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]

[D is leaving, he's out of here... No, he's just turning away here on the couch and folding his arms like the mature adult he is.]

How presumptuous! I can't believe you're entertained by this.

[dtective]

What's wrong? You can dish it out but you can't take it?

[Leon sits up most of the way, nudging D's shoulder playfully.]

[pruning]

[Well, yes, but. He's still going to look the other way very maturely.]

Nothing is wrong. I don't know what you mean.

[dtective]

[It's funny. When D's like this, it's much easier to forget about being nervous. It's like any old good mood when he'd come into the shop... Warm and nice. But this time, he can put an arm around D's shoulders and squeeze a little.]

Uh huh, if you say so. If this is how it's gonna be, me and you, I could get used to this.

[He's gay... look at him being gay.]

[pruning]

[At least one of them is enjoying this. Though that's not entirely true - considering how easily D is placated right now by any kind of open affection, after all of that half-panicked hand holding, Leon's arm around him isn't excluded.

He scoffs, like Leon is just being absurd, but still leans into him a little. Hmm. Me and you... truly, he will never have to let Leon leave.]

This is not particularly different from before.

[Besides the kissing. Just saying, it was gay for a long time.]

[dtective]

...I guess it's not.

[Literally all of his co-workers knew except him, and Leon still won't acknowledge that. But he will look back and agree that, yeah, they were pretty gay for a long time. It seems okay to admit this now, even if every little move or word fills his chest with a light feeling. It makes him feel... energetic. When he'd just been stressed out before about all of this learning Italian and settling in crap, now at least he had the security of knowing he and D would stick together.]

That just means I'm already used to it. You should be, too.

[pruning]

[He should be used to it...? He's used to Leon, if nothing else. Leon's presence, his habits - good and bad, D is used to those things. He likes those things. Once again it's the leap from being used to each other and being people who kiss sometimes that he'll have to adjust to.

Fortunately he likes kissing Leon, and no one who would tell him not to has spoken to him in months, so—there. So there. He's happy, at least.]

Thank goodness I have your guidance and wisdom. What would I do without you?

[dtective]

[Hah, he knows that's probably sarcasm, but he feels happy, anyway. Maybe it's because of everything that's happened today, or the excitement of what's to come. Either way, he gives D's shoulder another little squeeze.]

That's what I've been thinking! [Please... stop him. But he laughs and then lets his arm drop a little, settling instead at D's back as he leans closer to him.]

But anyway, we don't have to find out. [Right??? So. Be cute with him or something.]

[pruning]

[This is both very cute and... comforting, though it's comforting in the way that it's good to know Leon will never, ever leave. That's probably not the sort of comfort Leon wants to hear about. D leans back against him more, reaching up to loosely hold his hand.]

Goodness, no. Nothing like that. There are much better things to find out, instead.

[dtective]

Yeah.

[He agrees even if he's not exactly positive what D means by that (maybe just in general?? Leon doesn't think about this for very long), smiling as they relax into this new comfortable position. Him and D... it's still crazy to think about.] You got any ideas?

[pruning]

[Well he's thirsty, so there's always banging. That might still be too much right now for Leon's gay awakening, though. Baby steps.]

Aren't you going to take me out on a date?

[dtective]

[Somehow, all of the aspects of dating outside of kisses had escaped him. Even banging, which is surprising considering this guy. It just seems a little surreal... Only a little! On top of that, there are things that complicate every step of this, such as...]

Oh. I'll need a job for that... [HE'S BROKE.]

[pruning]

[Oh yeah, he's with a hobo now... That's fine, he can wait probably months or however long it takes someone to pity-hire Leon to do something that doesn't require him to speak to anyone. He pats Leon's arm with his other hand, very comfortingly.]

Then I will take you out, in the meantime. What kind of date do you enjoy?

[dtective]

[Someone treating him to a date...?? It's a little different than what he's used to, but he's barely used to getting dates these days at all, to be fair. Plus, why would he refuse this...?]

What kind of date... [He's thinking aloud here, touching his chin with his free hand.] What about something like a nice dinner or a movie?

[Cliche dates... That's all that comes to mind.]

[pruning]

[Hmmm... mmmm.]

You wouldn't understand the movies. [The sad truth. Unless some local theater imports and badly dubs an American movie Leon has already seen, which would probably be a crap date.]

A nice dinner, I can do.

[dtective]

Oh, right. They wouldn't have any of the good movies here...

[By "good" movies he apparently means anything in English. What's the point in that!!]

Dinner works just fine. [He will also have to get new clothes... But he'll worry about that soon enough.] We can figure the rest out later, right? The more I learn.

[pruning]

[The good movies. Sigh. Other things Leon can learn: culture.]

Yes, yes, it isn't an emergency. [Not yet. The clothes will be an emergency first...]

Dinner isn't going to be much like your American takeout, you know.

[The pizza is Even Better, for starters.]

[dtective]

Pfff. I know how to go to a fancy dinner.

[Claim Jumper's fancy, right?? ...He has no idea how to eat at a fancy restaurant in any way.]

[pruning]

[Oh god. He thinks he can be fancy. He's never been fancy in his life, D can feel it.]

Do you? I may have you put on a tie.

[dtective]

[Red lobster???]

A tie? [As if thinking about it, he pulls at the collar of his shirt with his free hand. Ties are so uncomfortable... But if they're going that fancy... It'd be a really nice dinner, too.

Plus, there's going with D. But. Still.] I guess that'd be okay...

[pruning]

[!!! He's actually amenable to being dressed up? A world of possibilities has opened, at least until they make it to a store and D remembers he has no earthly idea how men's fashion works. Oops...

He's still tilting his head back onto Leon's shoulder to smirk at him, apparently very pleased with this.]

Don't worry about the tie, you'll look wonderful. I will be able to show you off.

[dtective]

[Noooo... stop this... Stop that smirk, too! He's going to get confused and flustered again, at this rate. He just kind of gawks.]

Show me off...? [Leave him alone free him from this]

[pruning]

[That's the goal... one of the goals. D sure doesn't stop smirking at him!!]

Of course. Why wouldn't I?

[dtective]

[HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS. Sure, you can show off a pretty lady, maybe, but him?? He doesn't know about that.]

What're you going to do, walk me around on your arm?

[pruning]

[Why is this a crisis?? Leon, please.]

If I'm paying for your meal, I certainly will.