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]

[Surprised that it's working out, though... What does D do with himself if he's not fussing or starting a fight, really? Sit here and chill out?? This is difficult. He'll try...]

...Never mind. You've done just fine.

[dtective]

[That's a little odd to hear. But it seems strange to tell D not to tell him everything's fine with what he's done. So instead, he's quiet for a bit, enjoying their closeness. This sure is real...]

Are you comfortable? [He asks such a corny thing while looking off to the side, of course.]

[pruning]

[Look!! Leon somehow cracked the code that unlocks smoochtown, he should feel proud of himself. But ah, is he comfortable... Is this literal or another meaningful and poetic kind of comfortable like before?? Hmm.

...They are sitting kind of oddly.] I could be more.

[dtective]

[It was both. So at that, he keeps one arm wrapped around D and pressed to his back, and shifts so they can lie down on the couch more naturally. See!! Helping.]

Better?

[pruning]

[Helping... this is so juvenile and yet he loves it, what the fuck. Now all the animals must stay hidden away so they don't see him acting like a teenager.]

Much. [Hmm yes, he can fold his arms on Leon's chest here and just look at him... surveying his spoils......... the second evening crazy reminder.] You're handsome with short hair.

[A+ 10/10 don't grow it out again]

[dtective]

[Compliments... compliments?? That one's a little backhanded, but he'll take it.]

Thanks.

[Being called handsome... what does he do with this?? Compliment D back, he thinks, but how! He moves his hand up to brush down and through D's hair again like this will give him the words.]

Your hair's soft. [Brilliant. He hates himself.]

[pruning]

[He wasn't not handsome before, just... well...

Anyway, D's hair is always flawless, even with fingers in it. An appropriate response.]

Thank you. Are you always this romantic?

[This is teasing, but it's not mean teasing. Hmm.]

[dtective]

[If D wanted romantic, he fell for the wrong guy. Probably.]

What, you want me to be all flowery like you? I don't know if I can do that, D. I barely understand half of the stuff you're saying when you're like that.

[Imagine him trying to say something poetic... He's going to keep slowly playing with this hair, though.] What else should I say? You're pretty?

[pruning]

[At least wine and dine him a little.]

That will do. [He Knows, thank you. That hair playing is kind of distracting... He'd almost like to lay here and do nothing but enjoy that feeling, but since when has he ever managed to peacefully keep his mouth shut?]

Perhaps soon... I could give Chris a call. ["Soon" i.e. "in at least a week" but whatever.]

[dtective]

[That's good! This is much better than keeping his mouth shut! Leon perks up excitedly, his fingers pausing to curl in where they are.]

Really? I'm telling you, he'll love it! You don't have to say where we are, or anything like that, but if he could just hear your voice for a second...

[pruning]

[Ugh, he's so excited... D is firmly convinced that hearing Chris' voice for even a moment is going to break his heart all over again, but it's true that he owes him at least an acknowledgement of some kind. What will he say...?]

I will think of something to say. [..."are you being a shit brother"—] Will you also speak to him?

[dtective]

[Umm, Chris is better off without him anyway. He usually doesn't call him, but now that the chase is over, maybe just letting him know he's alright would be good.]

Sure. [This time. They can all call and talk.] Just say hi to him, D. You don't have to plan out some big speech.

[pruning]

[Ummmm, someone whined about that very same statement when it was D saying it about Chris and Leon, so??]

"Hi"? What a dreadful phone call.

[dtective]

[UmmmmmmmmMMMM, shut up, he's allowed.]

You know what I mean! Start with hi and talk like a normal person. What's so hard about that?

[pruning]

[no?????? ?? no]

Nothing, I suppose... [It's Chris though!!] I will handle it.

[dtective]

[Hmmm. Leon's quiet for a moment at that, his hand resuming movement in D's hair slowly.]

Don't worry. It'll go nicely.

[pruning]

[Is he being comforted...?? That's different.]

I— would not call it worrying. [He is, though.]

[dtective]

[He's trying, at least... Don't point it out or it'll go straight back to arguing.]

No? [He's not sure he buys that. Not that he's the master of reading D or anything near that, but...] It seems like worrying to me. You brought it up out of nowhere, so you've probably been thinking about it since earlier.

[pruning]

[What a nice effort, except for the part where he now has to talk about his feelings. He's trying valiantly to not let his face screw up in what is definite worry, but-]

I am not preoccupied, if that's what you mean. [Like, he had thirst on the brain, first.] But Chris... does not belong in this world of ours.

[Leon is now included for a variety of reasons not just limited to being a kept man. Still, D just thinks absolute total silence is the best way to go about this, is that so wrong?]

[dtective]

[This world of ours. Leon does notice that change of wording, and his heart flips a little, despite the timing. It's nice to hear D say something that isn't completely isolating him from all of humanity, even if the only bit of humanity he's including is him.]

Chris is growing up with his own life, now. He can speak again, he's making friends...

[It's all good for him. So Leon agrees that it's not like they can return to their cute, three person family. But.] But you can't just disappear on him like that. Hasn't he had enough of that?

A phone call won't drag him into anything.

[pruning]

[See, those reasons he's listing are all reasons D has considered as proof that he shouldn't contact Chris at all. He frowns, thinking about it, and can't come up with a good enough reason to jump from "reasons Chris should be left alone" to "so let's call him." He's a smart boy, he'll put it behind him eventually...

But god, he's already agreed to this phone call, stop heckling him about it!!]

Alright, that's quite enough. I have already said I'll speak to him.

[dtective]

[He didn't mean to heckle, really. It just sort of ends up that way... But Leon goes silent at those words, considering them for a moment before he ducks his head down enough to kiss D. Whoa! It's short and chaste and ends with him blinking stupidly at D's face before he pulls back and tries to look nonchalant.]

Thanks.

[pruning]

[Wh- That was cute? It takes him by surprise after all the heckling, and before that, Leon's flustered nonsense. He's— he's blushing, don't look at him, let him hurriedly start to sit up and escape this loser zone. God!!]

Yes, well, of course. I am doing it for Chris, so— [aaaaaa]

[dtective]

[Ohhh, is that blush! He sees that blush! It makes him perk up in amusement, because he's shameless.]

For Chris, huh? That's strange! I'd swear you were blushing! [Hah!! See, he can tease too, look at him go.] You know, that's not a bad look for you!

[pruning]

[Stop!! Now he's getting a hand in his face, so D can be free of this ridiculous teasing. It's only okay when he does it!]

There is no "look." You're imagining things.