______________
I love you.
It's just three words, eight letters, and sometimes a period. Maybe a question mark depending how you say it.
But still, just three words.
Yet they enveloped Archers mind, invaded and wrapped around every thought, every memory, of Donavan, Violet, his family.
Tangled up in his web of darkness and twisted brain, that he forgot the meaning, forget how to say them, or even form those eight letters into three words.
It felt impossible for his brain to figure out.
Until that fiery head of blond hair and emerald eyes fell into his lap. Then suddenly those three words started looking like her, smelling like her, feeling like her.
Archer could barely even think of her without feeling that tangled mess of those three words burn bright in his heart. His very broken heart.
It almost felt like a heat attack, like those feelings could kill him.
Terrifying, his heart would beat faster and his blood seemed to turn to ice. Breathless, he was left utterly breathless in her presence.
Archer wondered if this is what his victims felt like seconds before their death, and he also wondered if Violet knew that she held the power to make him feel like this.
Seconds before death if he didn't get her in his arms.
And he couldn't figure it out, he was feeling all this, feeling those three words like fire in his veins, and yet it was harder to crack then da Vinci's code.
So he ran away, for a week.
Chased away by grief and eight letters.
He didn't know what to do without that old man. He raised him practically, and as much as Archer put a professional front up around him and cold demeanor.
He raised him. He needed him.
But now he was gone, and Archer was faced with the reality that he couldn't save Donavan that night.
And what if another night came along where he couldn't save Violet.
Terrified he couldn't save the people he lo-
There's those three words again.
Burning. Burning even brighter, closing up his throat with a panic to figure them out.
Now he was planning a funeral for the first time since he's started causing them.
And his hands are shaking....and he's breathless.
And thinking of her, longing and craving her gentle hands sliding over his shaking one's. For her plump lips kissing all the right spots.
Filling him with a warmth that made his lips almost involuntary say-
"I love you."
Archer took a deep shaky breath and let silent tears pool in his eyes.
He could now hear his mothers voice, saying those words. So clearly and bright his body rang with warmth. Her sweet honeyed voice saying those words that he lost long ago.
His brain couldn't figure out those three words, because only his heart could.
And now his heart knew what he needed.
~•~
Archer stood before Violet, more scared to lose her then he's ever been scared to do anything in his life.
Killing people felt easier than this.
Staring into pained eyes of the person you love.
Knowing you caused so much of that pain....
"You mean...more to me than the moon means to the ocean. I-I can't live or breath without you, without knowing you're safe and happy." His thumb swiped away a tear about to run down her face.
"Living without Donny....it's so hard. And it hurts so so much-" Violet said, her voice breaking off into choked sobs.
"I know, trust me I know." He whispered into the top of her head as his arms squeezed her tight, "I can't tell you it's going to be easy for either of us. But Donny...he put us together. A-and I promise you I will never leave."
He pulled away just enough to hold her face and look her in the eyes, his own tears watering his hues.
"We will do this together...I...I wanna get out of this house. Move to a smaller place, without bloody history and demons lurking around the corners, maybe with a backyard and pool." He wiped her tears, a sad smile on his lips, "Two floors, no armory, and most importantly...with you." He leaned his forehead into hers.
And finally, the smallest hint of a smile fell onto her lips and she whispered just to him, as if the words were too precious for the rest of the word, "I love you too, Archer Stark."
~•~
Arched watched Donavan's casket get lowered into ground
No birds chirped, the sky was full of clouds, and it was only him and Violet.
She was held tight into his side as they both watched wordlessly. But even though they weren't talking, the gentle rub of her hands on his back let him know she was there in every way.
It surprised him how quick the service was, there wasn't anyone else there, but the two of them shared the pain of millions.
And the stayed until he was buried, sitting in comfortable sad silence, hand in hand.
Archer looked to Violet, then to his other side.
And in an instant he could have sworn he felt the warmth of Donny's laugh, and felt a chill down his arm from a slight touch.
Violet gasped softly next to him almost simultaneously, "did you-?....never mind." She dismissed her thought but Archer turned to her and nodded.
"I felt it too."
Tears welled fast in her eyes and she whispered, "I love you Donny."
Archer quickly held her her and loosed a shaky breath, "yeah...I love you old man."
Violet sobbed into his chest, hard and fast and with the force of the world behind her wails.
He didn't know if he really believed in spirits or the afterlife or if they really thought Donny was here with them right, but Archer liked to believe. So he would.
After a moment Violet pulled away and looked up into his eyes, he smiled softly and grabbed her face. Pulling her into a tender kiss, and when they broke away they both stayed close.
"Where do we go now? Back home?" She sighed closing her eyes, she leaned her forehead against his.
"No, I don't ever want to go back there my love." He closed his eyes too, rubbing his thumb on the apple of her cheek.
"Me either."
"Then let's just go...somewhere else. Together."
"I really like that idea."
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she snaked her hands around his waist walking together like a puzzle piece finally fit together.
And that version, that dark, corrupted, and broken version of Archer, died right alongside Donny.
With Violet Moon tangled in his arms, Archer walked into his future.
~•~
A/n: there will be an epilogue!