Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As the alarm rang through the ship, it took all of Charlie's self control to not choke Nate to death for creating it in the first place. Her body still ached from their last mission, which was barely three days ago. She looked to her right as she stretched, finding Zari stuffing her face into her pillow and groaning loudly. The shapeshifter couldn't stop herself from laughing.

"Remind me to kill Nate later," Zari grumbled, her words muffled by the pillow.

The two got up the moment the alarm finally stopped ringing. Surprisingly, the bathroom was free so they were able to get ready quickly. They walked down to the bridge, finding only Sara, Mick, and Ray there. Nate, who installed the damn system, didn't even beat them there. Mick looked half asleep with an empty water bottle in hand. His body slumped against the back of his chair. Ray lingered near the main console. He was his usual cheerful self but his smile was tight. Sara stood next to him, stone faced.

Per usual, they took a seat at the steps as the rest of the team trickled in, Constantine being the last. Sara nodded and turned to the main console where she swiped up, bringing up an image of a gun.

"Anachronism found in 1814 England. The gun is from 2015," Sara began.

"Cool, so we just retrieve it and prevent the British from discovering modern weaponry!" Nate exclaimed. His usual cheeriness would uplift Sara but all she did was crack a smile.

"Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Gideon wouldn't have alerted us if it wasn't a huge change to the timeline. However, we don't exactly know why it is such a big change because you and Ray masterfully created a way to detect anachronisms before they even change the timeline. So, we're gonna do this the smart way and address this stealthily."

Zari found her tone unusually flat. She knew of the captain's distaste for the time period but she never sounded this dull before.

Nate and Behrad gasped with excitement while the rest of the team groaned. "Does that mean we get to dress up?" Behrad asked, bouncing in place.

Sara nodded. "Yup. We're attending a prestigious ball with the Queen herself." She barely got the sentence out when the two men cheered.

"Alright, Nate and Behrad, you guys will be the servants. Try to talk to the others if they've noticed anyone acting a little weird or if anyone new popped up. Me, Ava, and Ray will attend the ball to see if any of the rich people know anything. Ray and Ava will be Lord and Lady Palmer and I will be Ray's sister. The rest of you will stay here if anything happens and I need you guys to check the timeline for any changes. The more changes to it, the more we learn about the anachronism. Alright, let's get this show on the road!" Sara explained, feigning enthusiasm. Her energy escaped the moment she saw the year. The little confidence she had for this mission diminished with each glance from Ray and Mick. All in all, she just wanted to sit out.

The team strapped themselves into their respective seats near the controls, mentally preparing for the time jump. Sara typed in the coordinates and pushed the lever, watching the big window as she pushed. The green waves of the time stream blurred as they sped through the blue portal, unveiling a mix of purple, blue, and orange hues in the sky as the sun sets. Gideon landed them in an empty field, quickly turning on the ship's cloaking device to keep them hidden.

The team dispersed to prepare, cautiously stepping over Constantine's vomit from the usual time jump nausea. The five members who were placed in the field went straight to the fabrication room. The boys were a few steps ahead of Sara and Ava, excited to wear over-the-top outfits.

"Why am I Lady Palmer and not you?" Ava asked. She didn't mind at all but it made more sense for Sara to be Ray's pretend wife as they knew each other better than her and Ray.

"We played as siblings in 1811. In case someone recognizes us, we should stick to those roles," Sara explained, her eyes drifting away from Ava's. The taller blond furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Rip had never mentioned any missions from 1811 and the backlogs showed no signs of the crew anywhere in the world during that time. However, Rip Hunter lacked in the sharing department of friendship (if one could even get close enough to call him a friend, that is).

Ava hummed, interested in learning more. "What was the mission in 1811?"

Sara hesitated to answer. Ava noticed her hand begin to fidget with the gold bangle resting around her other wrist. Sara often fidgets with her necklace when her sister comes into conversation. Ava has never seen her fidget with the bangle, even though Sara had it since before they met.

"A family heirloom was stolen which wasn't supposed to happen. If we hadn't recovered the heirloom, an entire bloodline would be erased from the timeline." Sara spoke after a few moments of silence.

Ava was bewildered. Sara was never one to hide information about missions. She was always very passionate about her job, especially after earning the title of Captain of the Waverider. She would go into great detail about every mission they've ever been on if the opportunity to speak on them arose. On a personal level, Sara promised to be honest to her. Withholding specific details isn't lying, per se, but it is definitely deceitful.

The field team suited up. The boys dressed in black suits with tailcoats and multiple layers. Ray had on a dark blue vest with flowery designs instead of the black that the others had. Ava and Sara wore differing shades of red with Ava wearing a maroon dress and Sara wearing a soft pink dress. Sara needed to appear a little younger to attract the attention of men as her role as the unmarried younger sister to Lord Ray Palmer.

Ray kept his A.T.O.M. suit tiny and safely in its container deep in his pocket. Zari clasped the air totem bracelet around Behrad's wrist as she wished her brother good luck. The women kept an armory of knives hidden well under the dresses. They loaded into the jump ship with their communication devices equipped in their ears. Sara slid into the driver's seat and did a quick checklist of everything they needed before she flew closer to the venue.

As the team stepped out of the ship, Sara took a deep breath of the 1814 air. The clean, earthy wind filled her lungs. She felt Ray's eyes boring holes in the back of her head but she ignored it as they walked closer and closer to the building. Nate and Behrad departed to sneak into a smaller entrance.

She could hear the music from where they landed and it shocked her at how loud it was inside the building. The bustle of people rushing in paid no mind to the three of them. They walked in with no trouble. Sara couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the inside.

The structure of the room was built from white marble. The millions of candles lit inside created a golden haze, accentuating the rich people look. Silver spiral chandeliers hung from the ceiling, acting as raindrops. Colorful and enormous bouquets stationed around every pillar and column along with vibrant green vines with pink and white flowers wrapped around them.

The people around were no different from the venue. The women wore long gowns with intricate designs. Most of them had flowers, vines, and feathers. Their gloves matched the pattern and color of their dresses. Gold and silver accessories kept their hair up and in place. The men looked more or less the same as Ray. The most common colors of suits were dark blue or black.

They made their way to the ballroom, finding rows of tables with food and drinks. The band played at the far end of the room with the servants lined along the walls. Some weaved through the crowd with trays of various types of drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Sara caught a glimpse of Nate and Behrad already serving drinks.

She did a quick scan of the crowd but no one seemed out of place yet. She flattened her dress with her gloved hands. The fabric was nice and soft but she still felt itchy. She hated this time period with a burning passion. The constant stares and judgement behind every person's words made her skin crawl, more so than when she reentered society after overcoming her bloodlust. She followed wherever Ray and Ava went but she detached from reality as fast as she could. She vaguely heard Ray talking to some of the other men, introducing Ava as his wife and Sara as his sister, but she barely offered the men a wave. Ray had to pretend to be matching Sara to an assortment of suitors but luckily, Ava gave off the vibe of a protective Lady of the house so her stare was enough to deter them from pursuing Sara.

"Does your brother drag you to these events?" She heard a woman ask her from her side. She looked over and saw a fair skin woman with brown hair and light eyes. She recognized her but couldn't put her finger as to where. "My mama and brother do as well. I debuted this season but I resent the whole notion of marriage."

Sara smiled, noticing her tense shoulders and tendency to mess with her hands. Maybe she wasn't the only one who hated this time period here. "Luckily for me, Lady Palmer can see through the men's fake smiles and decorated words to send them the opposite direction of me," she answered in a poor attempt at a British accent.

The woman seemed inspired at her words. She fully turned towards Sara with a beaming smile. "I'm Eloise Bridgerton, but please call me Eloise."

Bridgerton. The name sent daggers to Sara's heart. She finally realized where she remembered Eloise from. She kept up her smile and light demeanor as to not deter Eloise away, even though she desperately wanted to be anywhere else but here. "Then I should insist you call me Sara."

Eloise looped her arm with Sara's and led her around the ball, heading straight to another younger woman with fire-red hair and an awfully yellow dress.

"You must meet my friend, Penelope," Eloise began before going on a long rant about how they plan to deny every suitor that comes their way to become spinsters together. Sara offered her smiles and nods when she could but Eloise's rant reminded her too much of a similar plan she had in the past.

The Bridgerton girl introduced Sara to Penelope Featherington, a woman who Sara knew was not allowed to shine as bright as she could. She was absolutely stunning with her bright curious eyes, curvy figure, and auburn wavy hair. If she were alive during the 21st century, men and women would be falling to their knees for a woman like her.

"I can't say I have heard of your family," Penelope said as the three of them stood to the sidelines of the dance floor. Sara noticed how much she stared at it, her eyes twinkling with longing.

"My brother doesn't really like to attend these sort of events but he and Lady Palmer recently got married. Our advisor practically forced him to attend tonight. It's unlucky for me because it's one of the few chances that he has to pair me up with a suitor," Sara explained.

Penelope giggled as the three of them watched Ray miserably fail at walking, almost landing straight on his face. "He bares a similar resemblance to Sir Galahad from the fairytales of Camelot."

Sara couldn't help but snort. She remembered his desperation to make his mark on history. It was quite amusing to hear the aftermath of it. "Unfortunately, it's just the appearances that are similar. My brother is far from a daring and courageous knight."

She took a moment to observe the two friends. Eloise would always hide behind Penelope when a potential suitor walked along, showing off her full dance card to keep them away. However, she hasn't once got on the dance floor. Eloise quickly excused herself when she saw her mother approach with another potential suitor; a tall brunet who looked around Sara's age. She vanished within the crowd, earning her disappointed looks from the man and her mother.

Penelope's dance card remained scarce, with only the names of the Bridgerton brothers scribbled on. The suitors eyeing Eloise completely ignored Penelope, as if she were invisible. Sara saw how she would subtly lean her ears in the direction of a group of ladies or gentlemen that spoke of gossip. Like the suitors, the gossipers paid no attention to the girl with excellent hearing. In Sara's world of superheroes and legends, Penelope would fit right in with her invisibility.

"Has there been any new people around? Someone you haven't noticed before?" She asked, taking a sip of the lemonade to appear nonchalant.

Penelope stopped to think before shaking her head. "Other than you and your family, I have not seen nor heard of any newcomers. Though, I should warn you of a thief roaming around. The Waylen's household was robbed of some of their jewelry earlier this week. The Gregory's the week before."

Sara smiled at the sweet girl's warnings. Nothing was written about the robberies at this time, only after the ball would the papers warn the public of the thief. Penelope's superpower proved to come in handy. "I shall bring it up to my brother. Thank you. You're very kind."

Penelope shook her head again, her cheeks fading into pink despite her outward reserved expression. "It would sadden me to hear of your family falling victim to the thief."

"Then I hope you and your family heed your own warning?"

The woman nodded. "Lord Featherington increased our staff the moment he arrived. Though I do wonder where he got the funds to do so."

Sara's eyebrow quirked up in interest. "Oh, do you sense something off about the new Lord?"

Penelope pursed her lips, unable to resist rolling her eyes. "I sense more than something off with him but we needed a new Lord and he is the only one left."

"You're very perceptive, Miss Featherington. I need to be more careful around you."

The ball itself was boring. Sara didn't want to interact with the others, leaving that all to Ray who was doing beautifully. She enjoyed Penelope's company, and Eloise's, even though she left quite early.

Going into this mission, she fully prepared herself to stay in the shadows of Ray and Ava. Ray attracts attention with his sunshine attitude and the fact that he is a man. Ava also attracts attention when she wants to, simply due to her beauty. With this team, Sara could just sit back and let her teammates take over whenever because she trusts them, even Ava, the newest member.

Sara didn't have to worry too much about the attention as well. Most of the ladies were focused on the rare appearance of all three Bridgerton brothers, especially the eldest, Anthony, who was recently announced to be looking for a wife this season. The men couldn't care less about Sara, not after Ava's death glares in the beginning.

She continued small talk with Penelope, finding herself actually interested in the Featherington girl's stories. She would share amusing accounts of her antics with Eloise, a little gossip she heard, and sprinkle in her desire to marry. Though she shared similar beliefs to Eloise surrounding the marriage mart, she genuinely wanted to marry for love and security (very rare for this time period). Sara found it endearing and hoped the best for her. She found that Penelope, and probably Eloise if she cared to stick around long enough, were the few people in this time period that she actually enjoyed being around.

The sixth or seventh dance (Sara lost count a while ago) wrapped up when she spotted Ray grab Ava's wrist before walking toward her. Sara couldn't catch his expression but Ava looked worried, more for him than for her wrist currently being crushed.

He almost crashed into her at the speed he was walking. His face was painted with concern but Ava just looked confused. "Sara, we need to go now," he alerted her in a low tone to avoid the others, mainly Penelope, from hearing.

Sara said a quick farewell to the woman and the three went to the next room where less people were around. "Did you find it?" Sara asked.

Ray shook his head and grabbed her arm to keep her turned around and walking but Sara didn't budge. "Ray, what's wrong?"

She scanned his face before looking behind him to see any potential danger that suddenly appeared to make Ray want to leave as quickly as possible. However, it wasn't danger that she noticed. It was her. She caught a glimpse of her before Ray stepped in front in attempts to block her view. It was too late as Sara started to move but Ray's grip on her arm tightened.

"Let me talk to her, Ray. Please," Sara begged, her heart pulling toward the direction of her.

"You can't. You know you can't. We have to leave now," Ray insisted. Ava has never seen him this serious and urgent before. And who were they talking about?

Sara's eyebrows furrowed with anger and desperation. "Why can't I? Isn't the whole point of this is to gather information? Maybe she-"

"It's 1814, Sara. You can't interfere. You know that," he scolded.

Sara tore her arm from Ray's grasp and continued to make her way to her. Her heart pounded in her ears as she walked closer and closer. The music around went mute, as well as the people becoming a blur. Her eyes were set on the woman she so desperately needed to be with again. Unlike everything else around her, she was crystal clear. Sara could make out every single detail down to the intricate designs of her dark purple dress.

"Sara?" She asked in a soft tone. Sara watched as her shoulders tensed and her gloved hands that were joined in front of her tightened.

"Kathani," Sara said, almost whispered. She became breathless and stared deep into her dark brown eyes that washed over her, taking control of her mind and soul. Sara could barely believe that she was with her again, convinced that she was a sick hallucination or illusion of Sara's imagination.

The blond barely registered Ray and Ava approach from behind her. She spotted Kathani's mother, Mary, and her little sister, Edwina, look over. Their eyes widened with delight. Mary visibly relaxed while Edwina's bright smile grew.

"Lord Palmer! It is wonderful to see you again!" Edwina exclaimed, walking around Kathani to greet her old friends.

Ray shook away his nerves and offered them as friendly a smile as he could. "Oh you know you can call me Ray. We're friends, after all!"

"It has been too long. What happened since we last saw you?" Mary asked. The two women didn't want to bring attention to whatever is happening between Kathani and Sara during a ball where anyone could be listening. Especially their sponsor who was just a couple feet away, observing the whole interaction with an insightful eye.

Ray nervously glanced at the two but Mary gave him a look to ignore them for now. "Uh well I'm married now! This is my wife, Lady Ava Palmer. Ava, this is Lady Mary, Miss Edwina Sharma," he gestured to each lady before landing on Kathani. He cleared his throat to get their attention which surprisingly worked. "And this is Miss Kathani Sharma."

He shoved Ava to stand in front of him which earned him a hard stomp on his foot and a sharp pain that he managed to contain. Ava plastered on a polite smile and bowed. "Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The three Sharma women returned the bow and Edwina excitedly chatted to Ava about their travels. Mary and Ray did their best to stay between Sara and Kathani. They kept an arm linked with their respective family members, though Sara tightened her hand around his wrist. The two of them chatted about what they've been doing for the past three years. Ray told them the fabricated story of how he met Ava and the various countries they visited after leaving India. Tired of losing circulation in his arm, he quickly excused himself and dragged Sara to dance with him. Sara's eyes never left Kathani's.

"You know how important this year is," he mumbled.

Sara shot Ray a glare before returning her gaze to Kathani. "I'm not allowed to talk to an old friend?" She asked through clenched teeth.

Ray did his best to not scoff. "Of course you can talk to an old friend. Edwina and Mary seem so happy to see us again. I'm sure they'd love to talk to you."

Sara rolled her eyes and tried to leave the dance but Ray kept her in place. "We're leaving. You're not coming back," he whispered as he took a quick glance at their surroundings to take note of who was looking. Luckily, it was just the Sharma family and the woman with the piercing eyes. Maybe unluckily with the fear that this woman had instilled in him without a word exchanged between the two.

"And who will take my place?"

"Anyone is better than you right now," he hissed before shaking his head, shocked at his own outburst.

Sara's eyes snapped up to Ray's. His face went straight and he did not waver under Sara's look. She let out a tensed breath. "I can do this, Ray."

"You can leave Kate alone? Even after we find the anachronism?"

"Kate?" She questioned, almost stepping on Ray's foot.

"If you were listening, you would know that she goes by Kate here."

Sara peeked over Ray's shoulder and watched from afar as Kathani, now known as Kate, darted to the doors and into the gardens. It took everything within her to stay with Ray. She noticed the eldest Bridgerton brother, Kate's future husband, quickly make his way to the gardens as well. It made her brain spin at the thought of what will happen once he reaches her.

Ray sighed, grabbing Sara's attention. "All sense flies out the window when it comes to her. We have to bench you," he decided as the dance came to an end.

Sara bit her lip to stop herself from insulting Ray. She didn't enjoy this newfound resilience that Ray seemed to inherit just now. He never questioned her leadership until now. Sara would never admit that he has good reasons to do so.

Chapter Text

Kate ran until the music of the ball was muffled, reduced to white noise. She leaned against a wall of vines and let out a deep breath that she held since she laid eyes on Sara.

Damn her and her alluring blue eyes. Eyes that once held love for her. Eyes that shined and cried for her. Damn her for having such a tight grip on her, even years after their last encounter.

Her heart was ultimately torn. Her scarce and confusing but quite intense interactions with Lord Bridgerton had sent her world in a loop. She promised herself that she will no longer lay her heart out on the table after Sara. She thought it could not take another mauling and yet there it was, pounding out of her chest when she finds herself alone with Lord Bridgerton. Maybe it was the desire to feel another body close to hers once more and her heart decided that the Viscount would suffice. However, she couldn't possibly fall in love with him. Not with his infuriating need to challenge her at every turn, nor his rakish reputation. Of course those were traits that Sara also possessed. She clearly needed to reevaluate what she finds attractive.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a rustle of leaves and footsteps heading to her direction. She shook her head to rid it of anymore thoughts of Lord Bridgerton and Sara, only to be met by the former. She sighed at her predicament.

"Miss Sharma, are you alright? You left so suddenly," he asked as if he were concerned for her well-being. He stumbled out of the bushes as his foot got caught on a branch.

She breathed in a much needed bubble of air before answering. "I needed some fresh air."

"Did that woman bother you?" Anthony asked, brushing away a few stray leaves that caught onto his clothes. He pushed further but Kate shook her head before she could think.

"No, absolutely not. She's an old friend." Old friend was a severe understatement. Sara was once Kate's future. She was once the reason Kate would get up in the morning. She was all that she could think about, even in the years after she left. Only recently did the blond assassin seem to slip her mind as she had to put all of her focus into making sure Edwina's and Mary's futures are secure.

His eyebrows furrowed as he tilted his head. Kate felt her blood boil. "How?" He questioned.

"We crossed paths years ago- I do not need to explain myself to you," she snapped.

Anthony rose his hands. "I'm not here to argue with you."

"Then why are you here?"

He straightened up, bringing his hands behind his back. "Because a lady should not be in the gardens by herself," he paused to take a scan of their surroundings. "Anything could happen."

"Anything like a strange man emerging from the bushes?"

He let out a breath, seemingly backing down from his usual defensiveness. "I just wanted to make sure you are safe."

She rolled her eyes and brushed off the wrinkles in her dress. "Save your concern for another. I am perfectly well," she argued as she walked past him.

He impulsively reached his hand out, brushing it past the bare skin of her right arm just above her glove. Kate turned, glaring at him as she pulled her arm to cross them over her chest.

"Are you safe?" He reiterated his concern, his voice dropping low as if there were others around that could hear.

Kate let out an exasperated breath, releasing any residual frustration from the night. "I am."

Anthony took a minuscule step closer as his hand reached out further, hesitating to enter her space. Kate felt a pull to lean toward his touch but she flinched away instead. Her mind flashed back to her brief meeting with Sara. Too many complicated emotions flooded through her and she just couldn't find herself in another compromising position with one of the causes of them.

"We must return to the ball. We've been gone long enough. Any longer and they may grow suspicious," she breathed out, tearing her gaze from Anthony's to the ball.

The Lord nodded and retrieved his hand from the empty space. "Of course. After you."

By the time she reached the party hall, Sara was gone. It's not like she was looking, she just happened to not see her face when she scanned the crowd. She didn't have time to decide her feelings on Sara's absence. During her time in the garden, Edwina managed to attract more suitors than those that initially showed interest when they first arrived. Once again, Kate had to scare them off.

___

Unable to shake off the events of the day, Kate hurried to Lady Danbury's library to busy herself with a book. She entered the dark library with her singular lantern, setting it down on the table. As she scanned the shelves, she heard a familiar voice clear her throat, causing her to jump and turn toward the source.

Lady Danbury sat on one of the couches on the opposite side of the room. The only light that shone upon her was the sun's reflection on the moon. Much alike Kate's appearance, she was in her night gown with her hair down. "Miss Sharma," She announced, gesturing for Kate come closer.

The girl slowly walked over with her lantern, slowly illuminating Lady Danbury's silhouette. "Lady Danbury. I didn't mean to intrude-"

"You're not, my dear. I was hoping to speak with you. Now, please join me." She patted the seat on the couch next to her and waited for Kate to sit before continuing. "Who was the gentleman that approached your family during the Cowper's Ball? You seemed friendly."

Kate avoided eye contact, resorting to keep her gaze on her lap where her fidgeting hands rested. She hoped to the Goddess that Lady Danbury couldn't hear her pounding heart. "Lord Palmer. We met him and his family a few years ago when they were visiting India. Because of his-" she paused to think about a way to keep the true nature of their relationship vague. "...business, we worked together during his time there."

"You're friends?" The Lady asked, narrowing her eyes.

Kate nodded.

"And what's your relationship with his sister?"

Kate's nails began to dig into her palms when Lady Danbury's own enveloped them. She had no choice but to finally look at Lady Danbury. She expected her usual scrutiny but instead she was met with a gentleness she hadn't seen on the older woman during her time here. "You're safe with me, my dear. I can assure you that I won't tell a soul."

Kate remained guarded for the sake of Sara and her team; for the secret they held. "Miss Palmer's life is... complicated. I cannot involve myself with her again, not now with Edwina's debut."

"Again?" Lady Danbury questioned. Kate's chest began to ache as the weight of her secrets started to cave in. "You told me there was no one back at home."

Despite the pain, she nodded. "And I stand by that. I have already lost her. There is no going back."

Lady Danbury tilted her head, though in interest rather than her usual astuteness. "Experiencing love like that is rare. She clearly shares your affection. Are you certain you want to let it go?"

"It is not up to me."

If it were truly up to her, she would be with Sara right now. They would cheat fate and give Edwina and Mary the lives they deserve. They could finally be free from duty. However, Sara could never truly be happy with her; not in the era of oppression and gossip.

Sara threatened to leave her life once before for the sake of not just Kate, but also Edwina and Mary. She wouldn't allow Kate to step aboard on the dangerous path of protecting the timeline so she decided to settle down in 1811. Her dedication to Kate's family moved her but she knew it would hold Sara back.

Sara deserved better than that; better than her. She deserved someone who would dominate the stars if she simply wished for it. She deserved a life free of judgment and further despair than what she had already experienced. Living in Kate's time would only further torture her.

Lady Danbury's dragon eyes softened, something that Kate never thought was possible. "I know too well of the decisions of fate. I also know the consequences of staying stagnant in time. It may have been years since your last encounter but have you honestly moved on from it? From her?"