Note: This is my first fanfic, EVER! Please review, all critiques welcomed!
Laurie sighs deeply and slowly blinks open her eyes. At first, the surroundings are unfamiliar-a high ceiling, with columns and a swimming pool. But then she sees an Egyptian statue in the corner and everything falls quietly back into place. For a moment, all she wants is to curl up against Dan and hide from the world just a little bit longer.
But what about Jon?
Laurie sits up and reaches to retrieve the various pieces of her clothing that lie scattered around her. As she slips the silky costume on, she turns to regard Dan's sleeping form. He looks happy. Blissful and utterly unaware of the world that came crashing down barely an hour ago.
May as well let him stay that way while he can.
So, now fully clothed, she kneels and carefully tucks the cape of his costume over his slumbering bulk until he is safely wrapped in a soft cocoon. Then Laurie turns to find Jon.
It's a few minutes before Laurie locates anyone. Veidt is meditating on a pedestal before a globe filled with rotating planets. He doesn't look up, or even seem to realize she's there. She debates with herself for a moment before opening her mouth to speak-
"Jon left."
"D'you kn- I'm sorry, what?" Laurie falters, walking around to face Veidt. He opens his eyes, slowly.
"Jon left," he repeats, snapping his eyes shut. "I don't think he'll be back."
Laurie's mouth opens and closes.
Left? He's gone? Without even- without...
She turns abruptly to walk out the door.
After she leaves, Adrian's shoulders sag slightly and his eyes drift back open. "Nothing ever ends..." he murmurs thoughtfully, and a little forlornly, as he reaches down to scratch someone who isn't there.
Laurie struggles to light her cigarette while the antarctic winds whip snow into her face. It catches on the fourth or fifth try and she leans against the wall.
She should have known he wouldn't stick around. Of course he wouldn't. And it shouldn't even matter now that she's got Dan, but for some reason it does and she's really, really trying not to cry.
Laurie doesn't notice the mask lying in the snow until the tears have frozen on her cheeks and she's turning to go back inside.