otherways OOM - Rome, Italy - 1997 (August) pt 2

[i_vanquish_evil]

A quick stop at the door...

On his way to the front door - if you're going to make an exit, make an exit - he hears someone calling to him.

"Michael, wait. Where are you going, honey?" Angie calls, running behind him.

"Away," is his response as he continues toward the exit.

"What? Michael, you can't go."

"Watch me."

Michael keeps pace to the door; he even gets it open and steps outside before Angie catches him. He stops, glaring at her. His whole body has an air of 'what the fuck do you want?'

Panting lightly from her jog, Angie says, "You can't go. What about the work you do? And how much this meant to Carl?"

He roars. "Don't you dare talk to me about Carl!"

She holds up her hands. "Sorry. Sorry. But really, they need you. And I don't mean the Order."

A scowl on his face as he leans in and snaps in her face, "Angie, I know how to read. I can still do this without them. I don't have to be here to do this."

She takes him in stride. "Sure, but this way's easier, honey."

"Easier how? They hate me. They hate the way I work. They hate everything about me. Why should I stay here?"

"Cool weapons?"

Michael snorts as he turns to walk down the steps - steps he crawled up, battered and naked, over one hundred years ago. It felt good to be walking away from the place that had held him for so many years. Held him, controlled him, made him work to regain memories he'd rather had remained forgotten. He wanted no more of it. He'd told Nick he was going to quit - and he had. The Cardinal and Angie had both tried to convince him to stay, but he wanted no part of it.

He walks away, through the square which is round, and doesn't even spare a look back.