Work Text:
In the grey light of pre-dawn before the sun rises, he slips from the bed and dresses, stealthily silent. His companions cling close in sleep, his presence now a fading memory.
Joyce and Rupert have both asked on many occasions why he won’t stay the night, just this once.
Ethan’s stock response to this is always some variation of wanting to leave town while Ripper is still asleep and in a good mood. But this is really nothing more than a comfortable lie. The real reason he doesn’t stay is that he fears he might never leave if he did.