Uhm So I wrote something that I think is good enough to share here with you guys- XD This takes place in the "canon" timeline for Elise and Harley, not the one AU I've been talking about recently XD I hope you can understand without more context- I'll just let this play out XD ~~~ Harley’s never missed a day of work in his life. Or, at least, not since I’ve known him. He’s always in his office every day at 8 in the morning, sipping on his coffee and reading over emails. Even on days when I can tell that he really, really doesn’t want to be at work. When he’s got that exhausted look in his dark eyes that says anything could be better than this. He’s still there, every single morning. I’ve gotten so used to walking into his office and seeing him sitting there that I had to do a full mental reset on the one day that his chair was empty. I was standing in the doorway with a folder in my hands, staring at his desk in shock. It was a stupid thing to completely freeze up over, but it didn’t make any sense. Harley would never just disappear. He would have at least told me today was going to be different. I stepped into the room and did a quick turn around, putting the stuff I was holding on the edge of his desk. Nothing else had changed. There was no note, no explanation. He was just gone. “Good morning, Dr. Carter,” someone said from behind me, causing me to jump. I turned around and found Leith Pierre standing in the doorway. “…Hi,” I said, awkwardly. He glanced at the empty desk behind me. “I take it you’re looking for Dr. Sawyer?” I hesitated before giving a small nod. “Do you… know where he is?” “Yes,” was all he gave me. My voice brightened ever so slightly. “Did he say anything?” Leith shook his head. I looked down at the ground. “Though, there is a reason as to why he’s gone.” Leith seemed to stand up taller. I perked up slightly. “Now, I know you won’t take this lightly,” he said, “but starting today, you two are no longer permitted to work together.” My expression instantly changed to devastation. If a person could physically replicate the sound of glass shattering, that would be what had just happened. “Wh…” was all I managed to choke out. Leith’s voice stayed steady, stuck in that same bright tone he always used. It felt emotionless to me. “Various complications that don’t concern you. It’s nothing personal, you just can’t be in contact with him anymore. Today you’ll be moved up to the healthcare wing, and there /will/ be punishments if you don’t comply. Understand?” I barely heard enough of what he’d said to give a minuscule nod. This didn’t make any sense. What had Harley done wrong? What had /I/ done wrong? There had to be some sort of explanation. I still don’t understand. Leith gently tapped the doorframe as he left the room to startle me out of my dazed confusion. “I’ll see you in healthcare by 9 o’clock,” he said. I was alone a few seconds later. I immediately rushed over to Harley’s computer, signing in on my account and opening up a blank email. We weren’t allowed to have phones, so this was the best way of contacting him. I typed out a quick message with shaky fingers. /Hey, Harley, What’s going on? I’m so confused… Please tell me what you can. Love you, - Elise Carter/ I sank back in the chair, my head raised towards the ceiling. I covered my face with my hands and let out a soft sigh. I didn’t get it. I still don’t get it. But I figured I shouldn’t let it bother me. I had work to do, and things would be okay in the end. At least, I hoped. I learned about a week later that my email never got to him. He was erased from all of my contacts, both factory and personal. His accounts were automatically blocked, my messages went nowhere- it was as if he’d never existed in the first place. In a single day, everything had changed. All because Harley wasn’t there that morning. ~~~ Yep There it is Let me know if anything's confusing :DDDD XD Your best potato, ClearlyA_ptato
