chapter word count: 403
noir heart: one hundred and twelve
Hans' emerald eyes are full of fire, vengeance and fury, but his face is every bit as blank as the wall behind him. The two men stare each other down, though Jack would do anything for a bottle of eye drops - trying not to blink is hilariously difficult. Maybe a whiskey on the rocks, too. In the lower part of his peripheral vision, though unfocused, he can see the pen in Hans' hand shudder. He'll either snap it in two, or drive it into Jack's eye.
"So," Hans finally says, though anger enunciates every syllable, "that is the story you are sticking with? You maintain that you followed my br-" Jack's head tilts a micron, when Hans visibly checks himself. He shouldn't even be conducting the interview due to conflict of interest, so the less he refers to their sibling relationship, the better. "-followed Detective Southernisle to the roof in order to arrest him and take him down for questioning, but in a last act of spite to prevent you from solving his alleged crimes, he jumped off the roof and fell to his death. Despite your attempt to save him. Is that your version of events?"
Jack waits a breath before answering. "That's the story."
"I don't believe you," his once-brother growls.
"Uh-huh," Jack deadpans, folding his arms but not breaking the stare. "In other breaking news: water, wet; sky, blue; you, prick. Sports at ten."
Hans snorts and half-smirks. "That's it, Jack. Dig your own grave."
Leaning forward, Jack fixes him with a searching look, the same one he used on Elsa Black. "See, that's the thing: you wouldn't have pulled me in here and questioned me yourself, making me repeat the same damn statement unless you had something up your sleeve."
"Now why would you think that?" Hans says in a smooth, sly voice.
"Call it a feeling, based on intuition, experience, and the fact that you and I grew up together so I know just how much of a manipulative dickhead you can be." Jack leans back and studies him for a moment, before sliding the chair back with a loud scrape. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got actual police work to do."
"Sit."
Jack freezes at the finality in Hans' voice, and watches him like a sentinel. "You and I are not finished."
irisrox: Arnulf is indeed Hans' elder biological brother, and Jack's adopted brother.
special thanks to: doomstone, oninoko, last future of embryo and irisrox for the reviews!