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Male Narrator (current version of story, after editing):
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Leo sighed heavily as he parked his motor scooter in the garage of the mansion. He released the chin strap on his helmet and pulled it off with a gruff sound of impatience, before hanging it on the handlebars. His steps were hurried as he headed for the back entrance, though he felt like each one cost him a bit of energy. Leo unlocked the door with his key and entered the kitchen, being sure to relock the door at once. He found Brickley, Klaus' cook and housekeeper, at the sink washing dishes.
Brickley turned his pink-and-blue blue humanoid face to smile at Leo. One of the two trunk-like appendages beneath his chin lifted to give a wave of greeting, since his hands were submerged in the dishwater. The male creature had become one of Leo's good friends after he'd moved in with Klaus, though he'd been uneasy with the idea of a housekeeper at first. Brickley was nearly ten years Leo's senior, but he had a youthful wit and charm that made him easy to get along with. He also cooked all of the meals that Leo and Klaus ate at the mansion, which was a huge point in his favor. It was difficult not to befriend someone who always smiled, joked, and served delicious food, while also keeping the house in perfect order.
"Welcome back, Leo! I saved some dinner for you. It's in the fridge."
"Thanks, Brickley, I'm starving."
Leo went to the fridge and pulled out a plate of food with plastic wrap over it, plunking it down gracelessly on the kitchen table. He plucked out a fork, tore off the covering, and sat down to dig right in.
"That's supposed to be heated up again!" Brickley gently rebuked, when he glanced over his shoulder and caught Leo in the act.
"It's white-sauce pasta." Leo said, through a mouthful. "It's delicious, hot or cold. Besides, I want to eat fast so I can see Klaus."
Brickley hummed, and a trunk rubbed at one temple on his hairless head.
"You might be out of luck there, I'm afraid; Mr. Reinherz retired early, right after dinner."
Leo paused and looked up at that, feeling his heart sink.
"You just mean...that he 'retired' to the library or something, right?"
"No, he said he would be going straight to bed."
The pace of his eating slowed to a halt, and Leo's shoulders slumped forward defeatedly.
"Oh...well...I guess he's had a long day..."
The obvious disappointment in his tone and bearing made Brickley shake his head empathetically.
"Humanity is worth it, Leo." He said softly.
Leo stabbed a forkful of penne with more aggression than was necessary, frustration rising in his features. His voice came out low and bitter,
"Sometimes I want to say 'screw humanity', I want my boyfriend to myself for a while! Drug lords and crime bosses have had more access to Klaus than I have lately..."
Brickley shrugged.
"Your schedules will sync up again eventually." He encouraged. "But this week really has seemed like it's conspired to keep you two apart, huh?"
"Yeah, we've been working, eating, and sleeping." Leo mourned. "We barely have time to say 'good morning' and 'good night' to each other, and work has been so crazy we haven't even had a minute alone there either. The criminal elites of this city are working overtime recently, so we have to keep up."
Brickley didn't respond this time, understanding that Leo was upset and just needed to vent. Given the space to do so, Leo went on,
"It's funny; I've been told before that I'm selfless, but if anything has taught me that I'm not, it's this past week. All I want to do is sit down to dinner with my Klaus, have a nice conversation, maybe go on a date…hell, I'd be thrilled with pj's, ice cream, and a bad movie, just something! Then I feel stupid because we chose each other; we knew that our relationship would be hard because we're Libra, and here I am, complaining at the first sign of difficulty. Some boyfriend I am…"
Leo trailed off into silence then, reaching the end of his dinner and standing up to take the plate to Brickley.
"Sorry to add to the workload." Leo said sheepishly, sliding the plate and fork into the sudsy water. "And for the pity-party."
"I only have silverware left before I go home." Brickley told him. "One more plate won't delay me. And for your information, Leo, you are a wonderful boyfriend. It's alright to get upset, you know; it shows how much you care about Mr. Reinherz. Just keep sticking by him."
"As if I'd do anything else; I love the big guy too much."
"That's the spirit!" Brickley chirped, smiling. "Go and get some rest, ok?"
Leo gave him a tired nod, and then went to take his advice.
Placated slightly by a full belly, Leo climbed the stairs to the second floor, and went into his room to shower and dress in his night clothes. Clean and exhausted, he then opened the door that joined his personal room to the one he shared with Klaus. Inside, the fire flickered beautiful reds and golds over the walls. Since living here, Leo had had to adjust to the light of a fire dancing against his closed eyelids while he tried to fall asleep, but overall it was wonderfully cozy in these colder months. When Leo entered the room, he was cautiously quiet until he spotted the still, giant shape beneath the covers of the bed. Klaus' red hair lay unruly and stark on the white pillow that supported his large head, and one muscled arm lay out along his bare side. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was deep and steady.
Leo quashed the rising ache of disappointment again, having clung to the hope that Klaus might still be awake. He carefully slid into bed on his own side, pulling the covers to his chest and relaxing into the softness of the expensive mattress and pillows. Barely a minute passed before Klaus stirred next to him, as if instinct had alerted him to Leo's presence. Green eyes flicked open, blinking tiredly but growing a little more alive when they saw Leo looking back at him. Klaus smiled softly and shifted closer, reaching up to brush large fingers down Leo's face.
"I missed you today." Leo muttered, as Klaus hooked his chin and gave him a few chaste kisses.
"I missed you, too, sweetheart." Klaus sighed, fingers drifting up into the longer curls at the base of Leo's neck. "The days when you work your other job seem so much longer..."
"I know, but the money's just too good."
The bigger man grunted in displeasure, frowning slightly.
They'd gone back and forth numerous times about Leo quitting his delivery job. Living with Klaus had erased the burden of rent, but Leo only viewed the extra cash as more money for Michella, and continued working. Few topics of disagreement had arose between them since they'd grown so close, but this one was at the top of the list.
"Hey," Leo said, as a way to avoid the subject, "you're tired. Don't let me keep you awake."
Klaus responded to that by making a contemptuous sound and pressing lazy kisses into Leo's chin and neck. A subtle heat of arousal rippled through him. It never took much for Klaus to excite him, but he was especially sensitive right now. Between all their work, necessity of sleep, and differing schedules, abstinence had been thrust upon them for more than a week.
"C-come on, Klaus, cut it out..." Leo moaned, when a hot mouth latched to his neck. "D-don't start something you...can't finish..."
"But you feel so good," Klaus nearly slurred, "and it's been so long..."
"You're half-asleep, dumbass!" Leo protested weakly, as Klaus' hand began stroking down the backs of his shoulders, setting his skin jumping with sensation under his thin shirt.
"Which means I'm still half-awake." Klaus parried.
Klaus was irresistible to him in any instance, but Leo did have a fondness for Klaus when he was tired and eager like this. He was simply too adorable and puppy-doggish with his huge paws and quiet, begging whimpers. Leo wanted it, too...he really did. He answered Klaus' advances by fitting his body in closer, sliding his arm and leg around him.
"You'd better not fall asleep on me after pulling this..." Leo mumbled, before Klaus began kissing him.
It was languid, slow burning, and not what Leo would prefer, but it was what they could manage right now. The longer they kissed, the quicker their hearts beat, the less gentle it all became. Lips became rougher, the space between their fitted hips became full and hard against each other, throbbing need into each other's flesh through layers of clothing. Their hands finally gained enough strength to roam, Leo rubbing his palm over Klaus' firm chest, Klaus gripping at his hip.
"Am I awake enough for you now?" Klaus teased a while later, when he had Leo panting and rutting slowly against him. Leo didn't respond with anything but a roll of his eyes and a needy little sound. Klaus then moved suddenly, tipping onto his back and pulling Leo roughly atop him.
At the spontaneous movement, Leo let out a sharp, unmistakable cry of pain, body going rigid in Klaus' hold.
The bigger man froze at once, arms going slack. Leo bit his lip too late, as if to take back the sound. A few beats of silence fell, and then Klaus carefully pushed Leo back by his shoulders, and sat up to face him. Without a word, large hands grasped at the hem of Leo's thin sleep shirt.
"Don't..."
Klaus only pinned Leo with an intense stare at the quiet plea. After a few seconds, Leo timidly released his shirt, and let Klaus pull it over his head. A small breath left Klaus, his expression hardening.
An ugly, blotchy line of purple bruises trailed up the smooth white flesh of Leo's torso.
Klaus used his height to curl over Leo and look at his back. A similar pattern lay there as well, sparsely scattered over his shoulders and waist.
"These are fresh."
Broad fingertips gently ran over the tender areas of bruising on Leo's chest. Leo couldn't help but shiver and wince at the delicate touches, avoiding Klaus' eyes. He'd been worried about how Klaus would react if he discovered his injuries. It had been the only possible downside to finally making love again, since Leo knew he couldn't hide them.
He'd learned this all too well.
It was not uncommon for Leo to take the occasional beating, with varying degrees of severity. For better or worse, he'd just accepted it as an inevitable, dark reality of living in Hellsalem's Lot. His team members barely commented anymore when he showed up at the office with a black eye or a bandaged limb. In the scope of things, Libra work put him in the hospital far more frequently than anything he suffered at the hands of thieves. So the others did no more than throw out benign words of sympathy, if that, treating what happened to Leo on the streets as his own business.
Then he'd begun dating Klaus.
Since then, Leo being beaten and robbed so regularly had become a source of conflict between them. Klaus revealed that it had never sat well with him, and he'd become very vocal on the importance of self-defense. Leo had always managed to wiggle his way out of the conversation. The more time went on, however, they both discovered that his injuries interfered with their relationship in the physical sense as well as the emotional. Leo simply couldn't be handled in bed like they both wanted, when his body hurt so much. He couldn't ignore that it had become a consistent problem.
And now that problem struck in the middle of a frustrating dry spell for both of them, compounding into a heavy weight that strained them both.
Klaus seemed to be thinking very carefully about what to say for the next moment, while Leo just sat there on his knees, already feeling his nerves buzzing fearfully.
"Did I hurt you very badly?" Klaus asked softly, still stroking very light circles over Leo's chest.
"N-not that bad," Leo lied, "I just wasn't ready for your fingers to dig into me like that. Besides that I'm fine, really."
A short puff of air came from Klaus' nostrils at the words, almost like an angered bull. That gave Leo the distinct impression that this conversation was going to be anything but short and tidy. It was late, and they were both tired, but there would be no escaping this issue any longer. He could feel it in his bones.
"How did it happen this time?"
"I got jumped on my way home last night." Leo explained quietly. "In the alley behind the pizza parlor. I hadn't made it to my scooter yet."
Klaus' hands began to tremble slightly. Leo could practically feel the tension screaming through him in his struggle to remain calm. In a weak attempt to soothe his lover, he rubbed a hand along his arm.
"Did they take anything?"
"Just some pocket change."
Klaus' breathing became audible at that, and Leo glanced up to see his expression grow fierce. The knuckles on his free hand cracked as he made a fist. It startled Leo; Klaus had a habit of doing that only when he was filled with vengeful anger strong enough to make him lose his composure. Cases involving especially evasive or smug criminals normally triggered it, but this time...
"Pocket change…" Klaus said, his voice wavering. "They did this to you...for pocket change?"
Leo had only seen Klaus get this upset a few times before, and the force of his wrath usually hindered his ability to speak altogether. It was more unsettling to hear him force words out than if he'd sat there silently. And his eyes...when they turned on Leo's face, they nearly burned him with the heat of their fury. Leo flinched back from Klaus, snatching up his shirt and pulling it on once more.
"They were just some punks. It's not a big deal." He said, turning away and hanging his feet over the side of the bed.
There was a markedly uncomfortable silence after these words, before the mattress shifted, and Klaus' heavy footsteps came around the bed toward Leo. He tried not to coil in on himself as the bigger man stood in front of him.
"This can't go on." Klaus stated firmly. "I've seen you suffer enough at the hands of fate. I can't bear watching you allowing your own pain as well. You must put an end to this; you have the power."
Klaus was wise enough to know not to touch Leo, but the enormity of his presence looming over him, conveyed his seriousness. The smaller man seemed to shrink even more.
"It's not that easy!" Leo gritted out. "I…I can't just…use my eyes for myself. It feels wrong… It's not worth abusing their power just to save myself some bumps and bruises."
The frustrated huff that left Klaus ended in something like a growl, and Leo wrung his cold hands a little, not wanting to see the expression on Klaus' face. His tone was unlike anything that Leo had heard from him before; bitter and grating as though he was trying hard to soften his words but they were so sharp that they cut on the way out.
"Your excuses are poor, Leonardo. Misusing your power and preserving your wellbeing are a far cry from each other. I know you're a passivist, which makes it even more infuriating! You, more than any of us, have an ability that can exempt you from violence. Just a flick of your eyes, and you could move your attackers aside to run; no punches from either side, just a clean escape. Why is that so difficult?"
"I don't know!" Leo retored, tightly. "It just doesn't seem worth it! Would you use your Blood Brain Grid Battle Technique just to take out some trash? It's like throwing pearls to swine!"
"That's entirely the wrong metaphor and you know it. But you're damned right I'd throw pearls to swine if pearls were my only defense and the swine could severely injure me!"
Leo rarely heard Klaus swear, and it surprised him enough to make him look up at the man's face. His lover was frowning, a very intimidating sight for a man with fangs, and Klaus had the ability to look terrifying just doing something mundane like staring into space.
"I'm made of tougher stuff than you think!" Leo insisted, stubbornly. "I haven't died yet, have I? Sometimes it's better to endure a bit of pain rather than taking away someone's free will; in my opinion that's something the criminals do! I can take care of myself just fine!"
"Is that why you came home to me with a choke-bruise and barely a voice two months ago?" Klaus demanded. "Because you can take care of yourself? That's why all the bruises? The missing tooth and swollen jaw for days? The slice marks from knives? Or the-."
"I get it!" Snapped Leo. "And none of that was life-threatening!"
"It pained me just as much as it did you." Klaus said, sincerity underlying his angry words. They sounded as if he'd been storing them up for months, and now they flooded from him without any regard for how they might come across. "It sickens me to watch this happen over, and over! Why do you keep putting us through this, Leo? Why would you make me think that one of these days some overenthusiastic thief will go too far and kill you? What about Michella? Have you ever thought about her when you're cornered and alone? Would you have her suffer the loss of her brother because you just rolled over and let it happen?"
Leo's eyes glinted with cold blue light as he shot up off the bed, actually making Klaus withdraw a few steps at the furious expression on his face. His hands were balled into fists at his sides.
"Don't you dare talk to me about Michella."
Klaus had the wherewithall to turn away from the threat in Leo's entire bearing.
Running fingers through his hair in frustration, Klaus stalked toward the opposite wall. He took a few calming breaths, and his huge frame was outlined by the fireplace as he leaned over it with both hands on the mantle. Any other time, Leo might have been turned on by the display of muscles that position created. Right now, any ounce of attraction to his lover was shred to pieces.
When a few moments of silent fuming had passed, Leo gulped down all manner of petty words, and tried for a logical comparison.
"You can accuse me of being foolish all you want," He said evenly, "but I happen to know that you take on more than your share of dangerous situations at personal risk, too. I don't think you should be throwing stones."
"I always use my gifts to defend myself when I must." Klaus pointed out ruthlessly. "You don't, unless it's during a team operation."
Leo opened his mouth at once, but realized that anything he was going to say had already been said. So he closed his lips, and tried to organize his thoughts calmly, easing himself down. He suddenly felt very tired.
"We're just going around in circles here."
Instead of answering, Klaus gave what could've been a huff of joyless laughter. Leo sighed, and decided to try to man up. He hated this. Hated feeling so completely terrible with the one person he loved more than anyone. All he wanted was to resolve this conflict and be able to enjoy Klaus' company again. Snuggle up beside him in their bed and sleep.
Cautiously, he'd learned his lesson about sneaking up on Klaus, Leo walked up behind him and placed his hands on that broad back. Klaus was a wall of tension and quivered slightly at the touch. Leo leaned his curly head against Klaus' spine and let out a little breath against his skin.
"I hate fighting about this." He said, trying to sound vulnerable and soft. "I'm sorry I make you worry. You make me worry sometimes, too. You still challenge that mob boss for info occasionally, with your life as collateral; don't think I've forgotten about that. But I trust you to know what's best. Can't...you trust me a little too?"
Another quiet sound left Klaus, and he softened just a bit under Leo's embrace.
"That is different, though you're not wrong." Klaus admitted quietly. "But I have the skill set to deal with that kind of challenge. You don't even know how to fight."
Leo didn't bother arguing on that point. Instead he tightened his arms around Klaus and shook his head against his back.
"If you don't want to use your eyes, then why don't you let me teach you some basic defensive moves? Just so I know you'll have them."
This topic had come up at least once before, but so had the roadblocks.
"When would we have time?" Leo asked, doing his very best not to sound like he was deliberately being contrary. "We barely have time to say more than ten words to each other lately, when would you suggest we start a routine training regimen?"
"We could perhaps practice at the office..." Klaus suggested, a barely-noticeable hint of desperation in his voice. "We can work something out."
When Leo didn't respond, Klaus turned to face him. His large body hunched as he cupped Leo's shoulders, pleading without words for a few long seconds as Leo studied his forlorn expression. When he did speak, his voice was still quiet, but heavy with an undertone that thrummed with his earnestness.
"If you can't commit to learning self-defense, and you won't even carry a weapon, there's only one option left, Leo. I don't care if you think you've already made up your mind about this. I need you to reconsider...for me if not yourself."
"I can…try…" Leo said, not meeting Klaus' eyes. "I…I don't know if I can just start using my eyes on people, even if they threaten me…so…all I can say is that I'll try..?"
Klaus made it clear with the small grunt he gave, that he was not satisfied with Leo's answer. Normally, Leo was willing to dedicate himself entirely to any grievous task. Even when he couldn't, he strove to give his best attempt. This promise felt weak, to both of them. Klaus stepped away from Leo, looking awkwardly upset hovering between the fireplace and the bed.
"I never thought I'd say this to you, Leo…but I don't know if that's good enough."
Leo swallowed roughly, and began digging his fingernails into his arms.
"What more do you want me to say?" Leo finally asked, tensely. Klaus met his eyes and answered at once,
"That you'll do whatever you can to keep yourself from harm."
Leo gave a frustrated, choking sound and shook his head sharply. His voice came out tight with anger and regret.
"I…I try…I really do…I run when I can, but…I hate it. When I run, I feel like such a coward…"
Klaus didn't miss a beat, clenching his fists and not turning toward Leo as he spoke,
"You may not run when you can help it, but lying there and taking it can be worse than cowardice."
Leo rocked back on his feet, as though Klaus had struck him. That one hurt. A lot.
Klaus had always, always, gone out of his way to convince Leo that he was braver than even he knew. From their very first meeting, he'd planted a seed of hope in Leo. Ever since, Klaus had been working diligently to cultivate that seed. At every opportunity he had built Leo up, refuting his repeated assessment of himself as less than worthy or cowardly. Whenever self-doubt shriveled his confidence, Klaus was there to water him back up with encouragement and support. Every single time, from the beginning.
And now…Klaus had all but called Leo a coward to his face.
It was too much. Leo felt himself torn up by the root.
And so, he did something that he'd never thought he could; turned his back on Klaus, and left the room.
Leo closed the door with a little snap of dispelled air, and with trembling fingers he actually locked it for the first time since he'd moved in. He stood there facing the door in shock for a few seconds, contemplating what he'd just done. What must Klaus be thinking of him right now? Would he come after him? Leo felt his entire body shaking with the effort to stay still as he waited for something to happen, for the sound of heavy footsteps to fall at the other side of the door, maybe the sound of the handle being tried and found locked. But he could hear nothing through the heavy oak of the door.
Once he'd worked up the nerve to move, Leo backed away in the darkness toward his rarely-used bed. He threw himself atop the covers without a thought, curling up against the pillows and breathing harshly. The bedding felt cold. Leo already missed the fireplace in their bedroom.
Bits and pieces of their confrontation flew through his mind, getting tangled up and then separating again, muddling up and then coming into excruciating detail. Leo's heart was thudding quickly, reacting to the suddenness of it all. Klaus' words rang through his mind, and he cupped his head in his hands as though that would keep them from echoing inside it. He'd had no idea that Klaus had the capacity to hurt him this way. He knew in theory that those closest to him could wound him the deepest, yet he was still shocked by the realization of that truth.
Klaus had been his safe place since before they started dating. In the midst of this crazy city, when he was near Klaus, Leo knew that he had a valuable and strong protector. Once they had confessed their love, Leo had relied even more on the comfort and security he felt in Klaus' arms, in his home, under his protection in an entirely more intimate way.
Even now, in a very, very tiny and quiet part of his rampaging brain, he knew that Klaus hadn't meant to do this to him, and would still be there to keep him safe. In contrast, he kept hearing the same sentiment Klaus had been expressing, over and over; that he needed to protect himself. Leo had often thought, despite how well he had managed so far, that he didn't know how long he would've lasted in this city if he hadn't found Libra and Klaus. They had given him an entirely new set of resources, friends, and support. Yet on the mean streets…they could only help him so much.
Leo didn't want to think about that right now. He didn't want to remember any part of what had just happened. Hot tears burned his eyes as he angrily tore the covers back and settled beneath them. Rational thought had no place with him at the moment. He only wanted to cry himself to sleep and hopefully forget everything.
Unfortunately, he was kept awake, tossing and turning, by the incessant dripping of his wounded heart.
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