teaism | 90s sadness and gay???

[Why did he come... That's a loaded question if he's ever heard one. This time, there's no yelling about arresting or the law, not even any comments about everything he'd been thinking about. It's stupid, but he hadn't thought this far ahead too much anyway. He'd just set out with this goal in mind.

Shifting, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper. It's a little bit more wrinkled than it had been when he left it, but miraculously, it's not ruined. He'd taken very good care of it.

He holds it out for D to take.]

You left this. [Asshole. Why does he think he came!!]

[Of all the reasons D might come up with for why Leon is here, handing him a piece of paper isn't actually one of them, alright. Honestly, his first thought when he sees a piece of folded paper is that it's some kind of arrest warrant, and he'll have to laugh Leon summarily out of his shop and back onto the street because this is Italy. He can't be arrested for what he definitely didn't do in LA here!

But he also can't imagine what it really is, a wrinkled scrap, so as he reaches forward to take it and unfold it, he raises an eyebrow in confusion. This is what, exactly?

Once he's unfolded it and actually taken a look, it's as if the very air in the room is holding its breath. He'd... forgotten. He had forgotten, and Leon has followed him around the world to, at least in part, hand this drawing back to him. He can't even remember if leaving it behind had been intentional in the moment, after everything else that had happened. Packing it certainly had been, but things became so complicated, and then...

The uncomfortable feeling settled in his chest becomes, impossibly, even more so, and he takes a moment to stare down at the paper before he looks up again. His expression is tightly controlled, but even then, it's probably obvious that he's doing that.

He leans forward, placing the picture on his latest antique coffee table and smoothing it flat, hand lingering over it before he sits back again.]

And how has Christopher been doing lately?

[What the hell kind of reaction is that... He is pouring his heart out here!! Okay, no, he's not. He's just... hm, what is he doing. He stares down at the picture for a long moment, grateful that he's not being kicked out to the street, at least. They're sitting here, speaking. It's been forever...

It's been forever and D has the nerve to speak this casually?!]

He's been doing great. [All of the usual things... He could fill D in, but honestly he's so pissed at him running off that he doesn't feel very much like doing so right now. There is one important fact to shove in his face, though.] He misses you like crazy, though. The few times when I can speak to him between all of this, he always brings up the petshop. He wanted to know if I found you yet.

[But he's been able to talk to him less and less... When was the last time he managed a call? Chris has gotten more and more busy with his own life as he grew up, too. Hm. Leon just sort of frowns, sitting back in his seat and draping an arm over the back of the couch. His eyes finally lift from the picture and he stares at D for another moment. There's so much, like the fucking boat he barely remembers... God. He still doesn't even know if D hates him now or what.

His voice drops a little in volume.] I couldn't just forget about everything and move on.

[You know, like a sane person.]

[It turns out that asking about Chris was not the best idea for his feelings. Well, too late for that now. He was trying to be casual, but Chris... the way Chris left the shop is still a memory he'd like to be over and done with, and talking about him just picks at that. Chris misses him? He shouldn't. Of course he would, he's a wonderful and darling child, but he still shouldn't.

Thankfully, he can avoid talking about Chris more. Even if the alternative is this--] You should have. It would have been better for you in the long run.

[The same way leaving the shop was better for Chris in the end, but details. He's trying very hard not to think about what might have been if he'd stayed.]

There were no other options at the time.

Better for me, or better for you?!

[Okay, so like... He sure has been dealing with a lot of misfortune all thanks to D, or revolving around D at least, but that just came with his line of duty.] You have some nerve saying that after all of the trouble you caused me!

[Now he's leaning forward enough to slap his hands down on this table.] You don't get to decide what's better for me or not! I came after all! I could have come from the beginning! What about that option, huh?!

[Wow, okay, first of all.] You couldn't have and I made that clear!

[How much more clear could shoving him off a possibly imaginary boat have been? He sighs shortly and sits back further, crossing his arms again and staring off at some other corner of the shop. He's not going to start yelling, as tempting as it is.

He still doesn't understand-- what kind of an idiot drops his whole life to follow someone across the globe? Why are humans like this??]

Don't hit the furniture. [...belated, but ugh.]

Why does everything have to be this vague bullshit with you?! What ever happened to giving me a heads up so I could buy some god damn plane tickets or something!

[He doesn't care about all of that humans don't have the right crap, so he's ignoring that for the literal reality of it all. He pulls his hands back into his own lap, pointedly resting them on his knees as he glares at D.]

What's the big deal if I'm here or not?

I had intended on it, but you were in such a mood it was impossible!

[--Ah. He hadn't actually meant to say that, now frowning more deeply at the opposite corner of the room. Leon can glare at him all he wants, but he's going to look over there. How is he supposed to address the issue of Leon being here to Leon, here? That's it right there!]

How can a man like you meet my family and still ask me such an asinine question? What do you think the "big deal" is, Leon?

[His mood? How could he help that, with everything that happened! He flares up, angry, but it's cut off immediately by the next words that come from D. Somehow, they make him settle, and his staring becomes a little more even.]

You didn't run until after all that. [D can look wherever he wants, but Leon is going to Watch him. He'll be trying so hard now to see past those faces.] Even with your feelings towards humans, you let me come over time and time again, even when I was threatening to have you arrested! Why is it different all of a sudden? What are you really running from?

You couldn't have arrested me.

[Just putting that out there: it wasn't going to happen. He still doesn't look at Leon, but his gaze drops down to the floor. What is he running from? Well, he can't say he's not running at this point, but he really would rather not have this conversation.

So he'll stand suddenly and move back over to finish making the tea. Hang on a moment.]

I... You would not understand. My people... [He waves a hand while he sets some cups on a tray.] It would not be wise for me to linger in one place, as much as I may enjoy your company.

[He's not even going to comment on the arrest thing, he's just going to sulk grumpily over here. Tea... Should he even have his tea? Ugh, no, it doesn't matter. He knows by now that it was never as simple as a "pet shop"... The tea doesn't have anything to do with it.]

All of that doesn't explain why you hightailed it out of there every time you caught wind of me. You looked me straight in the eye back there and ran off!

[Well, now he'll spend an extra minute over here finding some kind of cookie to slap on a plate for the tea tray, since he doesn't have a proper explanation for this one, either. Seeing Leon is-- he can't go back to how they were in LA, whatever they were. He was already playing a dangerous game by letting Leon and Chris get close, so he had to leave, and his father said...

But then, what has Father ever known? And yet, still...

He returns with the tray, setting it down and gesturing for Leon to help himself. His own cup he picks up and immediately sips from, to hide at least some of his expression.]

I assumed you would attempt to bring me back. Perhaps under the pretense of an arrest, at the very least...

[It seems silly to say that now, when he'd been there and listening when Leon seemed quite on board with going wherever he wanted, but never mind that.]

After that, I suppose I simply didn't want to see you.

[Because he actually really did?? It would be too much to say that, unfortunately.]

[Ah. Well, that's an answer, at least... Leon had already picked up the tea, so now it's his turn to hold it in front of his mouth as he slouches even further on the couch. He didn't want to see him? Is that the truth? What is he thinking, of course it must be the truth. He's been running from him this whole time, and he's the one who...

He takes a long sip of tea, clearly bothered by those words even when he tries to act indifferent. He remembers how he likes his tea... Not that that would be too hard to forget, he supposes.

After a moment, he finds words again.] You said you wanted revenge, right?

[Well... he wasn't trying to upset Leon even more, but he also knew that saying it that way would upset him and did it anyway, so he supposes he can't feel too guilty about that faux indifferent look.

Still, when he's once again met with this-- not yelling, he isn't sure how to respond. Revenge--] Not so... succinctly.

[He had a whole little speech, give him credit.]

[WhatEVER D... He sighs, setting his tea back down on the table so he can stare more intensely at him.]

No matter how you spin it, it's revenge in the end. But you saved me, didn't you? [He remembers that Very Clearly... Even if he's still weirded out by the flying and the boat.] After I shot your father. Wouldn't you want me dead?

[Didn't he explain this already... Does he have to explain it again?]

I should. [He sips his tea, considers, sips again.] As I've told you, there is still unfinished business between us. If you were to ask my grandfather... or my father, [you know, if he wasn't DEAD] they would agree I should have left you behind.

[Which he kind of did, but not for dead. They're here in Italy, and Leon is very much not dead.]

You have a nasty habit of defying expectations.

None of your vague bullshit explains anything.

[Unfinished business?? Like REVENGE??? What is that supposed to MEAN about saving him. He picks up his tea again, clutching the teacup tightly.]

I'm sorry it's so unexpected that I give a damn about all of this. I mean, you changed my whole life! [that sounds gay, ignore that it does] I can't just go back to things! If you want to talk about impossible, there it is! How many people have you gotten killed here? Are you toying around with someone here, too?

[Sips tea angrily]

[Welcome back to hell, Leon. When has D ever explained anything without being vague or throwing in a bunch of weird metaphors? He'll toss in a proverb next.]

I haven't harmed anyone. [Probably... he hasn't been here that long, with this constant running around they've been doing. Which isn't the best justification, but whatever. And-- toying with someone? Don't be jealous.]

Playing cat and mouse with you is a full-time job. You overestimate me.

[...But alright. He supposes...] I did mean it when I said I intended to tell you. Unfortunately I had to take my leave, and if anyone could have convinced me to stay, it would have been you.

[Oh. He's about to comment on how he doesn't buy that he hasn't harmed anyone, but then that last comment catches him off guard. He could have convinced him to stay...? That makes him stare down at his tea.]

Intentions don't matter much after the fact.

[Just going to grumble and leave that out there. If anything, it's more frustrating that D had meant to tell him and didn't. He'd already upset himself over that multiple times. It'd been his own attitude, he knows. But—] What's wrong with here? Or are you just going to keep trying to run from me?

[He'll follow again. That's clear in his tone, his posture, the way he looks over... He's already devoted himself to this.] You're not going to get rid of me.

["intent isn't magic" - leon orcot

D puts his tea down on the table, not surprised by those questions but not really intending to answer them in the next twenty minutes-- and he's not surprised by Leon's last comment either, a tiny smirk turning up the corner of his mouth as he looks down at the table at not at Leon. He shouldn't be amused by this.

He'll control himself when he looks back up, taking in the seriousness of Leon's declaration.]

I am a dangerous and unbearable criminal, aren't I? Why is it so important that you stay?

...To keep you in line!

[Is what he should say. The expected answer, the thing that should be at the forefront of his mind instead of all these maybe it isn't so bad type thoughts. He's stiff and the tea isn't helping, but he holds it stubbornly anyway.]

And to keep you from getting yourself killed. [He looks elsewhere in the shop at that, crossing one of his legs over the opposite knee. How many people are after D? Or will mistake him for his father? His grandfather? How many messes are there going to be?

The truth is he can't answer that question very well, but that's the best he can think confidently.]

[The first comment he does expect, but not the second. That actually gets him to drop his veneer of calmness - as crappy as it is right now, it drops as he blinks at Leon in surprise.]

You're trying to protect me?

[That's... what he's saying, isn't it? D isn't imagining this? Leon has come to his aid plenty of times before, but those times were all very different. They lacked the context Leon has now, for one thing.

Repeat please??]

You heard me!

[Ugh, he's questioning him on it. He reaches up to slip his hand into his hair again, quickly dropping it after and uncrossing his legs. He's fidgeting so much, but he's on the spot, here! He didn't expect to get this chance today! How many times will he be surprised his plan worked in the end...]

Even with everything I know now, I still don't know what the hell's going through that crazy mind of yours. But I don't think you're doing this for the wrong reasons. [??????] You just have a twisted way of going about things.

[That's one way of putting it... But look, also he's... realized that D's only ever tried to help him. He thinks. In a way... Ugh, his head hurts thinking about this. He just wants to help.]

Why can't you just tell me what you're thinking without any tricks for once? [let him in]

[?????????]

And immediately after we discussed your defying expectations...

[He's honestly surprised he's hearing this-- it was one thing to have Leon blithely assume he was coming along, after everything that happened, but to have him sit here and tell D that he's... not entirely wrong? Just using some questionable methods? That's--

Oh, he's ruined this poor man, hasn't he. That's an interesting feeling. He stares at Leon for another beat, then looks down, folding his hands in his lap.]

I do not understand... how to do what you want me to do. [he can't just open up!!] Do you truly believe in this?

[In what he's doing, or something... He missed Leon's epiphany, okay, this is all coming out of nowhere.]

What was that thing you told me once... Moths are drawn to a flame?

[How many times will he forget this simple saying. One that could be said for himself, probably, but he's thinking about the issue of humanity again. What D must be feeling. It's always his job to get in the heads of the people he's dealing with, to try and understand where they're coming from, and maybe he can see what D means.

He's witnessed a lot as a cop.]

You might be right about that. At least I don't have anything to go against it.

[At least that's all he's going to say about it, right now. The last thing he wants D to hear is multiple flat out you might be rights. In fact, even saying that just now makes him feel a little sick. Is this really okay to be saying...]

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sighs

walks out

you can't LEAVE

too late

no

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