Chapter Text
The loom stretched across a void without floor or sky. Light and shadow tangled together in an endless pattern, threads running out into forever. Each one carried the pulse of a life. Some shimmered bright. Some dimmed to almost nothing. All moved toward an end.
The Time Weaver stood in the heart of it.
Its form was tall and faceless, woven from gold light and soft silver that shifted like the surface of water. Its hands were long, weightless, and never still. Each touch coaxed the threads into shape. A low hum filled the air, like the sound of a thousand voices speaking in the distance.
Beyond the light, where the threads vanished into black, the Reaper waited. Its body was built of shadow, its edges frayed and slow to move. A long cloak hung from its frame, dragging through the darkness that clung to it. Its face was only a hollow shape, with two narrow beams of blue light staring out.
The Reaper spoke first, its voice deep and heavy, as though it came from far below. “She meddled again.”
The Weaver did not look up from its work. “You mean the mortal?”
“I meant the one who steals from me,” the Reaper replied, “I stand at the thread until the moment is ripe only for her to tear it from my hand.”
The Weaver’s fingers brushed lightly along the glowing strand, and the faint hum of the loom shifted. “Do you begrudge her for saving one she loves?”
“I begrudge her for thinking herself above the order,” the Reaper replied, “I begrudge her for believing the thread belongs to her alone.”
A ripple of light ran through the Weaver’s shape again, as if chuckling. “She pulls with strength.”
The Reaper’s silence stretched, thick and cold.
“She pulls without thought,” the Reaper finally said. “Each time Chloe Price reaches her end, this Caulfield girl drags her back. She does not see the knots she leaves behind.”
"Well," the Weaver said as his fingers passed over a thread, sending a faint blue shimmer down its length, “Her will is strong.”
“Her will is blind,” the Reaper snapped back. The shadows around its feet spread further, brushing against the edge of the loom. “She thinks only of her. She doesn't even wonder why she has it in the first place.”
“Hmm, you really do not like being made to wait,” the Weaver said lightly.
“I am not meant to wait,” the Reaper said. “When a thread nears its end, I take it. That is the order.”
The Weaver tilted its head, threads of gold light shifting in its form. “I know. But I did not place the power in her hands. She reached for it, and I heard her. I am not deaf to a voice that calls.”
“You could have turned away.”
A small ripple of light ran through the Weaver’s form, like a sigh disguised as laughter. “She called to me,” the Weaver said simply. “I answered.”
“You always answer,” the Reaper replied, the words edged with quiet blame. “And then I am left to watch her tear the weave apart.”
The Weaver tilted its head toward the Reaper, light curling at its edges like a smile. “She is bold. Mortal boldness is rare. And amusing.”
“Amusing?” the Reaper repeated flatly. “It is imbalance. It is arrogance. She does not see beyond her own desire. She does not care what she unravels in the weave so long as this one mortal breathes another moment.”
The Weaver’s laughter was soft, like the rustle of silk. “You make it sound so grim, as if you are not fascinated yourself. You could have taken Chloe Price the moment you found her, yet you follow them still, watching from the edges.”
“I follow because I must. You know that.” The Reaper’s voice dropped, low and certain. “Her thread is already overdrawn. Every moment you allow this, the balance tilts further. This mortal…Caulfield…she will pay the cost. They always do.”
“Perhaps,” the Weaver murmured, turning a single thread between its fingers so it caught the light. “Or perhaps not. Threads have a way of defying the shears when they are woven with enough will.”
The Reaper stepped closer to the loom, its shadow spilling dark across the strands. “And when the cost comes due,” it asked, voice low, “will you stand in my way?”
The Weaver’s hands stilled for the first time, light pooling in its palms. “I will stand where I must,” it said softly, then shaped something like a smile, as much as a thing without a face could. “But for now, I will watch. And if it tangles you a little along the way, well…even gods should be kept entertained. Is it not more interesting to watch?”
The Reaper’s voice dropped lower. “It is not my place to watch. It is my place to end. And yet you have bound my hands with your indulgence.”
The Weaver just chuckled. The Reaper said nothing more, but the shadows deepened, swallowing more of the fading light along the edges. Still, the loom sang on. Threads shivered under unseen winds.
And far below, in the small world where mortals breathed, two figures walked side by side. They did not look up. They did not sense the gaze of light and shadow that followed each step, watching, waiting.
Chloe patted her back pocket with a groan. “Shit. Left my wallet in the car.” she said to Max, stopping mid-step.
Max sighed, though the corner of her mouth curved. “I’ll go grab us a booth. Try not to take all day.”
Chloe smirked as she spun on her heel, already heading back. “Relax, Maximus. It’s not like the place is packed at dawn.”
Max pushed open the glass door, the bell above it giving a soft jingle as she stepped inside. The warmth hit her first, followed by the smell of fresh coffee and pancakes, the kind of scent that made the morning feel gentler than it really was.
She slid into a booth by the window, pressing her palms around the mug the waitress set down, almost too hot against her skin but grounding all the same.
Chloe had shown up at her place that morning without warning, leaning on the horn until Max came out, insisting they needed breakfast together. Max hadn’t argued. She was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes when Chloe pulled up to the diner, all restless energy and smirks.
Outside, Arcadia Bay’s main street moved at its slow pace, the hush of morning broken only by the occasional car easing past.
Chloe slid in across from her, grinning like she’d just won something. “Guess who I saw in the parking lot?” she said, pulling a fry from the basket between them even though they hadn’t ordered fries.
Max raised an eyebrow. “We didn’t even- where did you get those?”
Chloe shrugged. “The guy at the counter likes me. Perks of being charming.” She leaned in. “Anyway, Kate and Victoria. Together. Like, holding hands together.”
Max blinked. “Wait, seriously?”
“Seriously,” Chloe said, popping the fry in her mouth. “They’re coming in. Try not to stare.”
Max turned her head just in time to see the two walk through the door. Kate looked just as she always did, soft and steady, but Victoria carried that polished, put-together look that made her stand out even in a diner at dawn.
What caught Max more was how their hands stayed linked as they paused at the entrance, scanning the room like they hadn’t expected to run into anyone they knew. Their eyes landed on the booth, surprise flickering across both faces. Neither of them had figured Max and Chloe for the type to be up this early.
“Hey,” Kate said after a moment, her voice carrying that calm, steady kindness she always had. “We didn’t think we’d see anyone we knew here. Mind if we join?”
Chloe gestured at the booth like a game show host. “Pull up a chair. Or, you know, slide in and ruin Max’s plans for a quiet breakfast.”
Victoria rolled her eyes but sat down beside Chloe, Kate settling in next to Max. “Please. She was probably going to spend the whole morning taking pictures of her pancakes.”
Max laughed, shaking her head. “Not true. I was going to take pictures of Chloe stealing them.”
The conversation slid easily into comfortable banter.
Kate talked about the art program she’d started volunteering for at the community center, her eyes lighting up in that warm, steady way as she described teaching kids how to work with clay.
“Some of them have never even touched it before,” she said, her hands making small shaping motions as she spoke. “It’s like… the first time they see something take form under their hands, their faces just…” She broke into a quiet smile, clearly picturing it.
“Adorable, I’m sure,” Victoria cut in, leaning back in the booth with her arms crossed. Her voice was dry, but she was nodding all the same, eyes fixed on Kate like she didn’t want to miss a word.
Chloe caught the look and smirked. “Wow, that almost sounded like a compliment. Careful, your ice queen rep might melt.”
Victoria shot her a sharp glance. Kate just laughed softly and reached for her coffee.
“She’s actually been helping me,” she said, glancing at Victoria with an almost conspiratorial smile. “She came to one of the classes last week.”
“Only because you bribed me with coffee after,” Victoria muttered, rolling her eyes. But there was a faint pink at the tips of her ears.
Max grinned. “So… you two are actually a thing now?”
Kate hesitated for a second, then nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s pretty new. We’ve been… talking for a while. But we only decided to start dating a couple of weeks ago.”
“Yeah, after she finally worked up the courage to ask me,” Victoria said, smirking in Kate’s direction.
Kate gave her a patient look. “You’re the one who kept showing up at the center every time I was there. And bringing me muffins.”
“That was a coincidence,” Victoria said quickly, as if she’d already prepared her defense.
Chloe laughed, leaning her elbows on the table. “Oh, I’m sure the constant ‘accidental’ texting was also part of the master plan.”
Victoria narrowed her eyes at her but didn’t deny it.
Kate just shook her head, still smiling. “She pretends she’s annoyed about me telling people, but I think she likes it.”
Victoria looked away, sipping her coffee like it was suddenly fascinating. “Don’t push your luck, bunny.”
Chloe’s eyebrows shot up, and she practically bounced in her seat. “Bunny? That’s your pet name for her? This is gold.”
Victoria set her mug down with deliberate care and gave Chloe a look sharp enough to cut glass. “Shut up.”
Kate, cheeks warming, tried to hide a laugh behind her hand. “It’s just… something she calls me sometimes. I don’t mind.”
Max grinned, watching Victoria try to keep her cool. “I think it’s cute.”
“Of course you do,” Victoria muttered to Max, tugging her sleeve down like she could hide behind it.
Kate shook her head but reached over to squeeze Victoria’s hand under the table. “You like calling me that,” she said softly.
Victoria glanced at her, the corner of her mouth twitching. “Maybe I do.”
Chloe made an exaggerated gagging sound. “Ugh, I can feel the cavities forming.”
Max kicked her lightly. “Be nice.”
“I am being nice,” Chloe said with a grin.
For a moment, everyone just laughed, the easy kind that needed no reason. The smell of coffee lingered, sunlight spilling through the window onto the table. Outside, a car rolled past, tires humming against the road.
Max let her gaze drift to the window as silence between them settled. The sky was cloudless, almost too bright. And she wondered, for the hundredth time, if days like this meant anything.
If somewhere, someone was keeping score.
Max was the last to step out of the diner, the bell over the door chiming behind her. Sunlight hit the glass at just the right angle, and for a second she caught something strange in the reflection.
Not herself, not Chloe, not the neat row of booths inside...
It was a smear of movement, dark and thin, like a shadow stretching too far. Beside it, faint threads of light trembled across the glass, almost like spider silk caught in a breeze.
Her breath caught. It looked too much like what she’d seen back at the garage last week, right before everything went black. At the time she told herself it had only been a dream, some trick of her exhausted mind.
She hesitated, staring at the glass a moment longer, but when she blinked it was gone.
“Hey, Max, you still with us?” Chloe’s voice cut through her thoughts, warm and teasing. She was already a few steps ahead on the sidewalk with Kate and Victoria, waving for Max to hurry up. “We’re debating whether Victoria even owns anything that isn’t designer.”
“I’m right here, you know,” Victoria shot back, giving Chloe a sharp side glance as she adjusted the strap of her bag.
Kate smiled at both of them, shaking her head. “We were talking about how she dresses nice even for the grocery store.”
“Presentation matters,” Victoria replied simply, though her lips twitched like she was holding back a smile.
Chloe smirked. “Right, because that kid in aisle three with jelly on his shirt is really judging you for your shoes.”
Max caught up, slipping into step beside Chloe, hands in her jacket pockets. “You’re still going to bring that up? That was months ago.”
“Yeah, and it was hilarious,” Chloe said, bumping her shoulder. “Also, it’s not like I can tease Kate. She’s too nice.”
Kate shook her head with a small laugh. “Don’t tempt me. I could probably come up with something if I tried.”
Chloe grinned. “I’d pay to see that.”
They reached the corner where the sidewalk curved toward the parking lot. Chloe slowed, glancing at Max before looking back to Kate and Victoria. “Speaking of things you’d pay to see… Max here’s been keeping secrets.”
“Chloe,” Max said with a frown, her voice low in warning.
“Relax, I’m not outing you as Batman,” Chloe shot back, waving a hand like it was nothing. “But she’s been getting these nosebleeds. Last week I even had to carry her to the hospital.”
Kate froze mid-step, her expression tightening with concern. “Max… you didn’t tell me that.”
“It's no big deal,” Max said quickly, heat rushing to her cheeks under the sudden attention. She kept her eyes down, as if that might make it less of a scene. “I’m fine now.”
Victoria’s gaze flicked over her, sharp and assessing in that way she probably didn’t even mean to be. “You don’t end up in a hospital for ‘no big deal,’ Maxine.” Her tone was flat, but there was an edge of concern.
Kate’s worry was plain. “Are you okay now? Did they say what’s causing it?”
Max hesitated. “They…didn’t find anything serious. Just told me to rest more. Drink water. That kind of thing.”
Chloe snorted softly. “Which she’s totally going to ignore because she’s stubborn.”
Kate gave Max a gentle but firm look. “You need to take care of yourself. Even little things can add up.”
Victoria shoved her hands in her pockets, eyes forward, voice casual. “She’ll be fine. She’s not dumb enough to push herself if it gets worse.” She glanced sideways at Max. “Right, Caulfield?”
Max managed a small smile. “Right.”
Chloe didn’t look convinced, but she let it drop, walking a little closer to Max as they headed for the cars.
They reached the row where Kate and Victoria had parked. Kate unlocked her old sedan, and Victoria opened the passenger door for her with a small, almost unconscious gesture.
“See you guys later?” Kate asked, resting one hand on the roof.
“Yeah,” Chloe said. “We’ll swing by sometime this week. Maybe I’ll crash one of your art classes.”
“Please don’t,” Victoria muttered, but there was no real bite in it.
Kate smiled and waved before getting in. Victoria gave them both a short nod, then slipped in after her. The car pulled away with the low hum of the engine, disappearing down the street.
For a moment, the parking lot was quiet except for the distant call of a gull. Chloe leaned against her truck, tapping her keys against her palm.
“So...you sure you’re okay?” she asked, her tone casual enough that someone else might think it was nothing. But Max could feel the weight in the words.
“I told you, it’s fine,” Max said, giving her a small smile. “You don’t have to worry.”
Chloe didn’t answer right away. She just unlocked the truck and held the door for Max, like she always did. When Max was in, Chloe closed it and went around to her side.
The ride back toward Max’s place was quiet, music low. Chloe kept glancing over when she thought Max wasn’t looking, her jaw tight in that way she got when she was thinking too much.
Chloe hated hospitals.
She hated anything that hinted at someone she cared about being hurt. She didn’t say it, though. She figured Max had enough people telling her to rest.
When they pulled up in front of Max’s apartment, Chloe killed the engine but didn’t move right away.
“Guess I’ll let you go,” she said finally, turning toward her.
Max smiled again, softer this time. “Thanks for driving.”
Chloe’s mouth tilted in that lazy grin, but her eyes stayed on Max a little longer than usual. “Anytime, wife.”
Max let out a soft chuckle. “Wife?”
“What? I’m trying the pet name thing,” Chloe said, leaning back a little but still watching her.
Max shook her head, smiling. “Victoria calls Kate ‘bunny,’ and you decide to call me ‘wife’?”
Chloe’s grin widened. “What? I can’t?”
Max laughed again, the sound low and warm. “Fine, fine.” she shifted in her seat, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Neither of them moved right away. The low hum of the truck’s engine filled the space, along with the faint sound of some song still playing on the radio.
“You good?” Chloe asked after a moment, her tone casual but her gaze steady.
“Yeah,” Max said, even though she knew Chloe wouldn’t just take her word for it.
Chloe nodded like she was letting it go, but her fingers drummed lightly against the steering wheel. “Alright. Just…make sure you drink water tonight, okay? And eat something that isn’t, like, a bag of chips.”
Max gave her a faint smile. “Yes, mom.”
“Hey, I’m just making sure my favorite photographer doesn’t keel over,” Chloe said, her voice lighter now but not quite hiding the concern underneath. She reached over, brushing her thumb over the back of Max’s hand before letting it rest there.
Max glanced down at their hands, then back up at her. “You’re too worried.”
Chloe shrugged. “Maybe I am.”
Max laughed softly, and before she could think too much about it, she leaned in. Chloe met her halfway, the kiss slow and easy, like neither of them was in a rush to pull back.
When they parted, Chloe stayed close, her forehead almost touching Max’s. “I’m off early from the shop tomorrow. I’ll drop by your studio.”
“You don’t have to,” Max said, though she was already picturing Chloe leaning against her desk with that same grin.
“Yeah, I kinda do,” Chloe replied, smiling. “Besides, I can bug you until you actually take a break.”
Max rolled her eyes but smiled, reaching up to touch her cheek for just a second before pulling away. “Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Chloe watched her get out, waiting until Max was halfway up the steps to call out, “Water, wife!”
Max turned back, still smiling. “Got it!”
Chloe kept her eyes on her until the door closed behind her, then leaned back in her seat. She blew out a slow breath, turned the key, and drove off, already counting the hours until she could check in again.