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The next few days were rough for both of them.
If Leo had thought not seeing each other had been bad, purposefully avoiding each other was even worse. It was apparent that neither of them would back down or bend in any way. The few times they crossed paths were awkward as hell. When they did have to talk, it was stiff and mechanical. On the third day since their disagreement, Leo came into the office later than Klaus, having been riding his motor scooter everywhere now instead of letting Gilbert drive him. He headed straight for the corner set of furniture, and plopped down on a couch that was facing away from Klaus' desk. Steven watched this, his eyes darting between Klaus and Leo, noticing the tension at once. It wasn't as though they were normally affixed to one another like glue, but the two lovers had shared a warm interaction on a near-daily basis with no effort to hide it. The contrast of silence between them and the physical distance they remained apart was obvious to anyone familiar with their usual behavior. With a small sigh, Steven got up from his own place at one of the computer tables and walked casually over to talk to the big man's desk.
"So, Klaus," Steven said lightly, "Leo didn't turn to look your way even once just now…"
The clacking from Klaus' typing became a touch more aggressive. Steven leaned his hip on the edge of the desk and took a sip from his coffee mug.
"I don't suppose there's trouble in paradise, is there? What happened, you accidentally roll over and squash the kid in your sleep or something?"
A very small snort ghosted from Klaus' nostrils, but he still said nothing.
"You don't have to tell me," Steven went on, "it's none of my business, but the two of you are putting out bad vibes strong enough to depress anyone who walks in here. Everyone's noticing it."
Green eyes flicked up from the computer screen, typing paused for a second as Klaus glanced around. The few Libra employees around the office did seem more subdued. Klaus let his eyes linger on the back of Leo's curly head, where it showed over the edge of the couch across the room, before snapping back to his work.
"You two had a fight, didn't you?"
Klaus began typing again, rapidly, and didn't answer. Steven let out a legitimately pained groan, rubbing the side of his head.
"That's just what we need right now; our leader and one of our best resources distracted and upset at each other. At least tell me there's a warm and fuzzy reconciliation on the horizon?"
"That depends." Klaus finally said. "It's in Leo's hands now. I've done all I can."
Steven studied his friend, taking another sip of coffee and contemplating.
"So, you've done everything in your power to be sure that you understand where your partner stands, and how to compromise?"
"Everything." Klaus answered, his jaw squaring.
"Uh-huh…" Steven drawled dryly. Klaus must not have appreciated the tone. He didn't look at Steven, but he spoke firmly.
"In this argument, it is Leo who holds the key to resolution. It is out of my control whether or not he takes action."
At that moment, Leo stood and headed for the greenhouse door, most likely visit Zedd in his water tank. When he was gone, Steven pinned Klaus down with a no-nonsense stare.
"Ok, out with it. I know I said it's none of my business, but as your friend and a concerned co-worker, I think I deserve the right to know what's going on here."
Klaus sighed, and in concise sentences, explained the situation to Steven. The other man listened quietly, nodding his head along with Klaus' words until he was finished.
"I don't know what goes through his mind," Klaus said, irritation in his quiet voice, "there's humbleness, and then there's being foolhardy. I don't know what else I can do to ensure he keeps himself safe."
Steven pursed his lips as he considered all that he'd just been told.
"Playing devil's advocate here; Leo's done just fine surviving in this city without relying on his eyes for quite a while now. He's learned how to walk the streets and not lose all his money in the process. You know how he hides it around on him, right? They never make off with all of it, and most of the time he doesn't even get hurt. When he does, it's not like he gets beaten to a dangerous degree."
"He shouldn't be getting beaten at all!" Klaus growled. "While I admire how Leo has adapted to this city on his own, that doesn't excuse him from letting lowlifes hurt him. The tools are right there in his head, supernaturally given, and able to exclude him from any conflict. He has no excuse."
"I can see your point." Steven conceeded. "I have to wonder myself why he chooses to fight head-to-head whenever he can. Though, to be fair, you play sacrificial lamb or supernatural mediator a lot, too."
"Leo said something to that effect as well." Klaus remembered. "But there is a significant difference between our behaviors; I try to let even my reckless actions amount to something. I may gamble my life, but always with a greater goal, and confidence that I'll win. With Leo…if he has no way out, he thinks it better to be beaten and robbed, to no end whatsoever. He is defending no one when this happens. His suffering is meaningless."
"Maybe it's his pride? You know he doesn't come to any of us for help. Hell, it took dating you for months to soften him up enough just to take the pay raise that he was owed. Does seem strange that he's so humble and yet so proud at the same time, doesn't it?"
"Quite the conundrum." Agreed Klaus. "You see the predicament we're in."
"Why doesn't he just quit his part-time job? Then he'd have enough time to train up a bit so he'd at least have some fighting skills."
"I can't convince him to quit working. In his mind, it's just more money for Michella."
"Don't think she'd appreciate it if she knew how hard her brother was running himself into the ground." Steven muttered, swirling the rest of his coffee in his mug. "Did you think to mention that?"
Klaus pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"I did...and I think it's the closest he's ever come to punching me in the face."
They sat in silence for a while, thinking through the problem together. Steven shifted against the desk, and Klaus tapped his thumbs together over his folded hands. Eventually Klaus spoke again.
"That was my own folly. I knew better, and I fear my anger only caused Leo to respond in kind. I just couldn't hide it from him any longer."
"Wait...you're the one who got angry first?" Steven asked, sitting up a little straighter on the desk. "As in your version of angry?"
Klaus had the decency to look mildly ashamed, but his voice was cold as he answered,
"It was a fight, Steven. I hadn't planned on it, but at the time, when everything came boiling over, I just assumed Leo might be swayed if he saw what his choices were doing to me. I don't think there's anything else I can do."
"Bullshit."
The curse made Klaus look up at Steven, who was frowning but also looked exasperated.
"Pardon?" He asked, surprised at the reaction.
"Klaus, I can't speak for what other tactics you've used before, but letting Leo see your anger as a means to an end seems the dumbest option you could've picked! I mean, I understand; you lost it and decided to roll with it, but did you really think that Leo would respond to anger of all things? He's a pretty fragile guy emotionally, I don't care what front he puts up around all of us, you and I both know it's true, so you had to know how deeply that would hurt him. How'd he take that, by the way?"
The sarcasm in Steven's voice on the last question stung a little, and Klaus lowered his eyes.
"He walked out and closed the door on me."
Steven shook his head with a dark little smile.
"Poor kid…don't get me wrong, I can see both sides here, but…damn…I think you might've hurt him worse than the thugs ever could."
Klaus' head jerked up at that, his teeth bared in a small snarl.
"Now, wait just a minute-" His angry protest was cut off by Steven's calm voice.
"Leo's not free of guilt here either, but I honestly think you're the one who needs to make the first move here, and apologize."
The larger man steamed for a second or two more before relaxing back into his seat.
"I...know that I owe Leo that, at least. I said a few things I deeply regret. Though, it was only because I care for him so much, and he's driven me to such frustration by not caring about himself. How are we going to make any compromise work?"
"I'm the last person who should be handing out relationship advice," Steven said sardonically, "and I don't have any bright solutions in mind for you two, but I can say that you really need to talk this one out, say your apologies, and try to move on. Even if it means nothing changes apart from you two having had this experience. You might just have to accept that neither of you will have your own way."
"A dismal thought." Klaus grumbled. "All I want is to know Leo will come home to me, safe and unharmed, at the end of the day."
"Do you even remember where we live?" Steven jabbed lightly. "Any one of us could be killed in a freak accident at any second, despite our powers."
"Libra members' probability of dying as the result of an accident is incredibly low when compared to the average being without powers."
"Don't give me that statistical shit!" Steven said shortly. "You're missing the point here; both of you should just be happy you're alive and together. You can work everything else out after you acknowledge that fact. Living here, every day is a gift."
"Trust me, I know that, and I thought Leo did too. If being close to death so often hasn't driven that point home to him by now, I don't know what will."
Steven gave a heavy shrug and shook his head.
"Beats me. Looks like you both have your work cut out for you. At least tell me it's still worth it to you?"
The tension in Klaus' bearing didn't leave him, but his expression softened.
"As dreadful as it feels right now...he'll always be worth it."
A few pointed seconds of silence passed as Steven looked at him, before making a dismissive sound.
"Then that's what matters most."
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When Leo stepped into the greenhouse wing and shut the door behind him, he felt like he could breathe easier. It was like stepping into a different world from the office floor. The lush plant life filling the massive room gave off a fresh, organic scent into the slightly warm air. The tall glass windows on the far end let in plenty of light, but the canopy was so dense that it cast shade in places. Almost in the center of the room sat Zedd's giant cylindrical tank.
Zedd was floating at the very top when Leo approached, reading one of his plastic-encased books.
"Hey Zedd!" Leo called, so the fish man would hear him through the glass. "I'm about to go out and get lunch for everyone. You want anything?"
The white, pupil-less eyes looked up from his reading. He left his book and dove down to Leo's eye level, his voice distorted and somewhat muffled but still understandable when he spoke.
"I could go for a small order of fried rice, if you're going to the same place as last time."
"Sure am."
Leo pulled a tiny notebook from his pocket. He'd started carrying it when he'd first made a habit of going on food runs, and he wrote down Zedd's order first. While he did, Zedd came even closer to the glass, and placed his clawed hands against it. His feelers twitched a bit as he observed Leo.
"Still upset today, huh?"
Blue eyes looked up in surprise.
"What?"
"You've been looking very gloomy the last few days. I thought it was just from work, but it's been so persistent. Are you alright?"
He supposed he should've known Zedd was perceptive enough to realize something was off. It wasn't as though Leo had been stomping around and broadcasting his bad mood, but he hadn't been his normal, cheery self either.
"Would you believe me if I said everything was fine?" Leo asked, turning to lean back against the glass.
Zedd casually swam from one end of the tank to the other as he spoke, as though giving Leo space.
"I could pretend to, if that's what you want. But I'd be a poor friend if I didn't offer more than a charade."
Leo didn't answer right away, instead just listening to the tranquil hum of the tank, and the gentle sound of moving water. It always relaxed him. He'd had to explain to Zedd before how watching him swim seemed hypnotic, like a human-shaped angelfish that was calming to watch as it drifted through the water. While that had been an awkward conversation, the fish man had ended up flattered and happy to have such an effect. Today was an exception.
"Klaus and I had a fight." Leo finally said. "He doesn't like that I get beat up so much and won't use my eyes to keep it from happening. And all I want is to be able to sleep at night, knowing I haven't crossed a line by throwing my power around without just cause."
Zedd hummed, considering as he circled toward Leo again.
"Don't you use your eyes on Zapp all the time?"
Leo gave a little snort.
"Yeah, but he's an absolute ass, so he doesn't count."
"True, but if you'd argue he deserves it because he's done you a wrong, wouldn't criminals who threaten you be even more deserving?"
"God, you sound just like Klaus." Leo sighed, rubbing at his temples. "Just because someone robs me doesn't mean they're evil; plenty of good people are driven to petty crime out of desperation. I know that's not the norm with how many hardened thugs are out there, but still, who am I to play judge and jury with strangers?"
"So…your solution is to play victim regardless."
Leo's mouth twisted in frustration, but not at Zedd himself.
"What choice do I have? I'd rather suffer a bit than feel like I've imposed my will over someone else's. That just feels…scummy."
"I can understand that." Zedd conceded. "Zapp and I wield the same Blood Technique, but I don't go about extorting people, or use my blood to play games on my phone when my fingers are too lazy."
"Isn't that just the worst?" Leo asked, smiling mildly.
"Just so. Your case isn't quite the same. You'd be doing no more than elaborately distracting people; it's not like you'd be hurting them. You use your eyes for Libra regularly anyway."
With a grunt, Leo slipped down to sit on the floor, turning around to look up at Zedd.
"I always know it's the right thing to do, with Libra. We're keeping the peace, bringing justice to wrongdoers. Even if I can't fight very well, I won't back down if one comes up. But it's… it's different when I'm alone."
One of Zedd's webbed hands came up to cup his chin studiously. With his free arm he managed to roll gracefully through the water in a figure-eight.
"Do you really believe that? You sound conflicted."
Leo tilted his head back, staring up into the overhanging branches and giant green leaves of the various plants. When he spoke again, he sounded quiet and lost.
"I didn't use to be. Before Klaus and I got together it wasn't an issue. I never used to doubt my decisions when it came to my eyes."
"Now you have more than yourself to consider," Zedd said lightly, "that's the burden of loving someone, be they friend, family, or partner."
A bitter chuckle left Leo, and he nodded.
"I've always tried to keep everyone from worrying about me, but I've never been in this kind of position before. I can't hide anything from Klaus the way I could from my family or all of you. So now I have to…think about changing. No one likes that feeling."
"What's important is having the choice." Zedd said, softly, but with conviction. "You can choose to spare yourself pain by using your eyes, or to suffer without. Ultimately, it's in your hands. My own life would be quite different, had my master not given me a choice. Likely I would've been destroyed without being granted that option."
A twinge of guilt gnawed at Leo's insides. His own troubles seemed inconsequential compared to Zedd's past. At least he'd had a loving childhood and family. Zedd had been created solely as companionship for a wealthy, reclusive Intellectual. A vast education and intelligence meant little when he'd never seen the outside world. Still, Leo couldn't help but give a rough sigh and say,
"Klaus basically told me that my choice was wrong, and I needed to reconsider."
"Oh dear." Zedd said, drifting down to hover cross-legged with folded arms. "That's quite harsh, coming from The Chief…"
"Tell me about it."
"Would you like my honest opinion, as an observer?" Leo waved a hand encouragingly, so Zedd went on. "I think you're both right, and you're both wrong."
"How Zen of you…" Leo muttered, blandly. Zedd ignored the comment.
"It's unfair of you to expect your partner to just accept that you might be endangering yourself for no reason. Then again, you shouldn't be miserable all the time if you force yourself to go against your own morals. The bottom line is that you live in Hellsalem's Lot; you can't start splitting hairs."
A short sound of upset came from Leo, and he shook his head.
"Then what the hell am I supposed to do?"
"You're not going to like my answer, but you wanted honesty." Zedd said, a small smile forming. "I think it will all work out no matter what you choose."
Leo turned a flatly pessimistic expression toward the fish man.
"You can't expect that to cheer me up."
"I'm not really trying to, I'm just giving my viewpoint; you and Klaus are two mature adults who care enough about each other to whether storms like this and make up eventually. You can't go on being angry forever. That's the reality."
"Sure doesn't feel that way right now." Grumbled Leo. "But I guess anything's possible with time."
"It's not just possible, Leo; it's inevitable. You two will figure something out."
"A lot of help you are." Leo said sarcastically as he got up from the floor. "But thanks for the sentiment. I'll bring your rice in a bit."
Zed flipped over to shoot toward the glass again.
"One last suggestion; as a mental exercise, why not think through how you'd try winning Klaus back. Even if it's uncomfortable, it might make everything easier when that time comes."
Leo scoffed.
"I'll leave the mental exercises to you, but thanks."
He gave a little wave before going back into the main office. Zedd's advise might have touched a nerve, but Leo still felt uplifted by the positive words. He knew in his heart that Zedd was right.
Notebook in hand, Loe began going person by person in the office, scribbling their orders. Besides Zedd, only two other members were there, so it made quick work. It was only after he saw that Steven and Klaus were both at the main desk that Leo realized he'd painted himself into a corner. He couldn't leave without asking them as well, and he'd somehow completely forgotten about that. There was no help for it now.
When Leo approached the desk, he tried not to look stiff and on guard.
"Going out for our lunch again, Leo?" Steven asked. "You know, we should pay you double for the amount of times you play delivery-boy for us."
"Oh no!" Leo said, waving his hands and giving an uncomfortable smile. "Please don't say that! I'm happy to do it; I make deliveries all around the city for my job, so it's no big deal for me at this point. Can I put you down for something?"
The dark-haired man gazed into his nearly-empty coffee cup.
"My breakfast was pretty slim. I could go for some actual food. You heading to a particular joint?"
"I was thinking that Asian place we ordered from a few weeks back. Everyone seemed to like their fried rice the best."
"Sounds like a plan. Klaus, you order first, I'm still deciding."
Klaus lifted his head from where he'd been shielding it behind his monitor. He and Leo's eyes danced around awkwardly, feeling like electricity when their gazes did brush incidentally. Eventually, Klaus cleared his throat and said,
"Just the beef teriyaki for me, thanks."
Leo felt a familiar pang of warmth in his chest. Klaus always ordered the same when it came to Asian food. He scribbled it anyway and quickly looked to Steven. The man sighed, looking like he was fighting the urge to roll his eyes at them.
"Shrimp for me, and a wonton soup. Thanks, Leo."
Leo nodded, wrote it down, then flipped the notebook closed. He was about to pocket it when he paused, pen hovering halfway in the air.
"Something wrong?" Steven asked, observing Leo's somewhat troubled expression.
"Um, it's just…Klaus, do you want soup too? You, uh, you usually get the egg drop, right?"
Klaus nodded a little too eagerly, as though thrilled Leo had spoken to him. Leo gave a shaky grin at the unexpected happiness he felt, and began backing away. His tone was a bit lighter, and he spoke in a rapid, nervous burst of words.
"Ok, good, great, I'll just be-."
He tripped over the coffee table behind him, his notebook and pen flying through the air as he stumbled to one side. Klaus' entire body stiffened, and he nearly bolted up to see if Leo needed help, but Leo recovered and laughed it off, snatching up his scattered things.
"Be back soon with all the food!" He called, shouldering his backpack and darting out of the room as quickly as he could without tripping over anything else.
In the silence left by Leo's awkward exit, Steven slapped his hand to his face and groaned.
"You two better sort yourselves out soon, Klaus; that was painful to watch."
Klaus gave a massive sigh of agreement and leaned back in his chair.
"At least you exchanged words. That's something, isn't it?"
"It's the most courteous interaction we've had in the past three days." Klaus answered. "Mostly it's been silence or passive aggression until now."
Steven gulped down the dregs of his coffee and then shuddered.
"You? Passive aggressive? God help us…"
Despite everything, his friend's words made Klaus give a small smile.
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Leo's entire being was ringing with the aftermath of his embarrassing exit from the office.
What a fool he'd made of himself, like he was some nerve-rattled kid around his first crush, tripping over the table like that. Why had those few simple words made him so distracted and giddy? Perhaps because after these days of tension and ignoring each other's existence, civil speech was now the abnormality between them. That simple gesture had been meaningful, and as Leo took off down the crowded streets, he began actually hoping they could put this argument behind them. He had been too hurt and angry to do so until now.
Zedd's suggestion came to him, and he decided to take it, rehearsing in his mind how he would bring the subject up to Klaus again. Maybe this evening, when they were both at home. Perhaps he could go with the kicked puppy routine by climbing into bed with Klaus and cuddling up to him, without saying anything. Actions sometimes spoke louder than words when it came to Klaus, and Leo knew that the other man must be wanting this tension to end as much as he did. If he just pressed close and rested silently against him, it would be the most effective olive branch he could offer. Already Leo began to crave the warmth of Klaus' body, the sure safety of his strong arms. He had felt so cold sleeping alone these last few nights…
Leo conjured up more apology scenarios as he drove, most of them amounting to throwing himself on Klaus in some way, shape, or form. By the time he'd finally parked his scooter in the lot beside the restaurant, he thought it very likely he was just pent up and craving touch. He hadn't had the drive to even take care of himself since the fight, and it had been an entire week before that since he and Klaus had a second to enjoy each other. Possibly the needs of his body were weighing into his current temperament more than he'd been aware of before.
Chuckling to himself, Leo entertained a little fantasy of Klaus being so overcome with relief after their resolution, that he would treat him to a full night of strength displays and pleasures. It had been a while since Klaus had strapped him in place across his massive chest and let him struggle. Or hung him against the wall by his wrists with a single hand, letting his feet dangle or press into Klaus' iron-hard thighs…A pleasant shudder passed through Leo.
As vigilant as he usually was, this delicious mental image distracted him just enough to miss the few figures who were following him, just a step too closely.