Work Text:
2.53am, Berlint.
-– it’s pre-dawn. at an hour (or two) which shouldn’t exist; an hour or two reserved just for those who work in the shadows.
“another callout?” she asks.
“yes. there’s…been more of them lately,” he says, sounding apologetic.
he’d told her he’d got a promotion at the hospital, taking on the more serious patients on the high-dependency ward. so, she still doesn’t know. he assumes as much at least (a dangerous assumption; one that will surely get him killed).
but now in the foyer, where she has seen him before in the bleary morning hours; pre-mission, hair mussed up more than usual, toothpaste foam bubbling in his mouth, she straightens his jacket and brushes off the lint — imaginary or otherwise — on his shoulders.
then she stands on her tiptoes, just to meet him right in the middle, closing the gap between them with the touch of her soft lips, so faint, against his — as though she’d never been there at all. but then her lips find the corner of his mouth, and her hand is at his neck, thumb rubbing at his jaw.
he could of course stay. nothing’s stopping him; technically, this is all part of the operation. he would stay, if she hadn’t been the one to pull back.
“missed a spot shaving,” she says.
his hand touches that spot; bristles on his fingertips.
“...so I have.”
she smiles at him; then she hands him his hat and gloves.
he’s seen this before, on film; the dutiful housewife, fussing over the husband getting ready for the day. the roles they play, and — exit stage left.
he curls his gloved hand around the doorknob.
“don’t forget Anya’s school production this evening. at five,” she says.
he pauses mid-action and says,
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
…it’s true. the very thought hadn’t even crossed his mind (his father certainly never came to his school plays; he certainly isn’t going to repeat this with Anya.)
“it’s such an important role too – village tree number 2!” she adds, balling her fists in that adorable way he has come to know.
he mirrors her smile, as he sets his hat on his head.
“it is, isn’t it? I’m sure she’ll put on the best performance.”
“Especially as she’s been practicing harder than everyone else!”
yes, at the expense of her homework, he thinks but doesn’t say. there are, certainly, other ways for anya to earn her stellas.
there were other ways he could have conducted this operation.
there were other paths he could have taken long before this, too.
but all those roads led him here, now. led him to this dark space, pre-dawn berlint.
3.04am, Berlint. at an hour or two (or three) which shouldn’t exist.
now, yor steps into his space again, to kiss him once more. to kiss him goodbye — almost in greeting rather than as a parting.
“...alright,” she whispers, smiling sleepily against the curve of his mouth.
“I’ll see you tonight then.”
and then, he's gone. out into the shadows, into that cold dark morning-night. a man on a mission.
where will he go, who knows. what will he do, who knows. who will he become?
what he does know, as he turns the collar of his coat up against the wind, is that tonight, he will come back.
home.