangerous, and he wanted nothing more than to comfort her – no matter what she might have done. 

Hope blossomed in her chest as she stared at his eyes for a few moments before shame settled and she looked away. He was concerned about her? It was more than she deserved. Wiping at her eyes with her palms, she tried tried mustering up some courage, reminding herself why she was here and what she wanted to do.

“…” She tried speaking at first, trying to find the words to say, fists at her sides. “…I’m so sorry for e-everything…Jack…I don’t…I don’t know if you got my text..about t-talking..” She whispered, fighting the urge to cup her cheek over the scar.

“I-I-I did get it,” he choked out. Looking at her face, he spotted the scar right away, but paid it no attention. All that mattered to him was that Katelynn was here, now. 

“I’m s-so s-s-sorry I didn’t answer you. I … I don’t know why I didn’t. And I know there’s no excuse. B-but … Katelynn, I still love you. I want you back. P-please tell me you’ve come back?” Jack looked at her pleadingly, bright green eyes meeting soft brown ones.