Cemetery, El Paso, Texas, Sunday Afternoon

[weldedtomyspine]

The Day of the Dead. Every year found Jaime ending his rounds in the same cemetery, at the same grave.

Nadia.

Just like every year, the first thing he did was look to see if anyone else had been by before to leave anything for her. And just like every year, there was nothing. So he knelt in front of the grave marker and lay the small bouquet of cempasúchitl against the granite.

He didn't say anything. Even years later he wasn't sure what to say. He just knelt in silence for a bit, remembering.

Comments

[weldedtomyspine]

"Guess that's my point?" Jaime shrugged, not entirely sure.

[heromaniac]

"And my point is that you're totally worth being proud of even though you do make dumb decisions sometimes. Think how awesome you must for that?" Momoko kissed his silly head. "I bet if you listen close, you can hear her agreeing with me?"

[weldedtomyspine]

"Well, at the very least, I know better than to argue with you about it." Any more. For today.

[heromaniac]

"You're learning a little, at least," she chuckled, leaning against him. "Maybe this you is better; I wouldn't win against you at all if you ever figure out how awesome you are."

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime quirked an eyebrow ever so slightly. "Win against me in what?"

[heromaniac]

"Anything. Everything." Momoko nudged him lightly. "You don't notice how hard I have to fight to resist you? And that's just me. I feel sorry for people who don't have an immunity."

[weldedtomyspine]

"Resist me?" Now Jaime's eyebrows were seriously raised. He wasn't... quite sure what she meant. Mostly because the only thing that came to mind seemed a bit unlikely.

[heromaniac]

Well, that too.

"You say something and it makes sense. You do something and I want to help. You have a problem and it's something that worries everyone." Momoko waved a hand. "You're awesome, Jaime. And we want to be a part of it. We can't help it; like being drawn to something delicious."

"You'd totally be an awesome villain."

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime flushed, not sure how to handle something like that. So he took the easy way out.

"I probably could grow a pretty good evil mustache," he allowed, stroking his chin thoughtfully. And hoping she didn't notice his blush.

[heromaniac]

Momoko missing him blush? Not gonna happen.

Still, she could totally let him think she did and just snuggle closer. "And how long have you been trying to grow the beard?"

[weldedtomyspine]

"I haven't really been trying." Not exactly, anyway.

[heromaniac]

Momoko snickered.

[weldedtomyspine]

Hey! "I heard that!"

[heromaniac]

"I didn't say anything!"

[weldedtomyspine]

"Don't you play innocent with me, missy. I know you too well."

[heromaniac]

She snickered again, but gave in. "I was just thinking about how you've had the scruff for as long as I've known you and it's never really gotten... more."

[weldedtomyspine]

"That's because I shave!" You know. Sometimes. When he remembered to.

[heromaniac]

"So you're suggesting you could grow more?" she pulled away to eye him teasingly.

[weldedtomyspine]

"If I wanted to, sure."

Probably.

[heromaniac]

"Hmmmmmm?" She tapped his cheek, considering. "Now I'm wondering what you'd look like."

[weldedtomyspine]

"Super mature, I bet."

[heromaniac]

"..." Momoko raised an eyebrow, then leaned further away from him and towards Nadia's tombstone. "Now we know why he's never grown more than the scruff," she stage-whispered to it.

[weldedtomyspine]

"Because I never wanted to," Jaime announced.

[heromaniac]

Momoko and the tombstone were both just deadpan staring at you, Jaime.

Though in two seconds, Momoko was probably going to start giggling.

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime just sighed a long-suffering sigh.

This is why he couldn't introduce Momoko to anyone.