A Visit

[palace-johnny.livejournal.com]

[This immediately following Johnny's meeting Elijah and leaving his room. All of this is occurring the second morning after Harry left Balize.]

The hardest thing Johnny could ever remember doing was slipping out of Palace, through Lower East to the Hostel garden and out through a gate onto the street, without seeing Christian once more. He knew he couldn't actually say goodbye, but just getting together one last time -- going for a ride, having a beer, watching a monster movie, something -- seemed so harmless that he'd had to drag himself away. Christian was a telepath, after all; while looking at him and saying "goodbye" in his mind, Johnny knew there was no way he could keep his shields tight enough. Or for that matter, just keep his face under control. So he slipped away, quietly, avoiding everyone who knew him. Which actually wasn't that difficult, all things considered.

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