Dustin escorts Lucy down the halls of Scotland Yard to return her to the Mystery Room. The two chat in content having become very close as a result of the evening they shared, when they both hear a noisy clamor. Both of them freeze wondering if it was only their imagination. Crash!
"Wot was that?" Lucy yelps in alarm. 'Is there an intruder in the building? A crook that escaped custody? One seekin' revenge?' She clenched her fists, hardly containing her excitement.
"Ya better go an' check on Al!" Dustin suggests fearfully.
'Eh? The Prof is still here?! Oh no!' Lucy leaps into action. Running down the hallway she practically collides into the door of their office. When she tries to turn the doorknob it is locked. "Prof!" she screams. Another crash comes from inside. 'The menace is in their office!' She retrieves the key above the door. Hurrying to unlock it, but her fingers are clumsy which delay her, much to her frustration. Lucy manages to get it open at last and she barges in.
The Mystery Room is in ruins. Every piece of furniture is overturned. Books from the shelf are lying open and tattered as if they were chucked at the wall. The window has been shattered. The filing cabinets are knocked over, their contents spilled. The papers from the files spread across the entire floor. In the midst of the chaos, the Potty Prof stands shaking violently; his dark red hair over orange eyes the color of fire.
"Alfendi Layton! Wot 'ave ya done!" She gasps in astonishment.
He looks up at the sound of her voice, "Lucy?" his hair lightens a shade of red instantly.
"If you think I am goin' to tidy up this mess, yer dead wrong!" Lucy yells at him furiously.
"Why did you call me Alfendi?" He asks in a quiet, threatening tone. Lucy doesn't answer. "Why would you call me that!?" He screams. It causes him an immense amount of pain to hear her use his actual name. It is the worst insult for her to address him this way. The way anyone else would. Her nickname has so much meaning to him. He hadn't known it before.
Lucy stamps her foot irritably, "I called ya that 'cause I am sore at you! Look wot you've done!" Lucy scolds him.
"Sore? You think you-" he punches a wall with his fist in fury leaving a dent, "are sore!? You don't know the meaning of the word!"
"I do too! Me vocabulary is fine thank you!" She assures him crossly, "An' I am very sore wit' you!"
"You hypocrite!" He criticizes her, "You have no idea how much pain I have gone through since you've been gone! Why are even you here?! Shouldn't you be on a date right now?!" The words slip out of his mouth without limits. He is so worked up he isn't editing anything he is saying. It isn't surprising, Potty Prof isn't known for his self-control.
Then, he shuts his eyes and his hair changes to purple. He sinks to the ground because he doesn't have the strength to stand. He has used all his energy to abolish his office. Placid Prof can't help feeling completely pathetic due to the brokenness of his heart and destroying his own office in a mindless rage.
"Dustin took me back 'ere," she looks over her shoulder, but he isn't there at all! 'Where could he 'ave gotten to?' Just then, Lucy wonders why he had taken her here instead of straight home. There is no time to figure it out.
"Did you not enjoy yourself?" He attempts to ask earnestly. Lucy notices how feeble the attempt is and it troubles her. He sounds like he cares on the surface, but there is a hint of a hidden meaning that asks too eagerly. As if he wishes she had had a horrible time.
"It wasn't what I expected," she states simply, leaving it at that.
"I see..." He utters. Does this mean he has a chance?
Lucy kneels beside him on the cluttered ground. "Wot is goin' on wit' ya? Why did you do this to t' Mystery Room?" Lucy asks gently.
"I was upset," Placid Prof murmurs, he clutches his face fighting his feelings. Both of his personalities are in despair. He isn't sure what to do. Should he tell her now? What would she say? He desperately tries to prolong his decision, "I was so angry. I don't know what came over me."
Lucy feels guilty and somewhat responsible for his actions. It wasn't her fault, but she should have known this would happen. There had been plenty of warning signs, but she hadn't done anything. She was so worried about tonight; she was too blind to see the Prof needed her.
The next thing Alfendi knows, Lucy has her arms around him. He is so startled he doesn't move. She gazes up at him anxiously, "You would tell me if summat were wrong... Wouldn't ya?"
The potty side of him returns and hugs her to him with all his might. He buries his face in her hair, "What a stupid question! Of course nothing is wrong!" In the next instant he is placid, "There isn't anything wrong now that you're here."
They hug for an immeasurable amount of time in a comforting embrace. It seems to heal Lucy's disappointment of her unsuccessful date and soothe Alfendi after his passionate meltdown.
The first to let go is Lucy, but she soon finds she can't move because her arms are pinned down and she is smooshed in the tight hug. The Potty Prof can feel her try to pull away, but he selfishly refuses to release her. He takes his huge hand and places it over her ear holding her head to his chest. She listens to the Prof's heartbeat rapidly thump in her right ear. It's the only sound she can hear. Her face is pressed into his sweater which smells of tea, newspapers, and him in general. It's the scent she smells in their office all the time only in a cozier, more concentrated form. His hug surrounds her with so much warmth she feels like she is melting in his arms. She is aware of his nose and lips resting on her hair. That is what sends her over the edge of hysteria.
"Prof?!" Lucy asks fretfully and extremely self-conscious. This is all too overwhelming. She is unsure what these feelings are that have come over her. She's afraid to breathe and her face feels like it is burning, "You must 'ave needed a hug pretty badly, eh?"
Placid Prof can tell she is tremendously uncomfortable and he loosens his arms. She remains sitting there with her head down trying to hide, but he sees the side of her face is positively red. He smiles triumphantly which she doesn't see as he states happily, "Yes. I feel better now."
Lucy stands hastily relieved to be free again, "Well I'm glad," she tries to say as if everything is normal.
The Prof calmly gets up from the ground as well. He doesn't understand why she is pretending this means nothing. That blush on her face made her feelings obvious to him. She won't be able to deny it for long he determines.
"I really ought to get home, it's very late," she says heading to the door, but Alfendi rushes past her and aggressively slams the door. His red hair covers his face in an eerie way.
"You don't intend to go alone... do you? Do you have any idea what kind of criminals will be lurking at this hour?"
"I-I will be fine," Lucy says uncertainly. Alfendi doesn't buy it.
"You aren't the only one who makes plans on the weekends. I have no doubt in my mind that a lone girl in a frilly little dress would be an ideal mark," he warns her with a wicked smile, trying to frighten her.
Lucy resents this statement with every fiber of her being. She shouts at him not afraid at all, "I can take care o' myself!"
"I know the criminal mind better than anyone! You know that! If I think you are in danger then up should be afraid you stupid girl!" Alfendi argues ridiculously. This makes him look like the stupid one. He is honestly worried about her, but she is too stubborn to see what he is hinting at. It seems he can't go about this indirectly. He swallows his pride knowing he will have to tell her what he really meant.
"I can walk you home. That way I know you're safe," he growls in defeat. 'How humiliating! That's something the pathetic side of me would say. I can't believe I stooped to his level...' He reflects, absolutely mortified.
"Alright fine, let's go before I change my mind," Lucy grumbles before walking out without waiting for him. Alfendi stands there a moment stunned and then hurriedly runs to catch up with her.
Am I the only one who noticed that Al's eyes turn orange too when he is angry?
I used up the ideas I had planned out. I still have plans, but I don't have it in a written layout form yet...
