Title : Finding Family
By : ElvinaPotter aka Elvina P.
Chapter : Chapter 14
Warning : This chapter is un-betaed.
. . . . . . .
Leon Orcot was like a man on a mission!
He was diligently doing all his work to the very best of his ability and takes over time a lot more than usual and volunteered doing cases that involves stake-out's and field works. He is often going home late and come in very early. It was like, it is a sin should he suddenly slack a bit when plenty of times before, he was the one commented that it was healthy to take a break. But, looking at him now, it was like he was trying to prove something to himself. Like a machine that was program and don't know when to stop.
But most of all, and this revelation irritates the hell out of her, he was back to that point of his life where he practically breathe, eat, sleep and married to his job!
The others didn't notice much. To them, as long as Leon is doing better and has put a lot of afford in his work, then they won't bat an eyelash. But Jill noticed. And she was worried.
How did she know something's wrong? It was very, very simple. After the news about Marie Orcot's case, Leon came to work and start doing all the work without question or being told twice. They were right on time (If not early) and they were getting better. The chief was very pleased with this. His on the field action was getting better to. When doing stake-out or investigating, or doing undercover, he was all professional and no play attitude. His criminal arresting duty was impeccable and most of the arrest was done by him single handedly. Of course, he still joke around and laughs with the guys, but he was more subdued.
Now how did all of these give Leon away?
Aside from being subdued and doing great at work, Leon was always played by the rules. Not this Leon. This Leon, when chasing criminal, walks up to them confidently or run straight at them and kick or punch them with one blow very hard and cuffed the criminals without even saying the rites and dump them unceremonilly in the police car. Or the over time he is doing for days straight, or the extra amount of coffee he is taking or…
The stern and serious expression he wore when on duty, doing his desk work, or investigating evidence.
Leon Orcot is not the type to the serious all the time.
Yep. She is convinced that something is seriously wrong with her partner. He was uptight and way too serious in his job. Something he never cared about even before he associated himself with Chinatown. The only time he was this bloody serious is when he was dealing with a very nasty case that involves children.
Jill assumed that the cause of the changes might be because of his baby brother. But it seems impossible for something like withholding certain news like the trial to cause this much changes? Are they quelling or something?
Just what is going on with her friend?
. . . . . . .
Junrei growled low in her throat. This is the worst feeling ever! The air was thick with tension for more than a week now. She felt dread, guilty, nervous and downright frustrating. Her father and their uncle turns brother, Chris, had yet to reconcile and is not on speaking terms and avoiding each other at the best of their abilities. And one of them is very good at it.
"I can't stand this anymore," Junrei snapped her book shut and furiously rose from her chair and pace around the room. Kanan sighed heavily before marking the page of her book and set it nicely aside. She watched Junrei paced a few minutes before she said. "What are you going to do about it?"
Junrei halted in her pace and faces Kanan with an annoyed expression on her face. "Don't you mean, what are we going to do about it?"
Kanan blinks several times at Junrei before her words finally registered on her brain. She groaned and massages her temple with exasperation. "No! Not again…" Kanan muttered. She knew just where this conversation is going. She had enough messing with things. Look at how things turned out the last time they helped their father and Chris. And now Junrei wanted to interfere, again? Well sorry. She had learned her lesson, thank you.
"No way!" Kanan said rising to her feet and back away from Junrei. "Nu-uh… count me out!"
"Come on, Sister. Please!" Junrei begged, chasing after Kanan, round and round the room.
"Have you gone crazy? Look at what happened when we helped the last time. They are not speaking to each other."
"I admit it didn't turn out well. But Chris never let father fully explained himself either. They should finish what conversation they had started."
Kanan scoffed at Junrei and she paced around the room. Her hands fidgeting in front of her. She was distressed by what is going on, but she was more worried if things turn out for the worse if she so much as making a suggestion or breathing their name! "Ramble all you want. I still won't agree to help you. Father was deeply hurt that Chris won't give him a chance to explain himself, this is true. But remember, we put him through that. How can I do anything that might make things worse?"
Junrei mewed pathetically and was literally begging her sister to understand with her eyes. "Chris was shocked. He was so shock and once the shock wore off, he becomes angry. So angry in fact that he is avoiding us all." Junrei said with arms flaring, trying to prove her point.
"Doesn't it ever occur to you to let this matter resolves on their own?" Kanan said with a growl. She is not going to give in to Junrei's demand without a fight!
"Time is what we don't have!" Junrei snapped. She was at wits end with her sister's uncooperative behavior. "People are starting to notice. At the very least, Miss Jill is starting to notice. She is father's working partner after all."
"Well, let them notice. Perhaps they could help them better than we did." Kanan hissed. Her eyes glaring holes through Junrei.
"Look, we are not going to do anything drastic. We just have to lock them in a room for a period of time and let them finally sort things out. It is simple as that." said Junrei with a sigh.
Kanan looked uneasy at Junrei. As much as she wanted to do nothing, she can't ignore that their family might be falling apart. They are just starting to become a family and she doesn't want things to ruin before it was even started. "Just lead them?" Kanan asked hesitantly.
"Yes, you just have to lead one of them to the place I'll tell you to. I'll do the rest." Junrei confirmed.
. . . . . . .
Dorian looks out to the city from his window. The nightlife was buzzing and the lights illuminate the city with colors. But Dorian, having so used to life after dark, is not deterred by the beauty the city offered. Beautiful the city is, his business, his dealings with the underground clouded his view of such beauty.
But it was not any of his wrong doing that makes him frown. Nope. The reason of his bad mood happens to be because of his worries for one man. And by now, we all knew who he is.
Dorian took a sip of his whiskey from the glass that he was holding. The ice-cubes are dangling with each other as he moves the glass. The whiskey swirled inside the glass. And it mirrored the swirling thoughts inside his head. He sighed again for what to be the umpteenth time that night.
"You know, some believe for every time you sighed, you took ten years out of your life span," said a voice behind him.
Dorian half turned from his window and looked at Richard with annoyance. "Yeah? Well, not everyone is capable to stay happy all the time. It's in human nature to feel all kinds of emotions. Feeling down is one of them."
Richard raised his eyebrows in amusement. He grins lopsidedly from where he is sitting. He knew what was worrying Dorian. He didn't care much for his business. His dealings, means nothing to him. They just bring him more money. But once you are successful in whatever it is you are doing, the value of money means little to you. Who cares about the importance of a money value when you have so much money within you grasp? "So what's on your mind? Or should I say who?"
Dorian sneered at Richard for his knowing looks and gulped his drink in one go. Then, he took a seat at the single sofa beside Richard. "You won't be smirking if you hear the news I've heard. You'll end up worrying like me, if not more so."
"Really? I hardly doubt that. All right, out with it. What did you do?"
Yes. The most famous question. What did he do? How come everyone assumed he did something? Dorian can't help thinking in irritation. It's always what did he do? Why not they asked, 'Did someone did something?' or 'Who's in trouble?' or 'Was it them again?' It is always him!
Okay, so maybe he did something. He didn't do anything much. He just ordered a few of his men to tail Leon unnoticed and report back to him. The report he received wasn't favorable. The men were uncomfortable and were hesitating in telling him. He end up tailing Leon himself and disturbed by what he saw.
"Dorian?"
Dorian jerked in surprise. He saw that Richard was beginning to worry. He let out a heavy breath. "It's Leontius. I had some men to look out for him. The result isn't good." Dorian said tiredly.
Richard's eyes went wide when he heard that. Was the man suicidal? Leon had expressed his hatred many times when the men were looking out for him when it is not fucking necessary. Leon's words. Not his. "What the hell, Dorian! You knew Leontius hated when you did that. Why did you keep deliberately go against his wishes?"
"I was worried, okay? I heard rumors about a certain daredevil cop. So I had to check it out."
Richard pinched the bridge of his nose. He was sure he is not going to like hearing this. "Fine. I'll bite. What did you found out that had you so obviously worried?"
Dorian shut his eyes and knock the middle of his forehead gently with fis fist. He really felt he ought to take an aspirin. The report he received and what he saw still fresh in his mind. Was he wrong in his judgement? Did he gave Leon a wrong advice? What happened to Leon, he might have a hand in. "He works very hard nowadays," Dorian said slowly in almost a whisper. "he's doing over time for nearly a week, come in to work early and leaving as late as possible. My men also said that they haven't seen Leontius and Crescentius together since the news of Mrs. Orcot came out. It didn't take long for us to realize that Crescentius was terribly upset with his brother, perhaps even sulking and brooding, and…well, police brutality."
"Police brutality?" Richard said unbelievably with a raise eyebrow. "Leontius is surrounded by people like us, what do you aspect? He was bound to pick up more than he should have when dealing with lowly thugs' wannabes. And this coming from you? Really, Dorian, Police Brutality is nothing to Leontius Von Spitzveg. It is when he pull rank, now that is something."
"That's not what I was worried about. I knew Leontius can be brutal and downright mean when it comes to it. But something just feels off. So I tail Leontius myself…"
"That's rare." Richard grins. Mafia Dons don't usually do the field work themselves.
"Richard, please." Dorian pleaded. He is not in the mood whatsoever for teasing.
Richard give up teasing and motion Dorian to continue. "As I was saying, I was tailing him when I get a good look at Leontius. He was one downright terrifying man, alright… but that's not him."
Richard frowned hearing that, but Dorian continues, "I looked into his eyes, Richard. They were hard and cold as ice. But it was also broken. His eyes are dead as a corpse. His fire is burning out! And it was all because he and Crescentius are fighting with each other!"Dorian said steely at the last sentence. Really, siblings argued all the time. He just couldn't understand why some reacted badly than the rest. If the person reacted badly was Leon, that is not a good sign. Not. At. All.
Richard sighed. So Dorian is feeling responsible and protective… again! "Look, Dor, Even so, we cannot look after Leontius and clean up his mess forever. It was his wish that we let him discover and learn things on his own. By his own power, no less! Leontius knew there are consequences to his actions, even though he refused to listen to us and stubborn as hell, he's young. We all make mistakes. He was adamant in his views that the business and family are two different matters. Didn't Cecilie herself told us never to interfere with how Leontius raising his family?"
"I know. But I don't want him to go to deep end like he did before. It nearly killed him last time!"
Richard shuddered remembering that one little incident. It was a little after Cecilie was gone, and Chris was taken by the Orcots. Leon was depressed that he can't look after his baby brother and was furious with himself for letting The Orcots have his brother so easily and nearly lost his purpose in life. He was so depressed that it nearly gotten him killed and would have succeeded if it weren't for Dorian, who was deeply worried, went out and look for him.
"But nothing, Dor. Don't worry yourself too much about him. He isn't a fool to do that all over again…"
"You sure about that?"
"Positive. He said so didn't he? He isn't the type to go against his words. Look, it's true that Leontius has been living alone and accustom to make decision on his own. He has family now. He needs to learn that being a family means, the opinion of other family members, matters. That's when a big changes or big decision needs to be made, while he has the power of ultimatum, the decision is no longer his to make alone. I know right now is a hard and trying time for him, but we got to respect his wishes and not interfere with his life. "
Dorian didn't say anything for a long while. He was silently pondering what Richard had just told him. Richard was right. If there is one thing that Leon needs to learn now, is that his decision will effects not only his life, but the life of his family and so, he needs to include his brother opinion before making any decision. "You're right. He has been… a little pompous of himself, hasn't he?" said Dorian with a soft smile.
Richard laughs softly and scratches the back of his neck sheepishly. "It's our fault too, you know. We should have put a leash on him from the beginning. But Leontius have not use the power at his disposal for his own selfish needs. So, I guess… here is a case I don't think cannot win."
"Of what? Of Leontius being high and mighty?" Dorian smirked.
Richard sniggered. "We are the ones that let him. So we should just suck it up and bear with it."
Dorian chuckled. "You know, in my eyes, Leontius is still that cute little boy Cecilie introduced a long time ago," said Dorian fondly. He still remembers the cute and confused little boy as he stared at all his mother's suitors from beside his mother while they were socializing. He was trying not to be intimidated, trying to appear aloof with that innocent eyes. It was that night that he, Dorian was completely charmed by the young lad.
Richard chokes on his laughter and said, "You better not let him hear you say that. Or we'll be having one dead mafia don because he can't keep his wayward mouth shut."
"I don't see you complaining."
"Only because I find you useful in some way. Other than that, you're hopeless!"
. . . . . . .
Gwendal Von Voltaire frowned. He didn't care if more wrinkles are adding up on his face, or more gray hairs starts developing. He will frown all he wants or glaring murderously at nothing in particular while he was deep in thoughts, thinking like he usually does. Say whatever you want about him, but he deserves the right to worry in matters of his family.
It is not a coincidence that the object of his frowning and thoughts are sitting in the gardens, right below his study windows. His mother seems attached to her little garden a lot more than usual lately. She will stare absentmindedly at the three flowers that she named after them, and when asked what she was thinking about, she'll either brush it off or change the subject.
That's not the only changes that they have noticed. Her eating diet has change! From what he observed and what the maids told him, she has been eating less. Not only that, she looks like she has trouble sleeping from time to time, although she manage to conceal then thoroughly.
"Mother has been acting strange lately. She much too subdued like the time while she was still ruling as queen. She sees Wolfram from afar and went into a daze, or she'll be very depressed for no reason. Wolfram is beginning to notice something is not right, and by the way she sometimes went emotional on him, he'll think it was something he do."
Gwendal turns away from the window and stares directly at Conrad, who was leaning against the wall across from him. "Not only that. Every time she sees a mother and her child, she began staring at them with longing. I am at lost to explain this particular behavior."
"Maybe she wanted another child? Have you ever thought of that, Gwendal?" said Conrad, grinning lopsidedly from where he stands. He grins broaden when Gwendal groaned with irritation and pinched the bridge of his nose to keep his never ending headache at bay. "Another child? Conrart, she already has three grown sons and at this age… she doesn't want another child… she wants grandchildren!"
"Then why don't you provide one or perhaps two for her? Why don't you give our mother grandchildren, Gwendal? Great One knows she's been pestering you about marriages," Conrad teased.
Gwendal stared pointedly at Conrad. "Funny. Very funny."
"I'll speak to Gisela about this. Maybe she knows what's going on," Conrad pause a second to think. He added, "Or maybe… Ulrike would be a better choice."
"We do not want to disturb Ulrike with things that Gisela may be able to help. Summon Gisela. Find out whatever it is that is wrong with mother. I won't stand for her tiptoeing around Wolfram. I don't believe I'll be saying this but I want our happy and carefree mother back."
Conrad sighed. Gwendal wasn't the only one to think that. Even Raven have somehow noticed. "You and me both. You and me both."
. . . . . . .
Shuko's eyes snapped open.
She sits up straight on her bed and look around her room, sleepily. Finding nothing out of ordinary, she went and get ready for the day.
While she was bathing, soaking up… Shuko can't help thinking about things in general. Nothing interesting happened lately. Every day is the same the day before. She went about her day in a scheduling manner, one may say. All she did was eat, sleep, read, walk inside the shop or some times, fly unnoticed nearby. The routine was starting to boring. Nothing kept her interest more than fifteen minutes.
Pon-chan was right. She may need to get out more.
Shuko dip her head under water before re-emerged and leaned against the tub. She remembered an odd dream she just had that makes no sense to her at all.
In her dream, she was seeing things through other person's eyes. She was very happy. She was running around, laughing, like there was no care to the world. The grass was soft at her feet, and the bright sky open wide for her to gaze and the wind blow steadily at the garden she's running on. Someone was playing catch with her. A hand caught her from behind and spins her around. She was dizzy from spinning but she can't help feeling happy. She laughed uncontrollably and was trying to wiggle her way out of the arms that held her captive, kicking and laughing. By the happy sound of laughter she heard behind her, it was a man's voice. She tried to turn her head to look at the man, but the sun was blinding her and she couldn't see his face. Then, she woke up!
Emotions was swirling inside her. She didn't what she was feeling. The dream felt so real and the feelings she had during, and after she woke up confuses her. It felt alien to her. Emotion are not meant for her. They are only for sentimental fools and for humans. Emotion can either brings their own downfall, or can be benefits from.
Shuko rein in her confusion and shakes her head to clear her thoughts. She hated that dream. It somehow struck something in her and she don't know what it is.
She just couldn't understand.
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Review on your way out!
-Elvina P.