he who hesitates is toast

I know you understand that choice, Nakia had said, and oh, she does. She could never stay here forever, not when there's so much good work to do out in the world, but that's not what he's asking.

"Baby," she murmurs, and kisses him again. "I will. I'll stay as long as I can. It broke my heart to let you go that day."

She pulls back and smiles, reaching a hand to run her fingers along the curve of his face like she'd wanted to do so often, caressing the edge of her phone instead. "Besides, between Busan and Siberia and the Red Room, I'm pretty sure I can take a solid chunk of time off work. Ross might even make it mandatory."