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]

That doesn't matter. What matters was they brought it to New York and we improved it!

[IMPROVED IT...]

[pruning]

[Stare..........]

That's your opinion. [sips drink...] I am not very hungry right now.

[dtective]

[Squints at...]

Are you ever hungry for anything besides sweets?

[pruning]

I've treated you to meals before.

[Meals that... he participated in!! So, maybe. Maybe he just doesn't want to stuff his face with pizza right this second.]

[dtective]

It's weird if you're just staring at me.

[As if they didn't just stare at each other for an hour or something before getting this pizza. Jesus. He glances down at his plate, eating some more. Well, it's fine... The pizza is good.]

[pruning]

[What if he wants to keep staring at Leon? Can he stare at him while eating??]

I do not stare at you all the time.

[dtective]

[STOP... STARING... He keeps looking up and slouching more like that'll help.]

You're staring at me right now!

[pruning]

We're having a conversation! Should I give my attention to the floor, instead of you?

[LOOKS AT HIM]

[dtective]

[That's a good point... It'd be FINE if he was EATING TOO!! No, it's fine, he'll eat alone and be stared at...]

Last time I checked, messing with me isn't a conversation. [It is... though???]

[pruning]

[He has a drink and he's drinking it! That counts.]

You always assume I'm "messing with" you. [Like... often, yes, but not all the time.] I could have been admiring your strong profile, for all you know.

[but WAS HE maybe]

[dtective]

[Okay, but this is definitely messing with him... Leon pointedly looks away.]

As if.

[pruning]

[He can't prove anything...]

Oh, please. Don't think I never have. [Just saying, just putting that out there.]

[dtective]

[Slowly, he looks back...]

When? [Feed his ego, he needs to know... D better not be screwing with him!!]

[pruning]

When? [He repeats this, incredulously. What kind of a question... Very often?? Uh.]

...At the beach, for one.

[dtective]

[IT'S A GOOD QUESTION... How did he never notice???]

Huh... [Playing it cool... By shoving more pizza into his face.]

[pruning]

[He complained too much while D was trying to look at his booty, probably.]

That's all? Goodness, why did I bother?

[dtective]

S-shut up! What the hell am I supposed to say to that?! How long have you been eyeing me, huh?

[pruning]

[That makes him sound kind of creepy!! Fair.]

Long enough? We did spend all that time together.

[dtective]

[Yeah... They did spend all that time together. When did Leon first feel like this? He's not sure he can pinpoint it. It's a weird feeling that just sort of grew and grew the longer they spent time together.

But...] I didn't even notice.

[There were times when he thought D was coming onto him, but he'd also thought they were jokes... They got dropped quickly enough. Small moments that made his heart beat like crazy and then gave up. Now he just feels stupid. Some detective he is. ...Was.]

Maybe I should apologize.

[pruning]

[Oh- well. D was only trying to make casual conversation, but if Leon is going to feel guilty every time he thinks about this, how should he respond to that? Would it have changed anything about what happened in LA if they had done this sooner? Probably - but that agent still would have come, so...]

Never mind that now. [He waves a hand.] I believe we agreed not to dwell on what's already passed.

[dtective]

Oh yeah.

[No thinking about it. Or, he can think about it later when he's not talking with D. Usually it's super easy to just sit and talk with him and forget everything else, so he's sure he'll fall back into it. Once he gets over the nerves, maybe...]

By the way, how late do you go to sleep? [If he wants to slyly sleep cuddle, how is this going to work.]

[pruning]

[He could use his words like an adult, but nah. D blinks, wonders if this is a dig at how late he gets up, and shrugs.]

Whenever, I suppose. It depends on what else I have to do.

[dtective]

[That sounds fake. Leon finishes his food, toying with the edge of the plate.]

Well, what are you doing tonight? [He is working up to words, see!]

[pruning]

[Oh... ohhh, he's beginning to understand the adult child bumbling at work here.]

Hmm, nothing comes to mind.

[dtective]

So, then... We could probably go to bed at the same time.

[How's that, does that work?? Did it work?]