Was the cause of John's severe alcoholism… him? Oh no. That was way worse than he'd have ever theorized about. His best friend was alcoholic and had been almost killed in a dark god-forsaken street… because of him. Because of his poor attempts to 'protect' him. What kind of apology could erase that off?
It really wasn't in his habits, he quite loathed the act frankly; but he felt the strange urge to do it right here right now. He couldn't figure out anything else.
"Laszlo? What… what are doing? What on Earth are you doing?"
What the hell? Was John still sleeping –or drunk as fuck- and making the weirdest dream ever? Laszlo was… hugging him? Quite gently, even.
The alienist had closed, or rather squeezed shut his eyes. Not to see what he was doing. Somehow it felt uncomfortable. And… wrong. As if an awkward hug could be enough to change John's mind about his cruel behavior towards him.
"John… I am… truly… sorry. Es tut mir Leid." The upset doctor whispered.
It sounded so… surreal to John Moore. Laszlo being nice with him… and above all apologizing to him! He was dead or drunk on the pavement, that's for sure!
"Are you… are you feeling alright Laszlo?" He enquired, actually alarmed.
"Not at all. That would explain this weird gesture of mine."
"It's not… 'weird'. Just… kind."
The alienist snorted.
"That's not one of my characteristics. You know that better than anyone else."
"Oh, self-pity now?" John giggled. "I believe that's one of my characteristics." He smiled.
Laszlo snorted even more; which made his huggable friend nervously laugh. Soon John noticed a change in Laszlo's own laugh. It was turning into a more… strangled sound. Was he…? No! John had never seen him… It just was possible for everyone EXCEPT Laszlo!
"Laszlo… are you… are you crying?"
He didn't get an answer at once.
"There is just… so much dust in the air…" His friend whispered against his neck.
"The window is open…" The bedridden reporter reminded to a once more mute doctor.
The room was in complete silence except for Laszlo's muffled whimpers and the springtime fresh breeze from outdoors.
God, his best friend was almost killed last night! After having binge-drunk like a sun-dried fish! A few moments after their stupid argument! John had almost died because of him! Because of this thick, stubborn brain of the alienist's! He had always intended to protect him with his scathing roasting but it had led to the total awful opposite! He hugged the puzzled illustrator tighter.
"I am so… so sorry John." He repeated as for the first time of his life, he didn't know what to add. "You're… you're important to me… not just… for our case… you're… personally important to me… as a… friend I mean…" He stammered. "You mean… a lot to me. I guess… I didn't show it… often enough…"
"Hey, hey it's ok. I'm not dead." The reporter now really felt awkward.
"But you could have been!" Laszlo curtly screamed, staring back at John. "You could have been… shot dead last night, figuratively and literally! Because of me! Because of my crappy behavior to you! Do you really think I'd be happy if you died? No, I wouldn't! I'd be the most miserable man in all New York and all fucking United States!" He loudly ranted out, tears still dwelling in his eyes.
"I don't… I don't understand." John admitted to the panting doctor. "Then why-?"
"It was the only scheme I had figured out to chase you from my hazardous life! The more you stuck with me, the more endangered your life was!" Laszlo explained.
"Fuck you, I do what I-"
"You do what you want? Is being friends with a jerk who worsen your alcoholism and belittle you what you want? Mein Gott, this is why we shouldn't hang out!" The pissed off doctor started to pace around. "This is why you shouldn't work on such a perilous case! You're always so… careless! Unwary! Trustful!... Kind…"
"What?" John surely had heard it wrong.
"You're too… kind, too innocent… to work on criminal cases… or hang out with me." Laszlo added, his back turned.
"Thank you Mom but you do not decide who I should be friends with." His friend sassed him.
The doctor swiftly turned back.
"Wha-? Moments ago, you wouldn't see me!"
"Yeah, but now I know this is what you want, I may have changed my mind." John smirked, two glimmering droplets leaking over his cheeks.
Laszlo suddenly displayed his largest grin and started to laugh again, quickly followed by the reporter's. The latter noticed too late his over-worried friend had come back closer to him.
"You just proved my point, idiot." The alienist smiled.
"Laszlo, what…?" John didn't have the time to finish his sentence.
He felt a pair of lips and a few spiky beard hairs crushing on his forehead along with a gloved hand caressing his left cheek. Did it last a few seconds or a few minutes? Longer? In any case, it was definitely too long to the confused illustrator.
"Julia didn't know how lucky she was." Laszlo thought a bit too out loud.
"Are you… are you sure you love me as a friend?" John arched an eyebrow.
"As my best friend. There's a subtle difference. I'm not interested in your masculine ethereal beauty if that's what you're thinking of."
"You will forgive me if the way you put it doesn't quite convince me."
"Ok, what do you want then? You want me to actually hate you? We both know you don't. Neither do I." The uncomfortable doctor admitted.
"I don't…! Ugh, sorry but a man I thought hating my guts no later than a few minutes ago suddenly kisses my forehead! You will agree that's quite confusing!"
"I had to convince you that you're not nothing for me. It's the only thing I could figure out in a lapse of only a few seconds." Laszlo justified as if he was lecturing his schoolboys.
"You…! Ugh! Granted." John sighed.
"Just like I thought your friendship for me was…" The alienist whispered to himself. "Again, I'm sorry. I'll try to be a better friend. I promise." He assured as he hugged his 'innocent' friend once more.
"Oh, do please shut up." John pleaded as he pressed his lips against a startled Laszlo's.
Yet, the latter didn't step back. On the contrary, he welcomed it by tenderly kissing back. To the illustrator's great surprise. His prudish friend was surprisingly good at it. His cheeks were burning hot. On the doctor's side, he loved John's soft lips. He could kiss him all day.
"Wait… this is too much, John…" He cut off.
"Maybe, yeah…" The reported panted.
"Have a good rest." Laszlo whispered before he headed for the door.
"Laszlo!" John called.
"Yes?" The alienist turned back, strangely hoping for something more.
"Seriously, what did you do to Sara?"
He loudly huffed out.
"I have… lost my temper. I shouldn't have. As a doctor, as a scientist, as Sara's friend, as your friend… She doesn't even want to see me anymore. " He pitifully shrugged. "I doubt she still thinks of me as a friend… a colleague to the very least. It's a pity. I started to like her."
"So you were jealous then. But not of me." John bitterly smiled.
"Hm. Yes." Laszlo snorted. "Maybe a little. But I do appreciate her. She's a bold and very skilled woman."
"To the extent of you trying to kick me out and replace me by her." The sassy illustrator joked.
"Well, I can't really do it now, can I?" The alienist regretted.
"Laszlo, I know you. You're a good man."
The praised doctor nervously grinned.
"I can't believe you've done something serious to her. But it is enough to make her, of all people, scared of you now. If you sincerely apologized to her, she'll forgive you; and maybe even like you, who knows?"
"Well I'll try then."
"But the kiss won't be necessary, I think." John laughed.
"I'll remember that." Laszlo smiled at him. "Take care of you, John." He took leave.
Kissing people you love was quite a pleasing thing. He should do it more often.