Ficlet: Changes

[vilakins]

We were supposed to do something autumnal last week for b7friday but it's (suposed to be) spring here in the forgotten hemisphere Uncharted Territories. PGP, 250 words.

Changes

"Damn. Reset." Soolin bit her lip and reholstered her gun.

Her image on the screen smiled--almost smugly, Soolin thought--and did the same. Soolin stood poised, alert, ready. When the Soolin on the screen moved, so did she, but once again too slowly. She winced at the sharp tingle where her opponent's shot had landed and glared at her younger self.

"Cuppa?" Vila put his head round the door, then paused, seeing her expression. "What's the matter?"

"I'm not her anymore."

"You are to me." Vila came over and slid his arms around her from behind. "Except for being more beautiful each year." He nuzzled her gently.

Soolin sighed, leaning back against him, and closed her eyes. "I'm too slow."

"You're still faster than most," Vila said, echoing the words she had reassured him with a few weeks ago.

"Yes, but one day I won't be."

Vila was silent for a moment. "Doesn't matter, though, does it? We've got enough money never to have to work again."

Soolin turned and opened her mouth, but he placed a finger on it.

"Once I told someone a thief was who I was, not what I was. And you showed me I was wrong. We've got each other and a good life here." Vila's laughter lines deepened. "Come on, I've set up the tea outside. It's a lovely day."

It was spring on Gardenos and Vila had a blossom tucked behind one ear. Soolin smiled, but not because of the flower. "Yes."

Comments

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

You know, I commented on this when you first posted it, but...

Damn, I LOVE this ficlet. Just... awwww. Old couples, man. We don't see enough of that kind of thing. It reminds me of that lovely, lovely J/A stuff from "The Locket" - I think my fave J/A stuff from the show, in fact.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

My old Vila looks like MK does now: still damned attractive and with a lot more hair than you'd think. :-)

hafren wrote a beautiful bittersweet one a while back with an old Vila and Kerril that I love very much.
Think of the alternative (http://www.livejournal.com/community/b7friday/11271.html)

[sorry about stuffing the link up before)

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

Having seen pictures of MK now, that's how I pictured him. Thanks for the rec, I'm quickly develloping a MAD love for hafren's fic!

(It's okay, that's what I get for answering from e-mail and not cheking first)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It's only a short b7friday one. Go and read and tell me what you think. :-)

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

Oh, *sniffles* It was utterly beautiful. I love Hafran's Old!Vila - her "Dangerous" is one of my very very very favorite PGP's.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, that's so sad and so lovely.

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

"You are to me." Vila came over and slid his arms around her from behind. "Except for being more beautiful each year." He nuzzled her gently.

Just like a cat. Cat burglar. hee!

Lovely piece. I believe Soolin would fret at getting slower.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm. :-) See my icon.