Aiden Shepard [ Abraham Van Helsing ] (arcere) wrote in bellumlogs,
There were a lot of things he could say, that he wanted to say - to everyone involved, especially. But even as Helena smiled at him and said if you ever need anything, all he could do was manage a half-smile in return, grateful for her still being alive, still being unharmed, still being ... well, he bit back what he meant to say, what part of him wanted. He gave her the half-smile and watched her give her goodbyes ... watched her disappear. Of course, he did it out of the corner of his eye, fighting a grimace, but unable, as ever, to say a single word. He turned his attention back to Lily as soon as she handed him back his phone, to trade with hers.
"I'll call you later," Aiden said as he entered his number and handed it back. "Once I've figured out where I'm going." He glanced around her and caught sight of Joanie, of other people he knew very vaguely or a little better. All alive. Shocked, maybe slightly drunk, but ... very much alive. "Oh, and you can keep the book, if you want." Part of him was wondering: should he go back home, maybe? But ... no, he couldn't. He was here for a reason. He had to stay here, in this area.
Or wherever it became necessary to go.
(He didn't look at Vlad.)
Once he'd returned her phone, Aiden gave Lily a brief smile before letting her go where she wanted to and turning to move down the sidewalk, his eyes continually drawn to the ruined remains of the place he wasn't quite sure had ever been his home.