Almost

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of the game the Layton Brothers: Mystery Room.

An awkward silence (at least on Lucy's part) filled the Mystery Room a couple of days after Alfendi's shocking declaration. Surprisingly, nothing really happened between the two of the detectives. In fact, you could almost say that it was as though nothing had ever really happened at all… If it weren't for the tension. Lucy couldn't explain it, but she knew that the Professor hadn't forgotten what had happened between them, even though he had yet to mention it. If anything, he was thinking about it. She didn't know how she knew that, and it was making her really nervous.

A soft rumbling from Lucy's stomach reminded her that she hadn't eaten in a few hours longer than she should.

'Please, jus' let me disappear…' Lucy mentally begged.

"Hmm?" Placid Prof glanced at the clock and then back at his blushing assistant. "Ah, it seems as though we have missed lunch. Let's grab a bite to eat, shall we?" Alfendi grabbed his blue coat while Lucy was awestruck at his willingness to spend any time outside of the Mystery Room.

"But you 'ate goin' out, Prof!"

He shrugged, "It doesn't hurt to do it once in a while. Get your things, we're going to go out and eat."

"B-but-"

"If you continue to dawdle, I'd be more than happy to finish what I started a few days ago. I so have been looking forward to stealing your second kiss," Potty Prof suggestively cut in.

The Mystery Room assistant practically ran out the door with a somewhat forced, enthusiastic, "Let's go!"

Alfendi smirked darkly.

'Too easy.'

"So, Lucy, what do you feel like eating?" Alfendi asked as they strolled down the busy street together. Lucy was relieved that it was Placid Prof she was talking to once again.

"Eh, I'd be fine with a sarnie… Summat from a street vendor 'd be fine…"

The Professor stroked his chin thoughtfully, "A sandwich does sound rather nice… Oopf! I'm terribly sorry sir, are you alright?" He had accidentally bumped into a young man.

"It's awright! No 'arm, no foul, eh?" The young man, about Alfendi's height with short brown hair turned around with a wide smile before gaping at Lucy. "Ey, ey up! If tha' ain't mai little Lucy Baker all growed up as a 'stinguished member o' Scotland Yard! 'Ow many times didja fail t' written tests?"

Lucy jumped in surprise, "I can' believe it, is it really you, Ollie?"

"Ollie's" arms opened wide, "Shore is! C'mere you!" and he proceeded to sweep her into his arms and twirl her around.

Alfendi felt quite lost, almost as though he was witnessing something that he wasn't supposed to. Clearing his throat to get their attention, he smiled, "Lucy, who is your friend?"

The young man answered, "I love her too."

Taken aback, Alfendi could only manage to cough out, "What?"

"Oliver. Oliver Tou is my name, but you can call me 'Ollie.'"

Coughing to hide his slip-up (and subsequent relief, if he were to be completely honest), the Professor sputtered, "Yes, of course… For a moment there I thought you said… Well, it's not important; I'm Alfendi Layton, and I also work for Scotland Yard. Lucy here is my assistant. May I ask how you two know each other?"

Lucy had a broad grin on her face as she responded. "Ollie 'n I grew up together! We was neighbors, 'n I reckon I knew 'is name afore my own!"

Oliver smirked, "Well, ifn' an' willin' I 'member right, we was a little more than mates, aye?"

She flushed and turned to punch his arm, which only prompted laughter. "Ey up! That ain't the truth and you know it, you cheek! It were an accident, it were!"

Laughing one last time, Oliver shrugged. "Awright, 'twas jus' messin' wit ya. You're still easy t' ratter, aye?" Glancing at his watch, his eyes widened. "Ee, I gotta get back to me job!" He paused to kiss Lucy's cheek, who flushed a dark shade of crimson, and waved to Detective Layton. "Nice to see you, little Lucy! Grand meetin' ya, Mr. Layton! Take good care o' her for me, aye?" he yelled as he ran off into the crowd.

Alfendi could only manage a nod of his head as he processed all of the new information given to him.

Lucy began to get worried about him when he continued to remain quiet for a few moments. She grabbed his sleeve, "'Ello? Prof? You still wit' me? C''mon, let's go!"

He snapped out of his stupor, "Yes, let's." Alfendi surprised his assistant by grabbing her hand and leading her to their destination. "I know a delightful place with some very good sandwiches."

Alfendi had led them to a cluster of brightly colored stands selling a variety of food, stopping in front of one that sold the rumored "very good sandwiches." They waited in the queue of people, and Lucy was a little stunned that he had yet to let go of her hand. She was in such shock that she didn't even notice that he had already ordered what he wanted and was waiting for her to do so until he waved a hand in front of her face.

"Lucy? Are you alright? What do you want to eat?"

She was surprised that he had let go of her hand, and unconsciously flexed her fingers. "Ee? Eh, I'd like a lomito sarnie, please…"

The cashier nodded politely, and responded with the total. Lucy reached for her wallet to pay for her share, only to find that Alfendi had beaten her to it.

"P-Prof, I coulda-"

"Don't be ridiculous, Lucy. If I learned anything from my father, it's that a gentleman should always pay for the lady on their first date." He smiled at the cashier when their lunch was handed to him, and turned back to her. "Come on, let's go sit down on one of those benches over there."

Lucy gawked, 'A date? We're on a-' but her thoughts were cut short by the Professor holding her hand again as he led them to a cluster of benches in a nearby park.

When they sat down, Alfendi handed Lucy her sandwich and began to eat his own.

"T-ta very much, Prof…" Lucy mumbled before she joined him in eating.

Alfendi broke the silence a few moments later.

"Your friend, Oliver…"

Lucy smiled, "Oh, Ollie's one o' the best mates anyone could ask for! I'd trust 'im with my life, you can bet on tha'!"

The Professor frowned, "I see…" and resumed eating his sandwich.

The silence was uncomfortable, and she couldn't figure out why. Sneaking a discreet glance at her companion, she found that he had the same expression that appeared whenever a piece of evidence didn't match quite fit in with the rest of the crime scene. In all honesty, Lucy wasn't surprised to discover that she didn't care for that expression outside of work.

'Summat's bothering 'im alright, an' I'm gonna get to the bottom of it!' she vowed mentally.

Swallowing a bite of her sandwich and clearing her throat, Lucy began her investigation.

"Ey up Prof, is summat botherin' you about Ollie?"

Alfendi remained silent for a few moments, then began to quietly speak. "Were you and Oliver really romantically involved?"

Red eyes blinked and her sandwich stopped halfway to her mouth. 'I were not expecting that.'

"N-no, o' course not, why would you-"

And then it hit her.

'Oh! That's why he's… I feel bad now…'

"W-well, y'know that I've already had my first kiss, right? W-well, when Ollie and I was attending school together, we 'ad to re-enact Romeo and Juliet… I er, I got picked to be Juliet in the final scene… Ollie were Romeo and, uhm…. When 'e went to give me a stage kiss at th' part where Romeo kisses Juliet one last time afore he snuffs 'himself… 'e's a klutz an' so… 'e tripped an' ended up kissing me for real…"

Highly embarrassed, Lucy ended up looking down at her lap.

'Why'd I feel bad? 's not like it's 'is business…' But really, Lucy knew better than to lie to herself. ''e said 'e's in love with me… 'e must be feelin' jealous…'

"That… sounds completely absurd! How on earth does that happen on accident? The chances of him falling in a way as to meet your lips with his exactly are practically non-existant!"

Potty Prof's ranting caused Lucy to snap her hear to look up at him. He scowled.

"Humph. It sounds like a rather… anticlimactic experience, for a first kiss." He looked back at her, "I'll make sure that our first kiss is much better than that… unfortunate accident."

Lucy squeaked. "Ey up! Tha's not summat you can go around discussin' in public!"

"Shut up, I already told you what'll happen if you try to tell me what to do or say."

Quickly shutting up, Lucy remembered his words from a few days ago.

''e's serious about kissin' me!'

Potty Prof glared at her for a few moments longer before Placid Prof decided to take over and hummed. "Well, you're obviously not ready for that yet. However," he leaned over to take a bite of Lucy's sandwich, chewing thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing and smiling.

"There. Our first indirect kiss."

Lucy almost dropped her sandwich.

Almost.