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

[dtective]

[LOOK, be nice, at least he's not slapping on any handcuffs.]

Are you trying to come on to me?

[...He went from saying nothing to saying everything so quickly. But he... is convincing himself this is a joke, and this is how he'd normally react while flustered, so maybe muttering it with half-commitment will make things make more sense.]

[pruning]

[

But anyway, D looks at Leon in silence for a beat. A long beat. Is that disbelief in his expression because Leon is so clueless, or because he's clearly not doing anything like that...? It's a mystery.]

Pardon?

[dtective]

[What the fuck IS HE WRONG??? Now everything is worse, thanks D.]

Nothing, nevermind! Just go back to talking about birds or whatever.

[pruning]

[It's about to get worse yet again!!]

Did you know Atlantic puffins mate for life?

[dtective]

[SPLUTTERS]

Why the hell do I need to know something like that?!

[pruning]

[that's what you get]

You did ask me to talk about birds.

[dtective]

Not about birds mating! What the fuck is wrong with you?!

[He's going to die here.]

[pruning]

Technically, it was bird monogamy.

[RIP he'll say something rude at the funeral]

[dtective]

[Kill him.]

Whatever! I don't want to think about the love lives of birds! [He's squeezing his hand tighter without realizing it, too.]

[pruning]

[Mind his delicate fingers, please.]

There isn't that much to think about, considering what I've already told you. [He's not actually going to talk about bird sex. That would be too much when he's not proving a point.]

You're crushing my hand.

[dtective]

Oh, sorry.

[Ahhhh... He relaxes his hand all at once, keeping it in place but just barely touching D's where his fingers rest, curled around his hand. Hmm. So this is what he meant by not letting him leave...?

But he guesses he has to hand it (hah) to D. Nothing bad's happened this entire picnic. It's been pleasant, the food was good, and even if there was weird cake drink, he'll probably never be as thirsty as D.]

So, am I going to get to find out how you do any of that crazy stuff? Like the rooms at the shop.

[pruning]

[Oh... That's much less contact than before and still somehow enough to monopolize all of his attention. Holding hands is so racy.]

After enough time, I suppose it's only natural for you to know... [can he really explain it though? That's the hard part.] It will be a learning experience for all of us.

[Not just the weird shit the shop does, either.]

[dtective]

Wait, seriously? You're actually gonna tell me?

[He thought he'd get a usual answer!! This really is serious!]

It's about damn time! Maybe I'll actually understand what the hell you're saying half the time, if you tell me things! [This is great, he's genuinely excited, and still not positive if he's the only one doki-ing over holding hands.]

[pruning]

[Aw, that's kind of adorable. He's like a dumb puppy.]

You're really interested?

[dtective]

Did you think I've been asking all this time for shits and giggles?

[Of course he's interested!! Who wouldn't be... what the fuck is going on with anything.]

[pruning]

I thought you were trying to arrest me, as that's what you said almost every time.

[JUST saying. Be cute again, asshole.]

[dtective]

Well, yeah, but I was interested in general, too!

[Why wouldn't he be, shush.]

[pruning]

If that's true, you've been terrible at showing it!

[The YELLING... the SWEARING.....]

[dtective]

[Shut the fuck up Mr. Puffins-mate-for-life.]

Maybe if you weren't so fishy all the time I wouldn't have to be on edge!

[pruning]

[No, shut up and puffin-marry him.]

Are you still on edge? I suggest you overcome that obstacle as quickly as you can.

[dtective]

...What, by holding hands? I'll let up when you start explaining more, how about that.

[pruning]

Is it helping?

[Perfectly Innocent Look^TM]

I will be able to explain more easily when we return to the shop.

[dtective]

So do you want to go back?

[Will they have to let go of each others hands??]

[pruning]

[Well, no. If Leon doesn't mention it, they can get away with this!!]

If you're so eager to hear the explanation, let's.

[He sits up, finally... not pulling his hand away.]

[dtective]

[But they have to PUT AWAY THE BLANKET...]

Alright. [He sits up, and he doesn't move his hand from D's just yet, but he does pick up that lost, larger chunk of cookie from the blanket and drop it uselessly into the basket.]