Notes: Since the question has been asked, I thought I should mention that due to unforeseen circumstances (aka I am unwilling to shorten and de-spoiler the essay my notes on tropes have turned into), the notes on tropes are, for the time being, on hold, but will be published in an extra chapter together with the last chapter of the story. My apologies, I guess?
The door was opened unusually quietly. Leon's cigarette was hanging from his mouth, but it was unlit. D watched him walk over and sit on the sofa before he spoke. "Good day, Mr. Orcot."
Leon glanced at him, but said nothing. D found cup, saucer and teapot and poured him a cup. It clinked just a little bit as he sat it down on the table. Leon stared at it, then took the cigarette out of his mouth and stuffed it back in the package.
"Heard the news already?"
"About the police raid at Spencer Donald's residence?" D returned to the tea trolley. "It would have been hard to miss. It was all over yesterday's and today's newspapers."
Leon nodded, his eyes dropping half-closed. "Know the details?"
D shook his head. "Only what was written. It is not much, and from what I can tell, mainly speculation."
Leon reached for the cup, took a sip and then played with it. "The girl from that party. The blond one with the big chest. Remember her?"
He nodded. Leon took another sip. "She's still in critical condition. They don't know if she'll make it. Multiple injuries to the lower body, likely caused by some blunt instrument. Something like a baseball bat, though a bit smaller."
"Who was it?"
Leon grimaced. "Hadi Purnama, but the American customs guy seems to have enjoyed watching."
"I am very sorry to hear that." D was, he realised even as he said it. Not necessarily for the woman. No. It was Leon he was sorry for. Sorry for him having to witness yet another act of pointless human cruelty. He tried a smile. "Well, all things considered, it was a good thing you planted these devices there earlier in the evening. Who knows what might have transpired had you not."
Leon stared into his cup. "Guess so."
D looked at him for a few more moments before he shook himself and poured another cup of tea. He was about to walk to his chair and sit down when Leon spoke up again. "I'm going back to France. My flight leaves at four."
D's chest tightened. "You are leaving?"
Leon shrugged. "Well, my job here is done. Paolo and Alberto got everything they need for the time being, so I'll be returning to HQ. There's a lot of work to be done there, too. Following up the leads. Decrypting some of the stuff they confiscated in his office. He's not yet under arrest, you know. They only told him he isn't allowed to leave the country. I mean, they'll probably arrest him within the week, but right now, he's still free to roam about. Though I don't think he'll be doing much of that. His customers won't be happy about this, and there are certainly one or two amongst them who won't hesitate to shut his mouth forever."
"Oh." D sat down, his stomach churning. It had nothing to do with the dire prospects for Spencer Donald's future. "I assumed you would be staying a bit longer."
Leon shook his head. "I'm not. But you damn well will, is that clear?"
He had to work to make his lips quirk up in a smile. "Oh?"
"You're still not off the hook, you know. Not until they've established that Nikita Kshesinskaya died of an unfortunate accident rather than due to a murder plot between you and Spencer Donald."
"Of course." D inclined his head. The smile felt like he had painted it on. Leon ruffled through his hair.
"You will be staying, won't you?" His voice had changed tone, was now quiet, almost pleading. D looked up.
"Since you so sincerely recommend it to me, I may just follow your advice."
A quiet snort. "That's a first for sure."
They fell silent. Sipped tea. Avoided looking at each other. It was uncomfortably reminiscent of the last few months in LA. Finally Leon sat down his cup and sighed.
"Listen, D, this really didn't go down the way I imagined it would. And, you know, I'm sorry it didn't. I mean, if I'd known you'd be in Rome, I'd have brought Chris's drawing."
His chest tightened. "Oh. I, ah, was not aware that you had it."
"Been keeping it safe for you."
D nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Leon sighed again, looked up at the ceiling. "Of course, I could simply quit -"
"No!"
They stared at each other. D tried to collect himself, speak calmly and smile. He had a suspicion it was not quite as convincing as he would like it to be. "Leon, there is no reason for you to quit your job. You have proven you are good at it, and I am sure people at Interpol are grateful to have someone as experienced as you within their ranks."
A quiet snort. "They'll find someone else. I'm not irreplacable."
D's lip quivered. "You are."
They sat in silence. T-chan, curled up under the sofa, was almost glaring at D. He ignored him.
"D, why are you so dead-set on not hearing me out?"
He stared into his cup, refusing to meet his gaze. "Please, Leon. I told you. You know."
"What if I went back on a few of the things I said?"
He sat the cup on the table before the china could crack. "It would not change anything."
Tetsu groaned and Leon startled, not even having noticed him under his seat. "Oh. Uh. Hi there. Chris says hi, too, by the way."
D tried a smile. "Does he now?"
"Yeah. He's doing well, you know. Got his old friends back. Well, most of them. Josie says he's also gained quite a bit of confidence. Stands up to Sam these days when they get into a fight. They're not getting along so well right now, but, well, they're both teenagers now. She's a bit of a diva. Has always been."
There was a beat of silence before D could bring himself to say, "It is good to hear they are doing well."
More silence. Leon tore his gaze from Tetsu, who apparently had decided that having a staring contest with Leon was going to do for the time being, and looked at the clock. "I need to get back and wrap up stuff."
D stood at once. "Of course. Do not let me keep you."
Leon rose more slowly, as if waiting for D to change his mind. He clasped his hands. "I hope you have a pleasant flight home. Do relay my greetings to Chris."
"Sure."
They walked to the door. Leon turned around once outside, and D could not let him say anything. "Thank you for -" he floundered for a moment, then finished quietly with, "- catching me up on how Chris is doing. And your – concern."
Leon nodded, not looking at him. Then, suddenly, he held out his hand. "Bye then."
D stared at it for a long moment before he carefully took it in his. It felt as strange, as uncomfortable as their handshake at the golf club had. Had that really only been a week ago? It felt much, much longer.
"Goodbye, Leon."
"I don't think that's going to keep him away." Tetsu trotted after him into the kitchen and D tried to find the patience not to snap. They had been having this same conversation pretty much since Leon had left, only disturbed by two customers. And D did not appreciate either T-chan's insistence on his doubts or how his stomach clenched whenever he voiced them. "Face it, Count, so far, you've left him without a word, pushed him off the ship and avoided him for four years like the plague. Do you really think that now you've kicked him out, it'll make him give up? I don't think so, and I'm willing to take a bet on how long it'll take him to come running back. Whatever you've tried so far, it hasn't made any difference, has it? He always returns! You can just as well give in already!"
"That is absolutely out of the question," D said firmly, ignoring the way his stomach clenched. Tetsu groaned.
"Count, we all understand what you're worried about, but face it – if it's that, it's way too late for Leon anyway. Why put him through even more heartache? And you could at least give him the benefit of the doubt. He never fully succumbed to you back in LA. Why would he now?"
"Exactly. Why would he now?" D picked up the plate and carried it outside to set it on the table. "You were the one who advised me to talk to him and explain why he should stop pursuing me, and now you are telling me it was wrong to do so?"
Tetsu growled. "That's not what I said!"
"Then what did you say?" D demanded, his patience worn dangerously thin. T-chan glared back at him.
"I'm saying that I've seen him now, and I think it may be too late to prevent anything at all!"
D went rigid. "He went away when I told him to."
"He did, but how long will it take him to return?"
D gritted his teeth. "He will not return."
"He will," Tetsu proclaimed and Pon-chan looked up from her cup to nod. D glared at her. Tetsu changed tactics, his voice going softer, and placed a paw over his hand. "These things happen, Count. They've happened since humans started interacting with us, and they'll continue to happen until either them or us are no longer."
D moved, unable to bear the touch. "Yes, they happen again and again, and we all know how they usually turn out. Do you think I have any intention to inflict such a fate on Leon?"
"You may well already have done so," Tetsu pointed out, following him once more. "Count, calm down for a few moments, will you? You wouldn't be the first mythical being ever to choose a human for a companion. Or a 'friend', if you insist on pretending. Sometimes I wonder if you've ever read those fairy tales you tell us. You know quite well that it doesn't have to turn out that way. As a matter of fact, frequently it doesn't. Plenty of us have had human friends and lovers. The world has yet to stop turning because of it!"
"The cases are hardly comparable." D had never heard his own voice sound so dead. "I am bound to the shop."
Tetsu sighed deeply. "So he cannot live in the shop as long as he is human. So what? It's not like he can't rent his own apartment. And it's not like the whole 'being human' thing couldn't be remedied either."
D startled and moved uncomfortably. "No. I could never ask Leon – besides, he has no intention to conduct – this kind of relationship with me."
Tetsu rolled his eyes. "Oh, for – Count, what the hell do you think he was talking about when he offered to give up his job for you? Even someone as idealistic as Leon wouldn't do that for just a friend, no matter how important they are to him. Now I have no idea what he wanted to go back on, because you stopped him before he could, but I might have a suggestion as to what it could've been."
D shuddered unwillingly. "That is even less possible."
Tetsu threw his hands up in the air. "And you told him that, didn't you! Count, seriously! What do you expect him to do? You let him chase you for four years, and would've let him chase you for even longer if you hadn't bumped into him here by accident, yet at the same time you keep telling him that you don't want to hook up with him! Is it any wonder he's not exactly popping the question?"
"I don't want him to pop any questions! I want him gone for good!"
His voice echoed in the parlour, and even D could not pretend it did not sound plaintive and desperate.
The opening door cut short whatever reply Tetsu or another pet might have made. D spun around and found himself face-to-face with Gypsy Pericolo. She smiled at him. «Count D. Am I disturbing you?»
His smile slid back into place. D folded his hands as Tetsu slunk off. «Of course not. Please do come in. I am delighted that you have decided to consider a pet after all.»
She stepped further inside, her smile brightening. Without make-up, she was still beautiful, but a slight shadow clouded her eyes. D could guess at the reason and resolved firmly not to broach the subject unless she did.
«Well, yes. I – I had to get out for a bit, and then I found myself just around the corner, and I thought, why don't I go have a look at least?»
He gestured and she came inside further, tension ebbing as she stepped fully into the incense. D found that he could breathe easier now as well. As long as she was here, he could concentrate fully on her, and all other thoughts could be pushed to the side.
She took a long look around the parlour, smiling at the various animals spread out everywhere. «I didn't think you would be open today, though. I was quite surprised.»
D blinked. «Why would I be closed?»
She smiled. «Well, even if he isn't the kind of visitor I at first assumed, you do still have a guest, do you not?»
D's smile froze as his stomach dropped. «Ah. I'm afraid Signore Orcot has already left.»
She blinked in surprise. «That was a quick visit, then.»
D inclined his head. She frowned. «I hope it wasn't – Count D, I really do apologise for my assumptions that evening. I didn't mean any harm.»
«There was no harm done.» D turned to the tea trolley and put the kettle on. «He simply had to leave again.»
She was still frowing when he turned back. «But to come all the way from America and then only stay for an evening …»
«He lives in Lyon. It is not that far away.» D tried to keep his smile going. «Would you like some tea, Signorina Pericolo?»
She chuckled. «Gina Marinelli. Gypsy Periocolo is only my – stage name, if you want.»
He inclined his head again. «Signorina Marinelli. Please have a look around while I prepare some tea.»
She meandered over to the sofa and knelt to take a good look at the big Ragdoll that had spread itself out over the space where Leon had sat earlier. «Aren't you beautiful,» she said softly, offering a hand for the cat to sniff, then starting to scratch his ear when he pushed his head against her fingers. «Unusual, that, isn't it?»
«Excuse me?» D turned his attention back to the kettle, expecting it to boil any second.
«Oh, well, your friend, I mean. Not that there aren't a few Americans living abroad, but compared to Europeans, I always got the impression they don't really like living in other countries that much. European countries even less. And then France! It's not an easy country to live in for an American.»
D wished she would stop talking about Leon already. «I believe he is managing quite well.»
«Well, there's no telling where people will feel at home, is there?» She straightened. «Love takes people to the strangest places.»
Suddenly his ears were buzzing. D gripped the tea trolley hard. «What makes you say that, Signorina?»
She looked at him in surprise. «Why, I thought he moved to France because of a woman.»
«No,» D heard himself say as if from far away. «He did not move to France because of a woman.»
She flushed. «Oh. Sorry. I must have misunderstood. Did he move for work, then?»
D stared at her and found that he could not answer. Because the correct answer was …
Are you worried about me?
- a job I have only thanks to you -
- I can protect you -
What do you think I joined Interpol for?
He swayed.
No. He moved to France for me. To be in a position to track me down and find me again. He left the States for me, and me alone.
His knees felt like they would buckle. Gina was coming closer, her hand reaching for him, saying something, asking about his heart, but D hardly heard her. He followed her gentle tug, though, as she directed him to a chair, and accepted the cup of water she offered him a moment later. He hang onto it as if it would save his life.
«Count D? You're white as a sheet. Should I call for a doctor?»
«No,» he managed to say, «no, thank you. There is a little box on the tea trolley, my medicine is in there – if you could please -»
She stood and returned a moment later with the ornate box. «This here?»
He opened it and took one of the white pills out of it, putting it in his mouth and washing it down. It was dextrose, but she did not know, and the little pills looked like drugs. «Thank you. Do not worry, and don't let me keep you. I will be alright in a moment.»
«Are you sure?» She made no move. «I can stay until you're feeling a bit better. Or call a doctor.»
D managed a weak smile, his brain slowly starting to work again. «There is no need for that, Signorina. I will be fine in a few moments. It takes effect very quickly. Please, though, could you turn the sign on the door to closed when you leave?»
She stood, recognising the dismissal for what it was, but still hesitating. «Are you really sure? I don't mind sticking around. I don't have anywhere to be.»
D put a bit of force behind his words. «Signorina, you are truly very kind, but I would much prefer to recover alone for a bit. Rest assured, I am quite alright now that I have had my medicine.»
«Alright then.» She started moving towards the door. «I'll come by for that pet at another time.»
«Please do.»
The door closed and there was blessed silence.
Then T-chan was beside his chair, looking drawn and worried. "Count, what's the matter with you?"
D rose so quickly his head swam for a moment. But he could not afford to lose any time. His lips were cold, so cold, his entire body felt like it was strung taut like a bowstring, and he needed to know the truth.
"I have to go to the airport."
Tetsu gawked, as did the other pets. "What? Why?"
D found his purse and slung it across his shoulder. "I need to speak with Leon."
Tetsu stared at him. "You just kicked him out three hours ago! Why do you want to talk to him now?"
D whirled around. "Leon lives in France now, T-chan. He moved to France."
"So?" Pon-chan followed them as well as D hastened, almost ran, out of the shop. It took only moments for him to hail a taxi, and he jumped inside, closing the door before the driver could protest the two animals.
"Aeroporto Internazionale di Roma–Fiumicino," he said and the taxi took off. Tetsu slid down between the seats, from whence he stared at D, expression challenging.
"Why are we going after Leon, Count?"
D closed his eyes for a moment, trying to swallow around the lump in his throat. "You were right, T-chan. You were right, and I was wrong, and I need to rectify my mistake before it is too late."
There was surprised silence. "I was?"
D wanted to cry and yell and throw something, but he could not. "Yes. You were right. It is too late for Leon to turn back. I did not see it. I did not realise."
"What did you not realise?" Tetsu snapped and D looked at him, and knew his eyes were wide with terror.
"I did not realise what it meant for a man like Leon to leave the States and go live in a country like France."
Tetsu fell quiet again. Pon-chan climbed up on the seat and into his lap. "Count -"
"And now you want to talk to Leon to do – what exactly?" Tetsu interrupted her. D swallowed.
"I only need to know the truth, T-chan. I only need to know if I am right."
"And what are you going to do if you're right?" Tetsu challenged him and D felt his stomach turn. "You know that if he's well and truly gone, there's nothing you can do to dissuade him from it."
He shook his head, heart hurting and aching in his chest. "I can. If Leon has well and truly gone down that road -", he had to swallow, his chest almost bursting, "- if he has gone that far, I will have no other choice but to make him forget he ever met me in the first place."
Pon-chan cried out in shock and dismay. Tetsu stared at him, face white. "You can't be serious. What – you always wanted him to -"
D's hands tightened until he could almost hear the bones in his fingers crack. "I will do whatever has to be done."
To protect Leon.
He did not say it out loud. He knew they understood even so.
The click of his lighter had an immediate calming effect. Leaning his head back, Leon stared at the non-descript ceiling, trying to gather his thoughts as he took a drag of his cigarette. It was difficult though. They were drifting, jumping from one topic to the next. From the injured prostitute to D to Spencer Donald's temper tantrum at the station that he had coincidentally witnessed to D to the report waiting to be written back in Lyon to D …
He sat forward, hiding his head in his hands and groaned, rubbing his face. D had always been good at sending people on their way. Leon had not expected him to send him on his way like that.
It should be hurting somewhat awful, yet all he felt was numbness. Numbness and a sense of disorientation. What was he going to do, now that everything was said and done?
Absent-mindedly he flicked the ash off the tip and watched it flutter to the ground. There was an almost overwhelming urge to just stay where he was, in this cupboard-sized smokers' lounge. The rest of the world could go to hell outside his retreat. He could stay in here and -
The door went and he closed his eyes in exasperation, cursing silently at the man who had just entered. Great. Just what he needed. Another human being in the room with him. It was not that he had tried several of the other smoking areas already to find an unoccupied one, or anything.
Plastic rustled. He kept his eyes closed, hoping that the man felt as little like conversation as Leon did.
"Excuse me, sir, could I borrow your lighter? Mine's broken."
His eyes snapped open. The man was standing right in front of him, black suit and tie, bulky, a-dime-for-a-dozen business type.
Silently he found his lighter and held it up. The man accepted it, his hand going up to hide the flame as if he had to protect it from wind. It was a weird gesture to make, in a completely sheltered room.
The door went and someone else entered. Leon suppressed an annoyed frown. He had come in here to be alone. Were people that desperate for smokes that they would squeeze themselves into these glorified cupboards?
The man's cigarette caught and he inhaled, moving away. Whoever had entered brushed past Leon's back, almost touching his clothing. He bit his tongue to keep from snapping. God, some people had no concept of personal space!
"Thank you," the man said and Leon nodded, putting away his lighter.
"Sure."
He had not turned away half when the man spoke up again. "Haven't we met before?"
Leon looked up, brow wrinkled now and opened his mouth to reply. He met cold, hard eyes and suddenly, he felt the other person closing in on him from behind. Dropping his cigarette, he whirled around.
The next moment, hands were around his throat, choking him and a white piece of cloth was pressed to his face. The chemical smell made his eyes water. Blindly, Leon lashed out, catching something solid and eliciting a gasp. But the cloth stayed where it was, and his brain was clouding over. He elbowed the man behind him, only to have the hands tighten around his throat, and then a fist connected with his skull and he slumped backwards against the man choking him. The world went dizzy. Went black.
Shit.
He had never cared as little for the stares he was attracting, striding into the airport with Tetsu and Pon-chan in tow, his eyes already searching for the big announcement boards.
"Did he say which flight he'd be on?" Pon-chan had trouble keeping step, but D did not slow down until he had found them. His eyes immediately went up to the left upper corner. The clock showed seven minutes past four.
"He said it'd leave at four," Tetsu replied when he did not. D did not pay him any heed. 15:46 Bari. Partito. 15:53 London Heathrow. Tardivo. 16:00 Paris. Partito. 16:05 Copenhagen. Partito. 16:11 Oslo. Imbarco.
There was no flight to Lyon.
"He's on the Paris plane. We're too late to catch him on the ground," Tetsu stated, voice quiet. D took a deep breath and his eyes off the announcement board. Pon-chan made a little sound of distress.
"It was unlikely that we would get here on time," D said, his voice sounding a lot more calm and collected than he felt. "We will simply leave a message for him."
They followed him without a word as he made his way to the airline desk. The young woman behind the counter looked up and smiled at him. D stopped. «Signora, I need to find a passenger travelling on one of your flights. Would you kindly help me?»
«Certainly, Signore. What is their name?»
His breath was so shallow. D forced himself to breathe more deeply. «Leon Orcot. O-r-c-o-t. Leon. He is on the 4 o'clock Paris flight. A tall blond man, blue eyes, dressed in light blue jeans and an Aerosmith bandshirt. He may be wearing a leather jacket or a chequered flannel shirt over it.»
The attendant stared at him before turning back to her computer, suddenly slightly suspicious. «Sir, I cannot pass on information about passengers -»
«I am not asking you to» D cut her off, impatient. «I am asking you to pass on a message to him. You can do that, can you not? Rely it to him when he lands?»
«Oh.» She frowned. «Yes.»
He waited impatiently while she typed. Her frown deepened. «Sir, are you sure about the name?»
«Yes.»
She looked back up at him. «There is nobody of that name on the flight.»
D froze. «What?»
She looked back at the screen. «There is a Leon Orcot booked into that flight alright, but he never boarded. They gave up on him after the third call. The plane left five minutes late due to it.»
It felt like a touch would shatter him. «Thank you», D said, lips cold. Pon-chan put her arms around his throat.
«I'm sorry, sir.»
He nodded and turned away. T-chan and Pon-chan were quiet until they were sitting in another taxi, the driver patiently waiting on his orders.
"Maybe something came up at the local HQ and he stayed," Tetsu suggested. "Or he got delayed for some reason."
D shook his head. "They would have cancelled or re-booked him onto a different flight. And Leon would not let himself get delayed. This is his job. There are few things he takes seriously, but this is one of them."
"Maybe he decided he wouldn't leave after all, and returned to the shop," Pon-chan said, eyes hopeful. "He could -"
Tetsu snorted. "Right, that'd do him a fat lot of good! Haven't you listened to what the Count said? The only thing he's going to do is put a spell on him to keep him away from the shop forever. You might as well hope for him to walk straight into the lion's den and -"
"No!"
They both quieted and looked at D with wide eyes. He took a deep breath, his heart racing in his chest, and opened the door. There were at least five pidgeons fluttering around, examining the bins for something interesting. He called out to them and they perked up and came, clustering around them. D knelt down and swallowed. "My apologies for disturbing you. Could I ask a favour of you?"