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]

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.]

[pruning]

[Why is he doing that... why is he forcing D to take home half of a broken cookie? What.]

Why don't you throw these away? [These 80 napkins that went everywhere because of Leon just throwing stuff. Really there are like three. Regrettably, D will not co-take out the trash just to hold hands.]

[dtective]

Yeah, okay.

[That's permission to flee temporarily, so he pulls his hand back a little regretfully and picks up all of the trash. D can enjoy that half cookie later, okay. It's a park so there's probably a trash can not too far away, so Leon will head on over to do just that.

Things he's trying not to think about: holding D's hand, the implications of everything they just spoke about and did, if this is ever going to happen again, if he should bump hands with him slyly on the way home to see if he does it again, and all of his stupid feelings. Things he's thinking about: all of that.

At least he doesn't linger at the trashcan or anything weird. He tosses away these wasted napkins and then heads back.]

[pruning]

[Meanwhile, D busies himself shaking out the blanket for any lingering crumbs or grass stuck to the other side, then folding it back up to tuck into the basket. He'll carry it this time, he supposes, lest Leon get overloaded thinking about too many hand things. He's thinking about too many hand things himself, and frowns down at the basket when he catches himself arranging it precisely on one arm so his other hand is free...

This is ridiculous. What is he doing? He's taking this too far - the only thing Leon agreed to do is stay. Hmm.

He's dealing with this like a pro!! When Leon comes back, he's perfectly cheerful and not judging himself at all.]

Let's go.

[dtective]

[He's been thinking a lot lately about how D constantly made him doubt himself. His hunches, which were normally always correct, were completely useless when it came to him. No matter what he observed, he was always wrong in some way he couldn't grasp. Now, he was staring at him holding the basket and wondering just how much of anything is intentional, what each thing means...

He's tired of it. If they're stuck together for better or for worse, apparently, then the best thing to do is just... whatever he wants! Think about it later!

This is his usual mindset for many things, anyway.

So, he may not be the smoothest or most gentle about it, but when he heads back and sees that D is ready to go, he doesn't hesitate in reaching over to take his hand and tug it as he heads back.]

Come on. It's this way, right? [He remembers it this time. He'd paid attention to where they came from.]

[pruning]

[Oh— well then! D isn't sure which thing is more surprising, that Leon took his hand or Leon didn't forget which way is home. It takes him a moment to fall into step beside him, glancing down at their hands only once.

Is he taking this too far? He didn't have to do a thing this time.]

Up ahead, there's a left.

[But where... that's the only helpful direction he's going to give, and it's not even helpful. Good luck, Leon.]

[dtective]

[A vague left is a start, and honestly, it's probably better that he only receives that. This means he has something to focus on other than their hands. He can puzzle out the way back home. Maybe he'll make a wrong turn here or there, but if D doesn't correct him he'll catch himself soon enough.

He's so focused he isn't even talking, though... Aside from mumbles under his breath about what he remembered of their walk to the park.]

[pruning]

[D will let him drag them around, wrong turns only pointed out if they seem to be leading into absolutely totally lost territory. It looks like Leon is working it out! After harping on him to carry a map around, D can't complain and take over from here...

Sooner or later they'll have to reach the shop, though, and D perks up considerably when it comes into view. The torment is over.]

Well done, my dear. You've managed to commit one route to memory, for the most part.