The Aftermath

Silence fell over the Whispering Woods.

Jax and Kara broke apart, gasping for air. They were covered in mud, sweat, and ectoplasm.

Jax looked at the crushed Rover. He looked at the C4 scattered on the ground. He looked at Kara.

"So," Jax said, his voice hoarse. "You shot the detonator out of my hand."

"You tried to blow yourself up to avoid a second date," Kara countered, crossing her arms. She was smiling, though. A real smile.

"I... might have overreacted," Jax admitted. He rubbed the back of his neck. "About the whole... confession thing."

"You shouted it at a god, Jax. It’s on the public record now." Kara stepped closer. She picked a piece of confetti out of his hair. "For the record... I love you too. You moron."

Jax let out a laugh that sounded half like a sob. "Good. That’s good."

He reached out and took her hand. His fingers interlaced with hers. It felt grounding. Real. Better than any explosive.

"We have to walk back to base," Jax noted, looking at the wrecked Rover. "It’s three miles."

"And I expect you to explain exactly why you want a wedding with meat-flowers on the way," Kara teased, pulling him toward the road.

"That wasn't me! That was the monster's interpretation!"

"Sure, Jinx. Sure."

"I have to write a report on this," Jax groaned as they started walking. "Command is never going to believe the 'Kissed to Save the World' defense."

"They don't have to," Kara squeezed his hand. "We know."

They walked back toward the lights of Fort Atropos, leaving the woods behind them. The sky was still bleeding, the monsters were still hungry, and the coffee was still terrible. But for the first time in five years, Jax Miller wasn't afraid of tomorrow.