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Trinity is gone. Destroyed.
Lara avenged her father, Unuratu, and Sam.
They won't hurt anyone ever again.
But something keeps nagging her, clawing desperately at the walls she has thrown up to protect herself. She's let it be heard one too many times. She knows what it will say, she knows what sort of seed it will plant.
She listens anyway.
Trinity isn't gone. They'll come back. An organisation that has existed for more than a few centuries won't go down so easily.
Except that it wasn't easy. She's been hunting them for over a year. Taking down secluded projects and bases before finally finishing them off in Paititi.
It doesn't feel real.
"But it is." Jonah's voice echoes and Lara grounds herself. She focuses on the next-door neighbours screaming at each other, the creak of the exit door opening in the hallway, and the quiet buzz of a flickering lamp.
She turns to the mirror. The woman that looks at her is unrecognisable, but she's gotten used to seeing her. Hollowed cheeks and wide, sunken eyes that dart all over her face, noting each scar etched into her skin. A ghost of the young girl she once was.
She pulls at the neck of her suffocating knee-length dress, hoping that a slight shift will let her breathe better. It doesn't.
Lara sighs and slumps to the ground. Prim and proper isn't who she is, at least not anymore.
What is she doing?
Her phone lights up with a notification from Jonah.
Are you still coming?
She shouldn't have listened to him. She shouldn't have let him stand there and guilt her into saying yes with his huge, sad, and emotional eyes.
"Sam told me to ask you to come. You will, won't you?"
Lara wishes it would be sunnier in London so she would have an excuse to buy him sunglasses.
She could still back out. Come up with some sort of excuse that nobody will buy, but she doesn't know if she's ready to disappoint Jonah. Again.
Lara promised Jonah and Abby that she'll swing by. That she will finally have a proper conversation with Sam.
Sam.
Lara's eyes trailed to the large, poorly gift-wrapped box on her bed, at least ten tiny pieces of tape on each side working to make her attempt look presentable.
The Arri Alexa LF, the hottest film-making camera on the market. It cost a literal fortune, and it was supposed to be Lara's gift for Sam. A conversation starter, a peace offering, an apology.
It won't make up for abandoning her, the voice cruelly nags and Lara rubs her face. Her resolve flickering and wavering just like the lamp outside.
Why was this so complicated?
She doesn't know if she can face Sam, not after so long. Not after everything that has happened to her.
Her last memory with a barely-conscious Sam is still as vivid as ever. Lara's trembling hands were covered with Sam's blood as she desperately pressed down on the wound. Pleading, begging her to hold on just a little longer, promising her that she won't get hurt again, that she'll be okay. How many times had Lara made that promise?
How many times had she cradled Sam, wondering if this was the last time she'll see her?
Sam doesn't blame her, although they haven't spoken about it, Lara already knows.
But she should.
Everything terrible that has happened to her was because of Lara.
She should keep her distance.
Her phone buzzes again, this time with a selfie from Jonah with everyone else, but her eyes are set on Sam and the wide, familiar grin on her face. The feeling in her chest is loud and Lara wants to snuff it out with her stuffy dress. She has enough problems as is, she can't deal with the moths that materialized in her body.
But good god, she missed Sam's smile. She missed Sam . She missed her laugh, she missed her confidence, she missed her glimmering brown eyes and how easy it was to get lost in them. She missed how messy she was and her determination to get what she wanted. She missed being on the receiving side of everything soft and kind and compassionate of Sam Nishimura.
She missed her warm hands, too.
Lara stands up and struggles to get out of her dress. Her next outfit is a well-worn black turtleneck and jeans, ones she knows she's worn too often. But it's comfortable, and it's her.
It's too cold out for a dress anyway.
Lara picks up the box and hurries out of the apartment and down the stairs. Every step she takes feels like it's being held back by weighted shackles, yet she doesn't falter, her mind and heart at war as she gets into a cab.
It is almost insulting how quickly the cab stops in front of a run-down bar. The neon sign barely flickers to life, hanging by a few loose screws and one measly wire. She didn't even get a moment to catch her breath, or to process her decision. But maybe, the fact that she's standing here is all she needs to understand.
She doesn't want to go inside. She has half the mind to just turn around and walk back home and leave her present outside. Unfortunately, her fate seemed to be set in stone as droplets of rain pelted her face and she had no choice but to try and hunch over the box and head inside.
The dull environment isn't even close to what she was anticipating. The slow ceiling fan lazily hit her with warm, humid air and the scent of stale beer as Indie music crackles overhead.
Did Sam really choose this place for her birthday?
The lack of customers made it easy for Lara to spot familiar silhouettes in the far, dimly-lit corner, particularly Sam's, with her head on the table.
This is happening. She's doing this.
Lara sucked in a breath and walked forward, catching a hint of Sam's mumble.
"—isn't coming, is she?"
"Sorry I'm late," Lara spoke up and everyone's heads snapped toward her.
"Little bird! Just in time!" Jonah exclaimed and took the box from her hands, his smile somewhat calming Lara's frayed nerves.
"We were just about to do a round of toasts," Abby clarified and moved in for a warm hug.
"Without you," Joselyn added, not moving to greet her as Kaz gave Lara a brief squeeze, but her quirked lip seemed genuine enough.
"It's good to see you too," Lara chuckled, her question about Alisha's health dying in her throat as Sam stood in front of her, fiddling with her fingers. Her heart ached with a mixture of longing and regret, a million memories flooded her mind, each a testament to the bond they had once shared. The bond Lara had broken.
"You're here," Sam said, like she couldn't quite believe Lara had finally decided to show her face. Lara glanced between the empty bottle on the table and Sam's flushed face, her mind wracking for a sensible response. She could picture herself running the other way, but her feet stayed glued to the ground.
"Happy birthday," Lara blurted out like the fool she was, her gaze stuck on Sam's parted lips as the moment seemed to stretch on for eternity.
"Now that Lara's here, let's make a toast!" Kaz's voice interrupted the tension and Lara shot her a grateful look as Sam sunk into her sofa seat. The thankfulness lasted only for a second as Lara realised that the only place for her to sit was next to Sam, who shifted to the side to give her more space. Lara stood standing, trying to think of a way out until Kaz shot her a quick glare. She noticed Joselyn's smirk as she slowly sat on the paper-filled seat and realisation dawned on her. Her friends watched her with a keen look in their eyes.
Everyone at this table had the same goal for tonight.
Lara had no idea how she was supposed to feel about that.
"So," Jonah raised his glass. "A toast to all of us being here, safe and healthy."
Sam poured Lara a glass, not meeting her eye as they raised their glasses. The split-second of their fingers brushing caused her heart to stutter, but Lara smiled anyway.
"To our health," the table echoed before tipping their heads back.
~
The night wore on, with more than their few shares of anecdotes and drinks. Lara found herself laughing and nodding along with everyone, the weight of her actions fading away and leaving her feeling freer than she had felt in months.
Despite her reservations, it wasn't as stifling as Lara had expected it to be, and after a few glasses, it became harder to hold her tongue and not stare at Sam.
The group stumbled out of the bar and into the pouring rain. Laughing and bumping into each other. It was far too late to catch a cab so Jonah —bless his soul— had split off to bring his car around. Abby had offered to let everyone crash at their apartment, with everyone except Jonah being drunk as hell, that was their only option.
Lara teetered on her feet as she held the box, shivering as the rain poured on her. She looked to the side, where Abby, Kaz, and Joselyn stood a few feet away, all huddled under a single umbrella. Part of her knew it was probably on purpose.
Sam stepped up beside her. Springing her umbrella open and shielding them from the rain.
"Thank you," Lara whispered and Sam simply nodded, eyeing the large box.
Despite how much fun she had had. Lara had barely exchanged a few words with Sam. She didn't know what to say, she still doesn't. Every time she tried, her throat constricted and the words got lost somewhere. She could feel Sam's not-so-subtle glimpses boring into her head.
"Sam—"
"I—"
Sam sucked in a breath and Lara cleared her throat, nodding for her to go first.
"Are you here to stay?" Sam asked quietly, but the emotion and heaviness behind the question were not lost. Lara steeled herself and met Sam's shimmering brown eyes.
"I am," she let out. Lara hadn't been sure then, but now that she was with Sam, she knew what her truth was.
"Good," Sam said, her voice cracking ever so slightly as she wiped her eyes with her wet sleeve. "Because I wasn't going to let you run off without me."
Laughter bubbled in her throat and Lara shook her head. Her own eyes crinkled as she felt them sting. Sam shuffled closer and rested her head on Lara's shoulder, drinking in her warmth. A chilly breeze ruffled her hair, seemingly carrying her tension away as well.
As Jonah rolled up in front of them, Lara finally figured out that her heart racing wasn't because of the cheap alcohol.
~
The bleak morning sun filtered through the blinds and into Jonah and Abby's living room, cluttered with everyone's belongings. Sam had collapsed onto a couch as soon as she walked in and Joselyn had called dibs on the other couch. Neither Kaz nor Lara was willing to argue, so they had taken their spots on the floor.
Lara threw her arm over her face, quietly groaning because of the loud chirping amplifying her already splitting headache. She really should have stopped drinking earlier.
"Can't sleep?" Kaz mumbled from next to her, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Where do you think Jonah keeps his painkillers?"
Kaz shrugged and wrapped her sheets tighter around herself. Lara sat up and glanced at the empty couch.
"Where's Sam?" she asked, and as Kaz craned her neck to see, a blood-curling scream echoed through the house. Startling all of them. In an instant, Lara was on her feet. Blood pounded in her ears as she rushed to the source Rushed to Sam . Her mind raced as she thought about all the possibilities of what could have happened. She couldn't let anything happen to her, not again.
Lara skidded to a stop at the kitchen entrance. The sound of Kaz falling to the floor was a concern for later as she took in the sight before her, trying to figure out what was wrong. Sam stood in front of torn gift wrapping and the soggy box, her hand covering her mouth as tears streamed down her face.
Oh.
Sam slowly turned to Lara, her eyes flickering with a multitude of emotions.
"Lara Croft, you mad woman!" Sam cried and leapt into Lara's unprepared arms, sending them crashing to the ground. Her arms tightened around Sam's waist once she realised Sam wasn't letting go anytime soon.
"What the fuck is happening?" Joselyn's irritated voice rang out. Lara looked over Sam's shoulder to see Abby help Kaz untangle herself from the heap of sheets on the floor. Jonah stood next to Joselyn, scratching his face as he —no doubt— tried to piece together what had just happened.
"The camera," Abby pointed out and the group collectively moaned.
"For fuck's sake," Joselyn growled, "It's seven in the morning, Sam."
"You don't get it!" Sam yelled back, but she didn't move away from Lara. She held her close and tight, almost as if she was afraid to let go. Lara looked at the faces in the room and their expressions, varying from annoyance to relief. Abby and Jonah smiled at her, while Kaz gave her an approving nod.
Joselyn narrowed her eyes at the grin on Lara's face, but she didn't comment on it. It was obvious why. Lara's heart swelled with warmth and gratitude as she looked around at her mates, realizing that in this moment, everything felt right. The weight of the past seemed to lift, and a glimmer of hope flickered in her chest.
For a brief instant, her doubts and worries melted away, replaced by a sense of belonging and the reassurance that, just maybe, everything would be okay.