bradygirl_12 | Fic: Stars' Dust (2/2) (Reply)

Title: Stars’ Dust (2/2)
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters: Steve/Diana, mention of Clark/Bruce/Dick
Category: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character deaths.
Spoilers: None
General Summary: The weight of Immortality is finally crushing Diana.
Summary: (this chapter): Is Love really forever?
Date Of Completion: September 23, 2007
Date Of Posting: September 24, 2007
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 943
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: I was inspired by

damo_in_japan ’s story Memory and

jen_in_japan ’s All We Are, And All That We Will Be.
All chapters can be found here.

GOLDEN

Diana sighed. She was daydreaming again. Or maybe she was asleep. It really didn’t matter, did it?

“Angel.”

She opened her eyes and her breath caught.

“I…I haven’t dreamed you quite like this before.”

Steve laughed. His lemon-blond hair was brighter than the sun that was now weak and pale, his entire body radiating light. He wore a simple Greek tunic, golden sandals lacing his feet and legs. Golden bracelets encircled his wrists, and the golden belt was similar to the one that Diana wore.

“I’m not a dream, Angel.”

“Really?” For the first time in a long time, amusement filled her heart. “It’s okay, I’m used to you not being real.”

Steve’s eyes were soft with love. “Has it been so long that you don’t recognize me, Beloved?”

Her insides shivered at the term. He had long ago adopted that term that she had always used for him, mixing it with his favorite endearment for her. In all these many, many years, she had never dreamed him using that term.

“I recognize your beauty, both inside and out.”

Steve’s smile was pleased. “You always were eloquent with words, Angel.” His smile faded. “I’ve missed you so.”

“I’ve missed you, too. Very much.”

Steve’s eyes took on a faraway look. “The afterlife is a funny thing. A thousand years can feel like a day, or it can feel like ten thousand years.” His golden eyes looked at her. “For me, it seems as if I left you just yesterday, and yet there are times when I feel as if a thousand millennia have passed.” His hand rested over his heart. “Heaven…or Olympus, or Valhalla, whatever you want to call it…can be a wondrous place, a joyous place, but there has always been a part of me missing.”

Diana wondered if she was finally going mad. Her daydreams were mostly memories, and now this golden Steve, as bright as her lasso, was talking as if he was real.

“Our friends and family are happy, though they miss you. Your mother, your sisters, friends like Clark and Bruce and Dick…”

“They’re well?” Diana asked with a hunger for knowledge.

Steve nodded. “All well. Your mother and sisters give us beauty and light.” He smiled. “Clark and Dick help power the suns, and Bruce the moons.”

Diana smiled at that thought. Of course.

“You’re still so beautiful. I’ve always loved you in that costume.”

Diana looked down. “I haven’t worn it in quite awhile, but it’s a good symbol. Eternal stars, soaring eagle, promise of freedom and a better future.”

Steve’s voice was drenched with admiration and affection. “You’ve served very well. You’ve fought, you’ve loved, you’ve seen and done so much, Angel. You’ve seen how the Human race has evolved and reached a peak of perfection, but it’s only the first phase.”

“First phase?” Diana frowned.

Steve nodded. “The first phase was for Humans to use their capacity for Love and to achieve that pure, dispassionate state of being, bringing other races along, using ourselves as examples. The Amazons were destined to be the purest of these, but plans changed.”

“Plans?” Diana laughed, the sound rusty, but whether dream or real, Steve always drew joy out of her. “Does everyone in Olympus sit around and draw up blueprints and agendas for eternal outcomes?”

Steve smiled again. “The Olympian Gods and Goddesses are impatient. They’re pleased that they’re remembered, and no doubt some would like to be worshipped again, but they have learned from our race as well.” He tilted his head. “Angel, haven’t you felt that something is missing now that the Human race is so cerebral and cool and calm?”

“Yes.” Diana crossed her arms. “But it’s probably for the good. When Humans engaged their passions, there was death and pain and violence.”

“What if our people could achieve pure Love, but with passion?”

Diana blinked. “How could they co-exist?”

Steve’s smile was amused and loving. “It’ll take a few thousand millennia, but it’s just a blink of an eye to some.”

Diana shook her head, slightly amused but saddened. “I’ll probably see that evolution, then.”

“No, you won’t.”

She snapped her head up. Steve’s golden/sapphire eyes were gentle as he reached out his hand.

“It’s time, love.”

Diana stared at him, then at his hand. The golden flesh was so very perfect…

“I’ve been sent to get you, Angel. You’ve served so well and so long. Our friends and families are waiting for you. They’ve missed you, too.” His voice grew softer. “You’re the other half of my soul. I’m tired of waiting.” He took her hand.

Tiny tingles of energy slipped through Diana’s hand, entering her body and making her feel more alive than she ever had. The world began to fade, the dull grays and browns melting into bright, rainbow colors. Her bone-deep weariness began to fade.

“Steve?”

He reached out and touched the St. Christopher’s medal she wore around her neck, a gift to her from him so long ago. She reached out a trembling hand and touched the Medal of Athena, which she had gifted him at the same time.

“It’s time, Angel. Time to join us. Time to watch and aid the evolution that will bring so much to the Universe. Time to be One with me again.”

Time.

A silvery tear slipped down her face and melted into Steve’s golden finger as he touched her face. He drew her to him.

As Diana kissed her soulmate, breathing “Beloved,” both of them dissolving into golden light as they journeyed to her new home, she knew that Immortality was no longer a curse.

It was a Blessing.