Context: 4x14
Prompt: #073 Airplane
Word count: 200
Comment: I know the episode when Barney helps Robin get a job so she can stay in the country is quite light-hearted, but this takes a more serious look at how she feels about her situation.
He finds her outside on the steps, a coffee cup in her hand. Her voice is on the verge of breaking when she says, "I didn't get it. I'm good for nothing. I can't even be a lottery girl. Might as well just take a plane back to Canada."
"Robin." He crouches in front of her, patting her thighs. "If you go back to Canada, I will follow you and point out everything that's wrong with it. For the rest of your life."
She shrugs, starring into the empty mug.
"I mean it. I will bitch about everything you love about it."
"As if you haven't been doing that for the past four years."
"I've never said a bad word about Neil Young, but if you leave, anything goes."
It's been a while since she's looked so vulnerable, and he realises he needs to cut the crap. "You're a great journalist, and if they don't see that, then they can fuck off."
"That's an awful lot of people needing to fuck off." She stands up.
"Wait, I –"
"It's okay." Robin shrugs again. "There's nothing you can say right now."
The sound of the door closing seems to be echoing.