Just outside the school gates, early Friday morning

[soldtoarmenians]

There's a trunk, and a pile of suitcases and boxes. Even a frog-shaped wastebasket which is, at the moment, stuffed with clean socks and the blankets from Xander's bed. There's also a purple frog in a tank, and there's Xander, and there's Bridge.
___
[For broadcast, but locked to Bridge. Goodbye post is still open, though. Also OMGShut up, it's still morning...on the West Coast...for about 40 minutes...]

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[soldtoarmenians]

"I know."

There's Willow's voice on the phone, but Xander's not really listening as he says again, "Just one more second, okay. Please?" then slides the phone into his pocket.

He reaches for the hand that isn't holding a frog tank. The one that doesn't have a glove on it yet, either.

Xander doesn't have any more words, he's run out of them completely, so he hopes that whatever moves from his palm to Bridge's, or from his lips to Bridge's as Xander leans in to kiss him, can say everything he can't.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

And it does. It really does. Bridge just lets himself drift in the tide of thoughts and emotions that are his and aren't his, at the same time.

[soldtoarmenians]

Xander doesn't want to let go, but eventually he does. Has to. Has to breathe, and has to step back and move towards the portal, though it takes a long time for his fingers to finally peel away from Bridge's.

He pulls the phone out of his pocket and says, "I'm ready," into it before turning it off, even though it's a lie.

"I'll call you," he says to Bridge as he steps backwards into the slightly-flaring circle of violet light.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge's heart sinks just a little at that, because while he knows Xander will *try*- he also knows the phone call won't get through.

And as Xander disappears, Bridge can't help that, despite the decision not to use the word, it still feels like...

"Goodbye."

[soldtoarmenians]

[!!!!!.]