xp_logs | Log: Leaving Attilan

Before the Elpis folks arrive in Attilan, Forge has a goodbye to say before he leaves - but not for New York.

"So it is true. You are going home."

Forge paused in his packing and glanced up at the mirror to see Cristina standing in the narrow doorway. He nodded once, then looked back to his luggage. "I'm going back to New York," he said. "It's where I... where my... I mean, it's..."

He stammered for a moment, then closed his suitcase and turned around. "This will always be a home to me, I want you to know that. The years I've spent here have been... well, pretty close to my entire adult life. And to find out it's only been a few weeks out there..." His voice trailed off, his eyes sporting the faraway look that generally indicated his mind being distracted by some complicated concept.

Cristina nodded, but did not budge from her spot in the door. "I understand. You want to return to your old life."

"What? No, that's not..." Forge shook his head and tried to explain. "There's nothing to 'return' to. My life is my life and now, Attilan is part of that. I'm as much a citizen here as I am of America. This place, this home will always be a part of me, and I promise, I'm not just going to leave it all behind."

The look in his eyes slowly changed from explanation to realization, and Forge stepped forward to place his hands on Cristina's shoulders. "I'm not going to leave you behind," he said quietly. "You could come with me."

Cristina's eyes grew large for a moment, looking up into Forge's. "I... I would like that, John. But it cannot be. My place is here. My family, Attilan... this is my life, as much as the rest of the world is yours."

"It doesn't have to be that way," Forge insisted, gently brushing a lock of hair over Cristina's ear and suddenly feeling like two and a half years had passed far too quickly, and too much had gone unnoticed and unacknowledged too long. "I can come back. Spend time here, I have responsibilities and--"

She silenced him with a hand over his mouth and smiled. "I do not want to be a 'responsibility', John. I think that by now I know your heart, and it is a good one. But it is larger than me, than Attilan. What you do, it is for the world. I would not want to take that away, not from you."

Forge closed his eyes and nodded. Cristina's pragmatism was logical and correct, but no less painful for hearing it out loud. "If there was any way I could... another time, another place perhaps."

"Perhaps," Cristina agreed wistfully, touching his face before pulling away slightly. "Do not make promises, John, or tell me that you are sorry. I know you well enough to know that you... how is it that you say? It is not about what we want..."

"...but what is right," Forge finished. "I am going to promise you something, though." He placed a finger across her lips to hush her imminent protest. "I can promise you that I am not going to just forget all this. You know me as well as anyone, and that part of me that will always be Attilani will always remember how kind you've been to me. Not just your family taking me in, but... you know?"

"I know," Cristina responded, leaning in to wrap her arms around Forge. "When do you leave?"

"This afternoon," Forge explained. "I have to finalize my paperwork before I go, and the royal family has offered me a special flight back. Friendship has its privileges, it would seem."

"So it would," Cristina agreed, squeezing Forge tightly. And it was obvious that she didn't mean Forge and the royals.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, surprised to realize that he felt exactly the same way.