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]

[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?]

[pruning]

[He's so lucky!! That he's cute!! But look how easy it is to go from sad about LA back to super dorks.]

I don't see why not. We certainly can.

[dtective]

Great.

[Why did he say great... But whatever. He's going to not subtly look at the clock now and plan out that he'll take a shower right before he usually goes to bed, and then they can... be in bed together.

More pizza, first!!]

[pruning]

[Look at him, being so overt... D is charmed. This is the thing that finally gets him to take a pizza slice of his own. There, happy, he's going to eat.

......okay but still, can he really be expected to let that go without saying anything-] Great?

[dtective]

[Charmed by an idiot... But yes, he is in fact happy that D is finally eating. At least until that question.]

Great! [He says it again, like it's normal, but he is a little flushed over it.] What's wrong with saying great?

[pruning]

Nothing! I'm very flattered.

[He just has to call him out a little, no big deal...]

I am looking forward to it.

[dtective]

[Bury him here. Saying he's looking forward to it calmly just makes Leon less calm? But it's fine, he's stuffing his face with pizza. After a moment he'll reply.]

...Yeah, me too. [He hopes he'll stop having heart attacks over this soon.

And maybe D will wake up at a reasonable hour!]

[pruning]

[Good luck getting him out of bed at a reasonable time... The aloof and mysterious facade is about to be well and truly shattered, to be replaced by "fussy jerk does nothing but bitch before noon."

For now, he just eats his pizza slice daintily.]

Finish your dinner, dear.

[dtective]

I'm working on it!

[Ugh!! He'll enjoy grumpy D, probably. It'll be cute in a weird way, even if surprising. For now, he eats his pizza, and when he's done he'll push his plate out of the way. Instead of actually picking it up and putting it in the sink or something...]

Phew, I'm stuffed! [He really liked Real Pizza without meat, imagine that.]

[pruning]

[Slob.... at least he ate. D is really only going to have this one slice, and yet he's still going to be the one getting up when he's done to clear off this table.

Just sit there and settle while he cleans up.]

No room for dessert?

[dtective]

No way.

[Dessert... he should have known. He leans back in his chair and watches D clean things up like the bum he is.] Are you going to have something?

[pruning]

Yes. [Of course he is... He needs to eat a whole cake ASAP.]

I could save some for tomorrow...?

[dtective]

[D...]

I'm not trying to stop you. Go ahead. [Eat it all!! He'll just watch. How's that for payback. Or he'll watch for like a minute before he can't and just goes to take a shower, probably.]

[pruning]

[He will!! He might have saved some for Leon, but he supposes if there's no demand, he won't bother... a great bf.

Anyway, presumably Leon goes off to shower, leaving D to fetch and eat cake and think about the time. It will probably be late enough to justify crawling into bed once Leon returns, and what does Leon have to sleep in? Ah. D spends several minutes considering this while he finishes enough of his cake and puts the rest neatly away.

Perhaps he'll just... wait here, on the couch... instead of going to his own bedroom. It's a process.

...But actually that's stupid, so maybe he'll go fuss around in a closet for more pillows. Great plan.]

[dtective]

[He's got... nothing to sleep in. Nothing but normal clothes. So, he puts his jeans back on when he gets out of the shower, but it seems a little weird to put his shirt back on, too. Especially if they're just going to go to bed...

Whatever, D has seen him shirtless before. So he steps up from behind D at this closet, peering inside.]

Need any help?

[pruning]

[Gross jeans in his pristine bed?? First order of business tomorrow will be buying Leon some pajamas, goodness. He doesn't startle when Leon comes up behind him, but rather shoves a pillow at him without looking around and peers at whatever other random linens he has in this spare linen closet, like he's a real person who has guests often. Does he need other blankets...? Probably not.

Oh-] That one is yours. Do you need another?

[dtective]

Uhhh, no. One's fine...

[He stares down at this pillow he's holding, squeezing it a few times in his hand.] You keep extras?

[Exactly what he's wondering... Just what kind of guests does the Count have over??]

[pruning]

Of course. [Why wouldn't he... Naturally, that pillow is brand new in every sense except how long it's been in this closet, because he's a lonely plant who doesn't have guests ever, but still. He's pretending to be normal??] Did you think I was having Chris sleep on the floor somewhere?

[Honestly!!!]