Room 122 - Wednesday Night [NFB]

[marsheadtilt]

After saying goodbye to Nadia, Veronica went back to her alcove and packed her belongings, including the presents that someone had left for her.

She made her way back to the dorm to pack for her trip and waited for Archie to show up. There was a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach.

[locked and NFB]

Comments

[actingltcrumpet]

Archie knocked on the door, dressed in his best full uniform. His chest was already packed and ready to go, but he'd left it in his room, not wanting Veronica to see how thorough a packing job he'd done.

He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to tell her that he might not come back, but he couldn't turn down the chance, either.

"Veronica," he called softly, "it's me."

[marsheadtilt]

"It's open," Veronica called. She was pulling items out of her closet and dresser and tossing them in the vicinity of her open suitcase.

[actingltcrumpet]

Archie turned the knob and let himself in, then immediately moved up behind Veronica and wrapped his arms around her wordlessly.

[marsheadtilt]

Veronica turned in his arms and looked up at him.

"You're not just going back for a weekend, are you?" she asked quietly.

[actingltcrumpet]

Archie held her tighter and buried his face in her shoulder, inhaling sharply. "They offered me my own command," he said once he'd raised his head again. "Contingent upon whether they find my progress satisfactory."

[marsheadtilt]

"That sounds like something you can't pass up," Veronica said, closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder, trying to imprint this moment in her memory.

[actingltcrumpet]

"I never thought I'd have a chance to go home again," Archie said simply, dropping several light kisses on the top of Veronica's head. "I'm sorry, Veronica, I don't want to leave you, but . . . at the very least, I'm required to go. And if I stay . . ."

He didn't tell her that if he did, he would have to give up his memory of her. Sometimes honesty was too cruel.

[marsheadtilt]

Veronica nodded. "I understand," she said. "This is something you've always wanted and if you have a chance to get it, I can't stand in your way."

Days like this, Veronica wished she could be a self-centered bitch. She hated saying goodbye to people she cared about and this was the second one.

[actingltcrumpet]

"I wish you could," Archie told her wistfully. "But orders are orders. If they sent me here, I'm afraid they could very well take me back against my will. I just wish it wasn't all so sudden."

He ran his fingers lightly across her cheek. "And the weekend of your birthday, at that."

[marsheadtilt]

"Don't worry about that," Veronica assured him. "You didn't choose this."

She leaned in to his touch. "Are you going to be safe there?" she asked, thinking of the things he'd shared with her.

[actingltcrumpet]

"In London? I'll be perfectly fine," he assured her, not mentioning the myriad things that could happen to him if he did get that command.

[marsheadtilt]

"When do you have to go?"

[actingltcrumpet]

Archie shut his eyes and pulled her close again.

"Tonight."

[marsheadtilt]

Veronica buried her face in his shoulder and couldn't stop herself from crying.

[actingltcrumpet]

"Oh, God," Archie whispered, rocking her in his arms. "Veronica, I'm sorry. I truly am. I didn't want it to happen like this."

It seemed like such an ineffectual thing to say, and completely worthless as far as any comfort offered, but Archie didn't know what else he could say.

[marsheadtilt]

"I know," she managed. "And I know you don't have a choice. Neither did Nadia."