And Say Goodbye [Dragon Quest VIII, Angelo/Jessica, G]

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

Title:And Say Goodbye
Author/Artist: Dragovian Knight
Rating: G
Warnings: Second ending spoilers, lack of teh pr0nz
Word count: 500
Prompt: Angelo/Jessica: Leaving together, or leaving alone? - "I don't know where you're going / And I don't know why / But listen to your heart / Before you tell him good-bye"

"I suppose you'll be going back to Alexandria now," Angelo said, the morning after Eight's unexpected marriage to Medea.

Jessica looked up, annoyed by the hint of smugness in his tone. He's probably already arranged to "coincidentally" be going the same way. "Actually, I'm not," she said, and had the satisfaction of seeing first surprise, then dismay, flicker across his features. "I thought I might travel."

"Really?" A pause, then he asked, far too casually, "Where are you planning to go?"

"I don't believe that's any of your business, is it?"

She flinched at how the words came out; as annoyed as she was over the obvious game he was playing, she still hadn't meant to sound so harsh. She simply didn't have an answer.

Angelo went still for a moment, but before she could apologize, he said, "Then I suppose we'll not have the opportunity to see each other again." He bowed, just as he had when he first vowed to watch over her on their quest, though this time he didn't look at her. "Goodbye, Jessica."

He wouldn't meet her eyes when he straightened, and he turned away quickly, but not quickly enough.

Not quickly enough to prevent her from seeing his careful, closed expression, the one he'd worn whenever they had the misfortune to encounter his brother, the one he'd hidden behind on Purgatory Island.

"Arcadia," she blurted, before he could take more than a few steps, before she could lose him in the crowd.

He stopped. He didn't turn, and his back was still too rigid, but at least he stopped. And after a moment, he asked, "Arcadia?"

"That's where I'm going."

He turned with a puzzled frown. "But why? You can't have many pleasant memories of the place."

"I don't have many memories of it at all." At least, not my own. She suppressed a shudder, and continued, "I thought it might help to see it when things weren't...well, when things were better."

He was still frowning, but now it was concern more than confusion. "Given what happened, it may not be the wisest place for you to visit alone."

She waited for him to continue, to offer his services - with the inevitable innuendo - but oddly enough, his concern seemed genuine. "I can take care of myself."

"You'll be careful, though?"

"I will." She took a deep breath. "And I wouldn't be opposed to some company. Assuming your orphans can spare you."

The frown lasted a moment longer, as if he didn't quite trust his ears, then relaxed into a faint smile. "I suppose I might be spared for a few more weeks, in a good cause."

"I'm glad." Someday, she was going to have to find out if there really were any orphans, but for now, the warmth in his eyes kept her from caring about such questions. She crossed the distance between them, heart beating altogether too fast, and when he reached out she let him twine his fingers with hers.