i need to remember you just like this [Claire]

[wrongintheworld]

In retrospect (retro: things that were then weren't and are again better, spect: a position of seeing) he should have left earlier

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[solaexcineribus]

Claire has a bag over her shoulder, and is on her way to work. She'll be a little early, but that's okay--maybe if she shows up early, she can ask to leave early, too, and go hang out with West. She's dressed in jeans and a white v-neck--it's new, but she likes it a lot. It reminds her of what Elizabeth wears, sometimes.

She's wandering past the alley, unsuspecting, looking up at the trees and the sky once in a while.

[wrongintheworld]

Todd is careful. Todd is careful and quick, and she's not very big, anyway. Once upon a time he knew he had to protect her, and really, what's changed? They got out of the hospital (she didn't come the second time) but it never got out of them. She needs him. She has to.

He's not taking her. He knows that. Why would he think that way?

But he is slipping his arms around her from behind, hand firm-quiet over her mouth as he tugs him back into his alley as easily as a trapdoor spider takes a pretty little cricket.

"Shh," he breathes, dipping his head down next to her ear, "It's okay. It's me, it's Todd, don't worry. It's okay."

[solaexcineribus]

"Mmh--!" It's Claire. Claire fights, always, attempting to jerk her way out of his grasp with sharp bursts of movement--it stops when she recognizes his voice, but she's still spooked to all hell. This isn't okay, it's a step too far. She nods, minutely, and tries to step out of his arms to turn around and stare up at him.

[wrongintheworld]

Todd feels really proud of her for that, and of course he lets her go when she nods, reaching out to absently smooth the crumpled shoulders of her shirt for her. "I'm sorry. I just had to make sure you'd come back here and I was- I'm sorry."

This is...fairly clearly not a hospital sanctioned furlough by any means, isn't it?

"Do you have a minute," he asks, imploringly.