Airport goodbyes with doesntsing

[allbedestroyed]

There wasn't really much to pack. Muldoon is an efficient traveller, and an even more efficient packer. Everything was already pretty much tidied away before he'd turned his attention to it, and that was even after he'd spent 'too long' at work, and then spent another while focusing intently on paperwork.

It was all an attempt at distraction, of course. A futile attempt, at that. He'd enjoyed his time with Midge while he was here. Far more than he'd ever expected. Too much, really. It makes going back to Kenya difficult. Even though he longs for the barest hint of wilderness, he also wants to go to her next show, he wants to surprise her with a late night date, he wants to be able to call and check on her the next day. All in all, it's much, much easier to focus his attention on work.

He is so deep in his own head that it takes him a moment to acknowledge the knock on his door. When he swings it open both happiness and surprise flash across his features, though he's quicker to hide the first. 

"Midge! What are you doing here? It's two in the morning!"

Comments

[doesntsing]

“Of course,” she tells him. “You scope it out and report back to me.”

Reaching over, Midge runs her fingers through Robert’s hair. She’s going to miss doing that. If she allows herself to think too much about missing him, she starts to ache.

“I’m sure they’ll be glad to have you back at the park.”

[allbedestroyed]

Try as he might to hide it, Muldoon's contentedness at that touch slips out in an all too quiet sigh. He doesn't remember the last time someone touched him like that. He doesn't want to think about how long it will be before he's touched like that again after this. Hopefully by Midge. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

"They'll have left all the paperwork and decisions for my return," he tells her. "That's always the way."

All the more reason not to be happy about returning. Even if it does also mean freedom.

[doesntsing]

She too will miss his small touches to her waist or arm. Little intimacies. To be fair, she’ll miss the big intimacies too. The sex will be sorely missed. Most other men treat her like porcelain. Robert’s not afraid to go a little harder, something that she greatly enjoyed.

“That’s what the boss does,” Midge says. “I’m sure you hate paperwork.”

Robert’s an active man and probably likes to be out around the animals, not stuck in an office running figures.

[allbedestroyed]

"I do," he confirms. Maybe a bit more vehemently than he strictly needs to. "We've got people for admin, but there's always something I need to read over and sign. Always some report which needs to be written up."

With a glance to her he adds, "I don't imagine you're much for desk work, either. You light up around people too much."

[doesntsing]

“That’s why I’m not a secretary,” Midge replies. “I’d hate it. You, however, are a very important man, which is why you get stuck with all the paperwork. I have no doubt that you’re very good at your job.”

In Midge’s experience, Robert is thorough about everything. That kind of attention to detail is necessary in his job, and very much enjoyed in his romantic life.

[allbedestroyed]

"It's the one problem with being good at what you do. Eventually they think you're too important to put out in the field." He shakes his head at the very idea of anyone keeping him from involving himself in the animals' lives. The only thing that might come close is Midge, if she were to visit. He might actually force himself to stay in civilisation for a decent stretch.

"What about you? Is there anything you don't love about your work?"

[doesntsing]

Forcing him to stay in civilization? Midge didn’t know she was capable of performing miracles.

She leans back against the car seat, thinking about Robert’s question for a moment. “The traveling takes me away from my kids… and I don’t like having to sleep in hotels.”

The hotels she can get over. Missing her kids, less so. Sometimes she feels like an absent mother, and that people are judging her for it.

[allbedestroyed]

He hums and nods. It's not quite a sound of understanding. He doesn't have kids himself, and even if he did, he's not sure he'd be the same. His own father made leaving them look pretty easy, after all. But he knows Midge would do anything for them. That he does understand.

"You're doing right by them, you know," he says after a moment. "It's better for them to be at home, with family."

[doesntsing]

“It is,” she agrees. “I just wish I didn’t have to travel so much. But I know I have to do more than just play clubs here in New York if I want to further my career.”

New York’s a big city, but Midge still has to get her name out there. The only way she does that is by having as wide an audience as possible.

“Sometimes I worry that I’m still hurting my kids by not being there.”

[allbedestroyed]

At this Muldoon scoffs playfully. "They're certainly not the first kids who've had to stay with their grandparents or nannies while their parents worked."

"I think it's better you follow your passion," he adds more seriously. "It sets a good example of dedication and hard work."

[doesntsing]

He’s right about that, of course. It doesn’t necessarily alleviate all of her worries, but it feels good to be supported.

“That’s what I hope,” she says. “Do you think I really can make it?”

Robert doesn’t work in the entertainment industry, so he probably doesn’t know, but Midge just wants some reassurance that she’s not doing all of this for nothing.