{{ Pre-Briarcliff. A short drabble about Arden's first & only lady-love and her reaction to his joining the S.S. }}

"Hans, you cannot be serious..." The pain, the utter disappointment in her voice stung the doctor. "You know what they will do, what they've already done!" Tears welled in her eyes as she grasped his hands, hold tightening as his jaw set in silent determination. He would not be swayed by this ridiculous display. Her head shook frantically as she let out a choked sob. He simply refused to look upon her in this state... that he was the cause of. No, no. She needed to understand his position and her obligation to stand behind his decision. It was her place, after all.

She released his hands, only to wrap them around his neck, burying her face into his chest. Her sobs were unabashedly loud and her tears seeped through his shirt. He remained still, hands curled into fists against his thighs. "Stop this foolishness. Now. I do not have the time for your games. I need to pack." He roughly pushed her away, leaving her a sobbing mess on the floor as he moved to their bedroom. The doctor pulled a solitary suitcase from the closet, throwing the damned thing on the bed with a bit too much vigor. It bounced, nearly falling off the other side.

Rummaging though the drawers, he tossed clothing carelessly in the general direction of the bed, not caring where they landed. His mind was with the broken angel he left. Her face, littered with freckles and tears, her strawberry blonde hair now matted from her utter breakdown. Why couldn't she understand? This was the opportunity of a lifetime for the doctor- he would make a difference. He would be celebrated for his research; Grouper knew this. This, their meager existence, it would be no more. They would live a life of luxury. Is that not what they had spent their lives together dreaming of, excitedly going into every little detail of what was sure to be their home? It was to be on the outskirts of Berlin, and they would have servants for their every beck and call. They would travel, as well; they were to see all of Europe, of Asia- even America. There it was, a reality in the making, and she scorned him!

A sudden fury surged through the doctor. He stormed out of the room without a second thought about the discarded clothing littering the floor. She was still on the floor, crying softly into her hands. Grouper grabbed her arm, pulling the anguished woman up. She was so small, so fragile. Normally, he would long for nothing more than to protect his beautiful angel, but now, all he wanted was to break her, to laugh as she shattered into a million irreparable pieces. He pushed her against the wall with enough force to elicit a small groan from the woman. "H-Hans-?"

"I am going to change our lives... I am going to change the world as we know it-"

"In infamy."

The sound of skin against skin seemed to drown out the rest of the world as his hand met the side of her face. "You... you will never speak of my work in such a manner. Ever again." Their eyes met, shock mirrored in each orb. He had never struck her, never even raised his voice before now.

"Already one of them, are you? Very well, Hans. Leave. You will not be missed."

"I am doing this for us-!"

"You're doing it for yourself! Do not play the part of martyr."

He raised his hand to meet her face once more, but her... fearless determination stopped him. His eyes closed momentarily, as he grasped that this was the end. She was his wonderous angel no more. The thought alone took the wind out of the doctor. "I will be immortalized, and you'll be nothing more than a damned fool." He turned sharply from her, to continue his packing.

His angel had no more tears to spend on such an unworthy subject. He was nothing but a monster.