(Untitled)

[losemyheart]

Florence blinks and looks around, wide-eyed. The last thing she remembers is watching Anatoly leave for good, feeling her heart ache more with every step he took.

And her father. Was he even alive?

Now she's in an unfamiliar place and doesn't see anyone she knows. What a perfect end to a perfect day.

"Hello?"

Comments

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly had been exploring the boat (and not so coincidentally avoiding certain Amercian chess players). He'd discovered the kitchen and a few other places, but not what, or who, rather, he'd hoped to find.

He turned the corner and there she was, the one person he'd given anything to see again. "Florence!"

[losemyheart]

She practically feels her heart leap, cliche as that sounds. "Anatoly!" She automatically takes a step forward before stopping, remembering.

[chesspolitik]

He tried not to wince. "I've missed you."

[losemyheart]

Her voice is soft. Sad. "I've missed you too." Nevermind that it's only been hours, at most. Her fingers itch to reach out and touch him, but somehow she resists.

[chesspolitik]

He hesitated for a moment then reached to pull her into his arms.

[losemyheart]

She gasps a little in surprise. "Toly--" she stops herself, realizing she almost let his nickname out. "A-Anatoly..." Her voice softens a bit, "...what are you doing?"

[chesspolitik]

"Holding you," he answered simply.

[losemyheart]

It pains her to say this, but she has to. "You can't... remember?"

[chesspolitik]

"I remember," he answered softly. "But they can't touch us here."

[losemyheart]

She almost doesn't want to believe it, afraid of getting hurt again. "How..?"

[chesspolitik]

"How what?"

[losemyheart]

"How is that possible?" She's glad he hasn't let go of her, because she's feeling she never wants to let him go again.

[chesspolitik]

"I don't know," he murmured, pressing a kiss against her hair.

[losemyheart]

She finally gives in and wraps her arms around him, holding him tight. Her eyes close as she sighs happily. "I missed you..." she repeats in a soft murmur.

[chesspolitik]

Anatoly kissed her forehead lightly, continuing to hold her tightly. No one else had ever felt so right in his arms, he thought. "My thoughts were always on you."

[losemyheart]

"I don't know what I would have done without you. I felt so lost..." She rests her cheek against his chest.