90s sadness and gay???

[dtective]

[By this point, Leon has lost track of how long he's been searching for Count D. It became an obsession that only grew with time, and now he couldn't keep to one spot anymore. Not while D was still out there. Across cities, across countries, he probably looked insane to everyone around him. But they didn't know the half of it! Sometimes even Leon wasn't sure he understood what he was doing.

Right now wasn't the time to doubt himself, though. He'd hoped that this lead would get him even an inch closer to his goal, but he hadn't counted on spotting him in the streets. It had to be him. He'd seen him turn and look at him, and those eyes—]

Wait! Stop right there!

[He doesn't hold back, shoving his way through the crowded streets and keeping his eyes locked on him. It doesn't work, because of course it doesn't, and his steps slow in his confusion. His heart is beating way too fast, his stomach sinks, and for a moment he's sure he's lost his one chance.

But something catches the corner of his eye, and his instinct tells him to turn. He reaches out, grabbing the first wrist he can and meeting D's eyes with his own.]

...Found you.

Comments

[pruning]

[It isn't the first time he's asked for forever, to be fair, but this time it turns out he means it. That- and saying it- doesn't make it easier for him to bear, and it still feels like the most terrifying thing he's ever faced— keeping Leon here with him. He is asking a lot; he knows this. He doesn't know what he's doing, other than it's the only thing that's felt right since he pushed Leon off the boat.

Leon's answer comes, and D still isn't sure he's comprehended the scope of forever. If Leon needs this spelled out for him too— hopefully, he's just being paranoid. He should trust him now, of all times. That would help.

So. If he trusts Leon, and Leon is going to stay... The awful feeling in his chest might ease up some, finally. He's going into this blind.]

I want to believe you. [And mostly he does! But there's the voice of his father yet, reminding him not to hope... He tilts his head to one side, giving Leon a considering look.] No— I do.

[probably]

I will... hold you to that, you know. If I must.

[dtective]

Go ahead.

[That shift from "I want to believe you" to "I do" brings a small smile to Leon's face. He's really pissed at everything that's caused D to be this distrusting in the first place, what's lead him to hate humans and everything else, but if this is something he can help with, he will.]

I'm a man of my word.

[So how long are they going to hold hands.]

[pruning]

[Don't smile at him like that, how is he expected to deal with that? It won't be long until they're having another pointless argument about something like how to (or not) fold napkins, and yet... this—

He has to look down at their hands again, letting his hair fall forward and hide at least some of his expression. He's... pleased? He's smiling, for real this time. Don't look at him.]

You mean you're remarkably stubborn.

[they are going to hold hands for ten years minimum]

[dtective]

[Oh, he sees that smile!! It's there!! His own smile grows, and with a laugh he reaches over with his free hand to shove playfully at D's shoulder.]

It's a good thing I am, with all the crap you get us into! [He's a perfect fit, see!! He hasn't even yanked his hand back. I's much easier to relax like this.]

[pruning]

[Pushing him!! D's too caught up in everything that's happened to be angry, raising a hand to nudge Leon's shoulder in turn. Just the one, he's busy holding hands and not talking about it with the other.]

Me? As if you're completely blameless!

[dtective]

[Heh!! But ah, he shoved him back. Somehow that's hilarious and Leon has to laugh for it... but he keeps laughing. He can't even defend his pride of not causing any problems ever because he's just so relieved.

All of this wasn't for naught. D is ridiculous, too, acting all shy like that...]

[pruning]

[He isn't... shy!! Shy is a terrible word to use for whatever this is, because he isn't it.

Leon is just laughing at him...]

Are you through?

[dtective]

Oh, lighten up, D! I'm just relaxing.

[He reaches to grab a cookie from the set up of them and shoves it at D's lips. Chill.]

[pruning]

[A cookie in his face, now?! He jerks back from that, but not without taking a few crumbs with him that he hastily wipes off with his free hand.

Then, of course, he picks up a cookie of his own and shoves it at Leon. He could be mature, but Leon turns him into an idiot 13-year-old, soooo...]

[dtective]

[He's laughing, and so that cookie gets shoved pretty decently into his mouth, thanks. He half chokes in shock, crumbs spluttering a bit as he leans closer to try and shove his own cookie more. EAT IT, HE'S EATING HIS.

He also tries to say something around the cookie in his mouth like "I thought you liked sweets!"]

[pruning]

[Hah!! He's winning! This is what they've come to, shoving cookies at each other like actual children... D continues to lean away from Leon-and-cookie, mouth shut tight but still smirking??

Bury him, he's enjoying this. He's not going to say anything because that would give Leon an opening...! All he'll do is shake his head, like no— this is his Victory, not Leon's.]

[dtective]

[He's not winning shit! Leon is determined, and so he leans further. Their joined hands can still be a support, even if they're on D's leg, and he's really trying to reach with this cookie in his hand. Whatever his words are are muffled by the cookie in his mouth, still... He's going to fall over at this rate.

But not before just repeatedly shoving it at D's lips. Open up!! How can he resist!!]

[pruning]

[It's too late, this Actual Child can't defeat him! Or maybe he can, considering he's taller and leaning toward D, leaving D with very few options besides leaning back and craning his neck away from the cookie still attacking his face. It's breaking! A chunk of cookie falls to his lap, forgotten. Tragic.

But still, D's already won?? So this needs to Stop.] Leon—

[He turns his head but not enough, getting half a mouthful of cookie for his efforts. He pushes at Leon's shoulder futilely for another second, which turns into slightly more urgent fumbling to hold on and stop himself falling like an actual fool.

Too late...... goodbye]

[dtective]

[Leon laughs in his success, more cookie crumbs falling... and then D falls, and Leon follows. What a mess of losers. He's still kind of laughing between it all, and the rest of his cookie falls out of his mouth and somewhere onto the blanket. He pulls his hands back to himself, placing one on the picnic blanket besides D's face to push himself up so he doesn't crush the guy.

Just slightly, though, because he's gotta peer at D to make sure he's alive after this noncon cookie.]

Shit, sorry— [Look, he can apologize sometimes, even if he's grinning.] Are you okay?

[pruning]

[So much of that moment was gross, and yet... well, he's focusing on Leon's face very close and the rest basically on top of him. Hmm. Fascinating.

If the rest of that cookie he was forced to eat wasn't in his hair, this would be slightly less ridiculous... He chews the piece he couldn't escape, somehow still managing to frown up at Leon about it. Ugh.]

Oaf. [so, he's good.] Let me sit up, thank you.

[dtective]

[He's a little aware of how close they are, now, so he'll sit up and put his hands back in his own lap. Leon honestly doesn't even notice that he has crumbs all over his face, because he's busy staring at D.]

[pruning]

[Only a little aware... D sits up with a huff, brushing the cookie pieces off his leg before finger-combing his hair to deal with the other crumbs... this is a mess!!

...Leon..... this slob.] Your face, dear.

[dtective]

What, is it messy?

[He scrubs all over his face to try and fix this. He's not thinking about how they were just holding hands for a long while and then fell over on each other after a playful fight, nope.]

[pruning]

[Those things probably didn't happen for all the talking about them D isn't doing. Satisfied with his hair, he watches Leon go wild all over his face. That sure is happening... He'll helpfully reach over and brush some rogue crumbs off the front of his shirt after a couple seconds.]

Well, I hope you've learned your lesson.

[what lesson, D??? what??]

[dtective]

Lesson?

[what is he saying... He'll finish rubbing all over his face eventually.] What, that you're easy to knock over?

[pruning]

[okay...........hush]

No. Manners.

[dtective]

[He's so proud that he made D grumpy, look at him. Well, mostly he's happy they've agreed so completely to stick together. No more worrying that he'll slip away!!]

Too bad, you already said I couldn't leave.

[pruning]

[Don't use that against him!! God, he's going to have to establish Rules, isn't he, so that he doesn't die of shame.]

Well, you could make it easier to bear. [He says this, like he isn't still surveying Leon for crumbs... is he Clean...]

[dtective]

[Now why would he do that? His response is to flick a crumb from the picnic blanket at D.]

Who's hard to bear? [It D]

[pruning]

[cRUMB stop that!! D swats a hand at him, more irritably than he actually feels.]

You and your lack of decorum, certainly. For a moment there, it was as if you truly knew how to behave... [when they were holding hands tbh]