«You know what this means, Y/n... you'll renounce your badge, your bracelet and any contact with the Agency or your colleagues.» the old woman eyes stared right into yours «Forever.»

You swallowed, nervous fingers fiddling with the bracelet under the table.

After a deep breath, though, you unclasped it and placed it in front of her.

Another deep breath, and the badge joined it.

She looked at the objects and sighed.

«You're one of our finest agent, Y/n. Is there anything I can say to make you reconsider?»

Your lips pressed together in a thin line.

«Chief Tsuru... the oath to the Law is the soul of a Guardian. And I don't want to live by it anymore. I guess there's nothing left to discuss.»

The woman briefly closed her eyes and shook her head before turning to the big screen.

«Very well, then. As a senior Guardian, you have the right to a full retirement plan. So, where would you like to go?»

Your eyes absently looked at your own fifteen-year old reflex in the shop window as your mother commented the fliers on the door.

«Check out this new gym, Y/n. Doesn't it look better than the one we go to?»

Her words dragged you out of your trance and you squinted, focus slowly moving to the papers on the glass.

«Mom, I think it's far too expensive if you consider how often we actually go...» you mumbled.

Your family was not really into working out, but the doctor said it was good for her health to attend a gym, and it couldn't be bad for you, so you tried to go together in order to push each other.

«I guess you're right...» she murmured, still not convinced.

You frowned, shaking your hair lightly.

No matter what you did, you couldn't get rid of that déjà vu feeling in your head.

«Let's go, it's getting late.» your mother said, starting to walk towards home.

It was a calm summer afternoon in the small town, not many people were around and the air felt still and transparent.

You turned to follow her, but your attention was captured by one of the dresses exposed outside of the small store.

It was a colourful sundress, simple but nice.

«Oi, mom, look at that.»

«Mh?»

She glanced at the direction you pointed, her eyebrow raising slightly.

«I don't know, honey, isn't it a bit too intense?»

You shrugged.

«I like it.»

«Well, maybe we can come back later and try it on, now we gotta go, or your father will have no lunch.»

A small chuckle left your lips as you followed her down the street.

Once at home, you helped setting the table and preparing the meal. Shortly after, your whole family was sitting together and chatting casually.

You glanced at the cosy scene in the dining room, a small smile playing at the corners of your lips.

This is all you wanted. All you asked for.

A simple life, a normal life with your family.

And yet there it was, the fastidious sensation in the back of your head, that feeling of déjà vu haunting you since before.

«Y/n, are you all right?» your father asked, frowning at your figure.

«Hum, yes, I think I'm just a bit tired... I'll be right back.»

You stood from the table and walked to the bathroom, locking the door behind you.

Fresh handfuls of water were splashed on your face as you took several deep breaths.

«It's just a déjà vu. No need to worry.» you whispered to yourself, gaze moving to the mirror over the sink.

The fifteen-year old girl looked back at you.

Yes, this is me. This is what I asked.

Until the image distorted in front of you.

Liquid waves departed from the centre of the mirror, and the room suddenly faded in dim light.

Your heart missed a beat.

Fifteen years.

It has been fifteen years.

Black wires moved among the reflecting waves, crawling to form words in the centre of the mirror.

Incoming call

You closed your eyes in a grimace.

Because you knew what a déjà vu meant.

You were once one of the agents that caused them, after all.

But they said forever.

The phone started buzzing in your pocket.

You let a few seconds pass without moving, before finally reaching for it.

The screen was black.

«Hello?»

«Y/n?»

Despite everything, your heart began pounding in your chest and your body trembled lightly.

«Barto.»

Fifteen years, and I thought I was never going to hear again any of your voices.

I was going to live a normal life, and eventually die a normal death.

This is what I asked for.

«Y/n.»

He repeated your name in a choked breath and you slid to the floor, back leaning against the cold marble of the tub.

«It's me.» you whispered, voice shaking «It's me. God, I've missed you so much.»

There was a pause on the other side.

«Y/n, can you talk-dabe?»

He sounded low and serious. Nothing like the Bartolomeo you recalled.

But yet again, when one was leaving the Guardians, they were supposed to not have any contact ever again. So...

«Give me a minute.»

You slid the phone back in your pocket and left the bathroom.

«I got a call from [best friend], it's an emergency!» you shouted towards the dining room «I'm taking it outside!»

«Fine, but don't take too long!» your mother shouted back «Lunch will get cold.»

«Sure.»

You quickly got out of the house, in the still summer heat, and sat on the sidewalk.

«Here I am.»

«Y/n... fuck, it's so good to hear your voice-dabe.»

An involuntary smile opened up on your face.

«Same here. I thought it was never going to happen again.»

«I know, me too.»

«Barto, what is going on?»

Again, another pause.

«Y/n... we are in trouble.»

You took a deep breath.

You knew that already, but the tension squeezed up your chest nevertheless.

«O-Okay, here's the deal. Here's the deal...» he repeated, before clearing his voice «Less than an hour from now, a woman is going to try on a dress in a local store near your house. She looks like a normal girl, but she's actually the Chinese president's daughter travelling undercover-dabe.»

You frowned.

«What is the Chinese president's daughter doing in a suburb like mine?»

«This is not important.» he said «What's important is that a terrorist is going to walk in minutes later and shoot randomly. She is the only victim.»

Your fingers squeezed the phone. You were starting to see where it was going.

«Well, you know how it usually goes from there-dabe. Countries being stupid and stuff. Long story short, it results in a world war that basically annihilates life on Earth.»

«Y-Yeah, I remember the deal.» you murmured «But Barto, such a chain of events must have so many points you can act on. Governmental manoeuvres of different states, political decisions, war acts...»

On the other side, Bartolomeo let out a frustrated scoff.

«You think we don't know that? Sengoku, Tsuru and all the other bigheads lost countless nights of sleep over that. Vegapunk's computers were working 24/7 to calculate our best options. We tried everything-dabe. All the teams were deployed. They even sent Luffy-senpai, Trafalgar and Eustass together. I took at least eight missions myself.»

Well, this explained the déjà vu feeling.

You swallowed.

«Then why haven't you just saved the woman already?»

You knew you were being irrational.

If Sengoku, Tsuru and all the others couldn't figure out a way to save the world, you saying obvious stuff wasn't going to change anything.

«I told you-dabe. We went back I don't even know how many times to try and save her. But no matter what we do, she always ends up dying.»

Your stomach dropped.

«A fixpoint in time.»

He let out a trembling breath.

«Yes.»

«So... why did you call?»

Is this a goodbye?

You were aware of Bartolomeo's feelings for you, back when you used to work together.

You had always held great affection for him, but you couldn't help it. You were in love with another Guardian, and no matter the messed up things he did to preserve the continuum, you were never able to stop loving him.

«I called because... there is one way.»

«There is?» you frowned.

Bartolomeo hesitated.

«Yes. Vegapunk's machines gave a result. They launched the program several times, but the result is only one and always the same-dabe.»

And, like that, you realized.

It felt like a black hole opened in your chest and sucked in all your organs and emotions.

Your hand came to rest on the warm tarmac to sustain your body as your eyes fixed in front of you.

«Barto.» you whispered «Tell me what to do.»

«Y-You...» his voice cracked «Y/n, we fucking fought so hard against this-dabe! We almost caused an internal revolution. Some of us were interned. Luffy-senpai threw a tantrum, and Eustass, he–»

«Barto.»

He stopped.

«Tell me what to do.»

There were a few seconds of silence before he spoke again.

«Walk to the store right beside the church. The dress is exposed outside. It's a colourful sundress, you'll recognize it. It's the only piece left. You have to go there and... try it on. Before she can ask for it.»

You closed your eyes, his tears now audible beyond the phone.

«Try it on and die in her place.»

The summer sky was covered by a few grey clouds. It made the air slightly humid. A couple of birds called each other from the basket field across the street.

«I see. When should I go?»

«...now.»

A sad smile bent your lips and immediately disappeared.

«That's okay.»

«Goddammit, Y/n!» he burst «Why the fuck did I have to fall in love with a woman like you?»

You deeply inhaled the warm breeze.

«Thank you, Barto. You were always the best. Please, say hi to all the others for me, and tell them not to be too sad, okay? I was fine.»

«Y/n...»

«Goodbye, old friend.»

You hung up the call before he could say anything else. Before it could get too painful.

Slowly, you rose to your feet and looked up at your house one last time.

«So, where would you like to go?»

You smiled.

«I would like to live a normal life with my family and, eventually, die a normal death.»

«Your original family?»

«Yes. Like, my whole life, from childhood. Is it possible?»

Tsuru nodded.

«Of course. Do you want to retain your memories of us?»

You would have said no, you knew it was the right answer.

You loved your friends, you risked your life with them several times, and you saved the world with them several times. But it wasn't going to be a normal life, knowing about the Agency.

And yet, there was one thing you just couldn't bear to forget.

«Yes.»

As you walked down the street, the cape of humidity grew darker on the town.

Every turn and sound felt so familiar.

The church, that ice cream stand at the corner, the small portico on the other side.

Finally, the store came in sight.

And, leaned against the wall of the store, a tall figure had its gaze lost in the distance.

Your heart died in your chest.

He was wearing civilian clothes to fit in the environment, and, apparently, there was nothing unusual in him.

But even after fifteen years, that shock of red hair and those sharp amber eyes you could have recognized anywhere.

He turned his face slightly and his focus trailed to you.

You continued to walk, an absent smile blossoming on your lips.

He didn't move until you arrived just beside him, halting your steps.

Then he stood up, grabbed your face and tilted it for your mouth to meet his.

His warmth enveloped you instantly and you realized you missed it like breathing.

Your arms crawled up his broad back, fingers clinging at the fabric of his T-shirt.

Your tongues entangled together with fury, his hand pressed against your nape to keep you impossibly close.

You didn't know how long it lasted.

Maybe a second, maybe forever.

Finally, like he took you, he let you go, his amber irises meeting yours for a split of a second.

Without a word, he turned and walked away.

Hands in his pockets, you observed his back disappearing in the distance.

«Miss?»

You turned to the shop assistant sticking out from the store.

«May I help you with something?» she asked with a polite smile.

«Hum, yes.» you said, quickly wiping away the tears gathered in the corner of your eyes «I would like to try on that dress, please.»