Innocence

E T H E R E A L

"There is always a home for you here in my heart. I'll leave a light on."

~Ben Maxfield~

~🎀~

I T  W A S  as if the sky knew what the day meant.

Grey clouds laid suspended above their heads as Falcon chucked the last bag into the backseat of the taxi. Freya stood a foot away, her fingers anxiously intertwined with each other as the gravity of their situation finally began to sink in.

He was leaving.

There wasn't a single bone in her body that didn't want to simply grab him and haul him away. To beg him not to go. But she knew she couldn't change his mind. Once he had decided on something, he refused to budge.

Freya studied her white shoes, refusing to meet Falcon's eyes as he walked closer. Combat boots joined her line of vision and rough fingers gentle tilted up her chin, forcing her eyes to him. He had a sad smile on his lips, a longing in his eyes and it made Freya's heart clench as she felt tears threaten to fall.

"I'll be back before you know it, love," he spoke softly. "And I'll call you every day. I promise."

Freya's jaw clenched as she tried to hold back the tsunami of emotions that threatened to break out if she so much as opened her mouth. She nodded mutely, her eyes darting back to the ground.

"Baby," Falcon murmured. "We'll be alright. Come here."

He held his arms out for her to fall into and she did so without hesitation. She clutched onto him with all she was worth, gripping the leather jacket that covered his back as the first tear escaped down her cheek. Falcon squeezed her tighter and a sob ripped out from her throat.

"Ple-ease," Freya drew in a haggard breath. "I don't wa-want you to go."

Falcon smoothed down her hair as he tucked her beneath his chin. His heart ached, but he knew he was doing the right thing.
"I know, sweetheart," the hold Freya had on him hurt but he didn't mind it. "I don't want to leave either. But I have to."

He drew in a deep breath before pressing a long kiss to her hair.
"I love you," he said softly, pressing another kiss to her cheek before brushing the hair from her face.

Her eyes were red and puffy and her mouth drawn down in a heartbreaking pout, but Falcon still thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
"I love you," he whispered again before finally placing his lips on hers.

Freya clutched onto him desperately, as if she could keep him there if she held on tight enough. Falcon's hands trembled slightly as they curled around her waist, his throat swelling as tears pricked the corners of his eyes.

All too soon, he pulled back, blinking a few times before pulling in a deep breath and resting his forehead against Freya's.
"It's okay," he didn't know if he was trying to reassure her or himself. "It's going to be fine."

His hands drifted up to Freya's arms, rubbing away the early morning chill from them as he mustered a smile for her.
"Okay," Falcon breathed out, pausing for a moment. "I have to go."

He wished he could bring her with him to the airport, - hell, he wished he could bring her with him completely - but he knew that if he did, it would be all the harder to leave her. Besides, her father was at work and he didn't trust a taxi driver to bring her home safely.

Falcon squeezed Freya's arms softly before reluctantly detaching himself from her. Everything in him cried out to go back to the safety of her arms but he forced himself to take another step away, his eyes not leaving hers.