[ EU ] In your favourite fictional universe , the villain won . It 's one year later .

`` Pan, stay here, I mean it.'' 
 
 `` But it hurts when you're away!'' 
 
 `` Yes, I know, but we've *talked* about this, it hurts him more. It'll just be for a few hours, I promise.'' 
 
 `` You never said anything about ***hours! ***'' 
 
 Lyra stepped through the torso-height cut of thin air to Will's Oxford, taking care not to catch her dress on the small window. She did n't want to be late. 
 
 Will was already there, and in a suit no less. He seemed his lovable self-conscious self, fiddling with the tie and failing to remember how many times round it had to go. Two? Three? He shook his head. Could n't be three. Lyra said nothing, she'd rather he not notice her whilst she was suspended in the window in such an undignified fashion. 
 
 Pan jumped on Lyra's shoulder, seeing Will struggle, `` Are you sure it was worth it, for *him*?'' 
 
 `` Shut up!'' Lyra hissed `` And get back before somebody sees you, they do n't have daemons here remember?'' 
 
 `` They *do*! You just ca n't see them.'' 
 
 `` Yeah, well, make sure you tell that to whoever has a mental breakdown when they see you!'' 
 
 Will's hands froze on his third attempt, hearing their argument. He saw Lyra, in her black evening dress and done up hair, suspended with one high-heeled foot on his side, and the other hanging out still in her world. 
 
 `` Umm... Hi Pan.'' 
 
 Pan stuck his tongue out at Will. 
 
 `` Lyra, you look umm... wow.'' 
 
 Lyra laughed nervously, fixing back a stray hair over her eye. 
 
 `` Really? Heehee, thanks.'' She giggled on one leg, `` You look good too! I mean, you uhh.. cut your hair!'' 
 
 `` Oh, right, well, I suppose it *has* been a year since we saw each other, has n't it? Yeah, it was getting a little lo- Do you need any help?'' 
 
 Lyra remembered where she was, looking down, blushing. `` Oh! Umm, no I'm fine, I'll just...'' 
 
 At the same time as Lyra began hopping out of the window, Will stepped forward to help her out. She tripped on her heel, falling into him and resulting in the both of them sprawled on the pavement. Pan watched from the window, assuming a tiger's form so that he was tall enough. The tiger seemed to sneer in disgust. He regretted his decision. He left them to it. 
 
 Will and Lyra's eyes met for the first time in a year on the rain-soaked June concrete. They burst out laughing. The tension dissolved, Lyra took the opportunity to get a good look at him, a real look at him, whilst she lay on top of him, preventing his escape. She did up his tie, slowly, as he brushed her few loose hairs behind her ears, taking her face in his hands. Her real face. When Will's tie was fixed, with a sigh, Lyra carefully got to her feet, taking his hands and helping him up. 
 
 They brushed the dirt off in silence, each turning round so that the other could get their back. Will noted that the dress was smooth enough to be worth a fearful amount even in her world, was that velvet? Silk? He made sure it was dirt-free. 
 
 `` Thanks.'' Lyra turned to face him. `` So... umm... are you ready to go?'' 
 
 `` Oh! Right.'' Will remembered now. This was a date. They were going out. On a big date. Big, big date. `` Umm... You know, there's restaurants round here, and um, movies I guess, though we probably should n't spend today watching movies...'' 
 
 Lyra watched Will stumble, thinking of what to do for their one night per year meeting, as agreed when they made the little cut last June. The hope being if they made it small enough and used it as seldom as possible, then maybe the damage could be limited. Of course, since making the cut, they both knew the damage had been done anyway. There was no unmaking a Spectre. 
 
 Lyra absolved him of his bumbling, infinitely endearing though it was. `` How about we walk around for a little bit, first?'' 
 
 Will agreed. 
 
 They began walking around the late Oxford afternoon, savouring the last hour or so of sun. Will had his first confident moment upon seeing a sign Lyra would like. He pointed it out. She nodded, smiling. 
 
 They made their way to the botanical gardens as slowly as they could, catching up. Though, as one spoke of more exciting things the other had missed, they sped up, and as they spoke of more sombre things, they slowed, clinging to each other. The spectre they had created was killing. Officially, the disappearances in Lyra's England had been caused by an animal, but she knew. Will was silent upon hearing the news. 
 
 They reached the bench they had planned on meeting at in their worlds, should they be unable to meet in person ever again. They sat in the middle, Lyra lay her head on Will's shoulder, he lay his head on hers, put his arm around her. They sat in silence for a time, until Lyra's guilt overcame her. Her voice quivered `` Do you think we did the wrong thin-?'' 
 
 `` No.'' Will's answer was immediate. Lyra sat up and saw him, fierce, unfaltering. Hers. `` Not for a second.'' 
 
 Lyra smiled. If he was sure, she supposed she could be as well. She could live with it. Being a villain. For him. Though, one condition popped up. `` Well, I'm going to need to see you more often than once a year, this whole thing feels like a funeral.'' 
 
 Will smiled. `` Thank God, I do n't think I could have waited another year to see you.'' 
 
 Hearing him say it made Lyra burn up inside. It must have showed on her face as well, because suddenly, he was kissing her. They held there for their eternity, tasting, feeling. *Like Marzipan. * When their lips finally parted long enough to speak, Lyra made sure he heard her. `` Next week. I want to see you next week.'' 
 
 Will nodded, smiling. 
 
 Pan tugged at Lyra's core. She ignored him. *Just a little longer. *
