Bleeding Heart Disease (Ariel/Markise)

[Markise Sterling]

Markise's brows drew together at Ariel's reaction. It was hardly a reaction at all, and he didn't want to think that Ariel hadn't been affected, but what else could he think? And why would he have thought it had meant anything to Ariel in the first place?

"We should get going," he suggested, cutting through his thoughts. He wouldn't suggest that Ariel might not want to go with him, though he desperately wanted some affirmation that he did want to go. "I want a shower and I've got some stuff left to pack." Not much, considering he'd been mostly packed since January, but a few things. And maybe if they had that brief time apart they could pretend that nothing had happened when they went to the Portkey.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel looked up and, after a few seconds, nodded. It took him a few more moments before he was able to even begin unfolding himself to stand. "Where are we meeting again?" he asked, though his eyes focused on his socks and shoes rather than Markise. His mind went back to the little black cigarette he had hidden away in his room.

[Markise Sterling]

"At the gates," Markise said. They were going to London, and he didn't want to take a chance that either of them would end up straying. He was more worried about Ariel than himself, but he'd only been past Hogsmeade twice in the past couple months. Once for the bachelor party, and once to visit Mano. Markise shuffled to turn, bracing himself at the edge of the bed as he looked for his shoes.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

"They're under the edge of the bed," Ariel said, gesturing to where he had put Markise's shoes. He pushed himself up after sliding his socks on and shoved his feet into his shoes. Maybe he could leave early, maybe if he got out there in time he could have a smoke without Markise realizing it. It was a dangerous thought, but at that moment he was more than willing to do it.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise shuffled onto the floor rather than try to bend far enough to get his shoes. When he had them on, he managed to get back up, and made his escape as quickly as possible. Maybe if he hurried, he could talk Ariel into stopping for coffee somewhere on the way.