"Professor?" Setrakian looked up at Fet's voice, and he allows himself a once over. Fet's whole, solid as usual. Setrakian's glad- black-ops style outfit, heavy boots, massive jacket; he'd look odd without them. The bag stuck out- a black puma one, bigger than the usual. It was slung over his shoulder, along with the open cary nail gun. A sword hung on his back, three feet of sharp, biting silver benign in its scabbard.
Realisation hits hard.
"You're leaving." Fet replies simply. " I am." He was always short to the point, always logical, always ready to fight- until now. "Why?" Setrakian voiced his thoughts aloud. "Life goes on, despite everything. As does the war against the master, and you are needed here." There's a weight, a finality to it. It should have brook no argument, but now, Fet's already taking a breath, taking his time, shaking his head.
"Professor, lady liberty's blown off the map. That counts as a win in my book."
"No, Mr. Fet! That is exactly why you must stay and do what we have always done. We fight. For family and identity-"
"No, professor," Fet interrupts him, surprising them both. He continues, louder. "I was fighting for New York, and- and she's gone. Everything she stood for, everything she was. Half the people are dead by now." He stops, considering. "Or as good as. Sometimes, you gotta know when to cut and run." Fet looks at him, as if pleading for him to understand. Setrakian doesn't- he can't allow himself to think that way, however difficult it is to see Fet like this.
Beaten down, broken.
Setrakian swallows.
"So you would just forget?" And Fet flinches. "Everyone you have lost, everything that you have done?"
" Never," He growls back. "Not them. Not you. Not after everything." He pauses, takes a shuddering breath. "But I'm going. I've got to. And I'm coming back, because," Fet smiles, and it's jagged around the edges. "This is me. This is home. No matter what." Setrakian blinked. Fet stared him down, all anger and despair. Setrakian could almost ignore the tears. "Where," Setrakian began. "Where will you go?"
The cracks widen- the smile is tired. Heavy. Barely reaches his eyes. "Anywhere but here I guess. I'll figure something out." Fet huffs a laugh. "You don't need to worry about me." Setrakian nods, Fet does too. They sit in silence for a while. "Okay. Goodbye Professor. And thanks. For everything." Fet stands, turns to leave, and he's halfway to the door when Setrakian speaks.
"Mr. Fet," He says, and Fet stops on impulse, at attention. "Good luck." Fet gives him a last smile. The tears were falling. His voice breaks. "You too, Sunshine."