Epilogue

Epilogue
3 years later

Kyro 

“Hunter, you’re still in the office?” 

A weathered hand squeezes my shoulder, and I rustle up a grin to offer my boss, Aiden. He’s a stocky old man, with blocky glasses to match his frame. He has a hearty laugh, like he’s calling you to dinner with every word.

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” I grin, and close my laptop. “But I should get out of here. Wouldn’t want my wife to get upset and beat me.”

He laughs boisterously, tapping my back with glee. 

“That sweet lady never hurt anyone! Tell her I said hi! Hurry and clock out!”

My favorite words, I do so with my phone as I hustle through the hallways, sunlight streams through the floor to ceiling windows—some daylight left, thank god. The parking lot is full, but I took time off for this. 

The phone rings but I don’t answer it. Not today. I’m only answering one person today. The florist expects me, brightening up when she hears the door bell jingle. 

“Mr. Barnum! The lilies from Austriland came in beautifully, not even one was damaged!”

I grin and look over each flower, holding it to my nose. 

‘It’s perfect. How did the other come out.”

She settles the wrapped bouquet of Scarlet’s favorite flower. I grin, and pay the florist. I didn’t even have to get out my brass knuckles.

My heart pounds as I speed home, my stomach rumbling in anticipation. I’m not sure what’s waiting for me, but every picture I imagine makes me want to drive faster.

I get home before the sunsets, pulling to the driveway of our cozy home, tucked in the corner of the cul-de-sac. I jog to the door, brushing my hair back before I unlock the door.

It’s dark in the house—she’s asleep. I creep in, set my keys on the side table, and tip toe to the couch, where a familiar figure rests.

She’s curled up in a ball on the sofa, her bonnet slipping off her fresh braids, her slinky dress half off her shoulder. I chuckle, and bend down next to her, pulling her bonnet over her edges.

Scarlet’s eyes flutter open. “Is that…?”

In her arms, Issac, the likely culprit of this nap stretches, taps his wet nose against mine and darts away.

I smile, and offer her the bouquet of prerolls and the bouquet of flowers. She takes both to her nose with a soft grin. 

“Happy Lovers Day, Scarlet.”

Scarlet kisses me, and stands. I stay in the floor, watching Issac slink into my lap. 

“It's beautiful Kyro,” she sighs softly from the kitchen, grabbing a vase from the cabinet. “You know me so well.”

Issac purrs under my hand. I listen to Scarlet's movements and close my eyes. It smells like her. Her soft steps pad through the kitchen, setting down the floors on the window sill she insisted on. She hums—a happy, romantic melody.

She comes back, and when I open my eyes, she’s sitting in front of me on the floor, a small box in her hand.

“You got me something?" I asked. “You didn’t have to—”

Scarlett shrugs. “Well…it’s been three years. It’s a part of our…family tradition. Open it.”

I look up at her, before cautiously unwrapping the golden box. On a black pillow, lies a silver watch. 

“Turn it over,” she whispers. 

I look up at her again. Fuck she loves me. Her fingers shake as she waits for me to read what she’s engraved.

Time starts with you

\-S Barnum

“These years have been the best of my life, Kyro. Let’s love each other till time stops.”

I cup her face, smash my lips against hers, startling Issac, who yowls and darts away. Scarlett melts into my kiss, crawling into my lap, her hands on my chest.

“I love it,” I breathe against her lips. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she insists against mine, her chest brushing against mine, her nipples hard under her silky dress.

‘Wait,” I snort. “Wait, I wanna put on the watch, Red.”

She dots kisses down my neck, and pulls back. She doesn’t leave lap though, instead she takes the watch from my hand, clipping it on my wrist.

The Scarlett.

My Scarlett.

“I never want to exist without you again, Scarlett.” I whisper, burying my nose into the crook of her shoulder. “I never will again.”

‘OK, big guy,” she giggles. “I’m not going anywhere.”

There are some things I haven’t told her. Every year of peace reeks of him. He’s allergic to my happiness, the manager.

I push it down but Scarlet’s palm skips under my hair, cooling the nape of my neck.

“Everything’s going well,” she assures me softly. “I’m Rebecca’s—Mrs. Flemming’s best friend.”

I close my eyes and inhale deeply.

“She told me where the spare key is,” Scarlett purrs. I hum. “She trusts me to babysit. The mission will be fine. I promise.”

“I know,” I frown. “You’re so perfect, Scarlett.”

We stay that way for a while; on the hardwood floor at the base of our couch, tied up together. She is a competent spy—watching her work these last years has obliterated any doubt in my mind of that.

I wonder if she remembers that I’m a liar? 

“You got me flowers from home,” she says softly, her fingers scraping my scalp, pulling a groan from my lips. "I haven’t seen those flowers in years.”

My thoughts empty out of my ear, every molecule and brain cell is hyper focused on her touch.

‘You didn’t have to,” she whispers. 

“You don’t have to celebrate a Volterran holiday with me. But you do. You even got me a beautiful gift.”

Scarlet just hums, her head resting in mine, her fingers massaging my hair. My eyes close, despite myself. Her heartbeat is so steady. Probably because she’s honest. It soothes me, my racing heart slowing to meet her steady tune and soft caress. The house is dark, like her apartment used to be so the incense smoke wafts throughout the room. 

I fight sleep, I have a whole day planned. Scarlett’s soft hums attack me from all sides, her voice in my ears and against my cheek.

“That’s not fair,” I murmur.

She sings a laugh. 



The watch is cool against my wrist. I can feel her words against my skin. up in bed next to her.

Time starts with you

\-S Barnum

I smile and turn over in bed to face my wife. Her dark eyes meet mine.

“How long did I sleep?”

Her lips turn up. “Why don’t you check your watch?”

I smile a lot these days. Can he feel it? My joy? I almost revel in it more just to spite him. Even in the dim light, the watch sparkles.

“It’s still lovers day,” I sigh. “I have things planned for us.”

Scarlett kisses me. “We have plenty of time, baby.”

I kiss her back, and savor the taste of that lie, that lie I so desperately want to be true.

We stay that way, a spy and liar, happy in our way for as long as time lasts.