Much shot Alan a sidelong look; all they'd been doing in New Jersey was driving around and asking questions. Welp.
Arizona, though, was a long way from New Jersey. Days, if they drove. Much, kneeling on a chair beside Ben, pushed a pin into the map as he worried about it. The thrill of planning surrounded by allies was turning into an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach.
Melpomene leaned toward Alan's ear, her hand still in his as she tucked her other hand around his arm, encouragingly. "What are you going to do, love?" she asked quietly.
"I don't think I can go, Rob," Much said, before Alan had a chance to answer. Melpomene looked over at him, his face carrying a heavy load, his ears going red with guilt or shame as he spoke.
Much knew Rob was gonna be disappointed, and worse, he was letting Marian down, as well as Tuck and Will and Stutely who were all too wounded to go, who were maybe relying on his unstarved untortured arse to step up and go find their girl if they couldn't. Up until a few days ago, there was nothing Much wanted more than to mount a rescue for Marian, side by side with Robin. And now? Now he felt pulled in two directions at once and it hurt. It was all he was thinking about when he said to Rob, voice quiet: "I can't leave Marcie, not now. I'm sorry."
Marcie? What was wrong with Marcie? Melpomene's head tilted in curiosity, but she lay her head on Alan's shoulder so it wasn't as obvious. Tragos hadn't said anything to her about there being something wrong with Marcie - something that made her unleavable. It had to be significant, if Much was weighting it up against Marian... Melpomene frowned slightly as she listened to them talk. Shit, she thought. What was she missing?