part five: Love Hurts
“Yaaah!!” he yells, falling out of the narrow bed in the process. He yelps in pain as he hits the floor butt first.
“What the fuck are you doing here?!!” The other says nothing, but picks him up and tosses him into the opposite wall, leaving a sizeable dent. As he tries to recover, he is grabbed again and roughly shoved against the dresser. He can swear that he hears several ribs crack. He quickly yanks open the drawer containing his gun. He grabs it and turns around to face his attacker, who has suddenly vanished.
He scrambles to get his jeans on and runs out into the living room, queasy from pain. Shit, where’s D?! He grabs his t-shirt and heads for the door. He doesn’t make it, as he is violently struck across the face. He hits the floor heavily, gun sliding under the couch. The old kami walks toward him. Leon considers his options, then leaps up as if to attack the other, but dives instead, avoiding his grip and running out the door.
He runs down the stairs, hastily putting on his shirt. He manages to make it to his car and drive to the pet shop. (It was a good thing he hadn’t emptied his pockets the night before; his keys were still in his jeans) The adrenaline is starting to wear off as he drags himself down the stairs to what he hopes will be a safe haven. D, please be home, he thinks desperately. In fact, D opens the door before he even reaches the bottom.
His eyes widen in shock as he sees the large bruise forming on Leon’s face and the blood soaking through his t-shirt in several places. He offers Leon support and brings him inside.
“How did this happen?”
“Your grandfather decided to pay me a visit. He’s a real friendly guy.”
D’s eyes narrow with anger. He takes Leon upstairs to the room where he spent the night before to tend to his wounds. He says nothing, but Leon swears he can feel a chill in the room, and is glad that the anger is not
directed toward him. He removes his clothing and notes with surprise the nail marks on his hips. Huh? I didn’t even feel him do that. But then, anal sex is supposed to hurt the first time, too, and it didn’t. What’s up with that?
D quickly bandages him up, then rises from the bed.
“Lee, wait here. I will get you some ice and something to dull the pain.”
“D, what about your grandfather?”
“I will deal with him,” D snaps, eyes flashing. “He will not harm you again. I would not have allowed him to hurt you in the first place had I realized he would go to such extremes.”
“Why didn’t you stay with me?” Leon asks in an accusatory tone.
D casts his eyes down. “The pets in this shop have special needs. That is why I had to return early. Please, let me go get the medicine.”
Leon nods and lies back in the bed.
As D heads back downstairs, he sees Q-chan fly in. His expression turns icy. “Grandfather, we will talk. Now.”
The bat creature transforms into D’s grandfather.
“This is unacceptable. Befriending a human is bad enough, but I will not allow you to carry on with him this way.”
“This is none of your concern. You will not harm him.”
“Humans are not trustworthy. He will betray you.”
“Some humans are not trustworthy. Leon is not one of them.”
“He does not understand what we are. He would hate us if he did.”
“Leon hated me when he thought I was human. The more of the truth he sees, the less hostile he becomes. You cannot convince me otherwise.”
“It is safer to hate all humans than to risk betrayal.”
“Really? Is hate really the answer? Father’s hatred of humanity got him killed. Sister’s hatred of me got her killed. Your hatred of Leon may very well bring about your death because if you ever touch him again, I will
kill you!” D’s tone of voice is soft and even, but with an acid edge to it.D’s grandfather does not reply, but turns back into Q-chan and flies away.
Leon lies in bed waiting for D. How did this all happen so quickly? he wonders. His entire body aches, both from the attack and lovemaking the night before. The slightest movement sends pain shooting through his ribs,
although D has assured him that nothing has been broken. He sighs and closes his azure eyes. No, I suppose this has been coming for a while, it just happened faster because of the whole drunken incident. He reopens his eyes
and studies the ceiling.
When did I start coming here for social visits that had nothing to do with work, anyway? Quite a while ago, I guess. It would be about the same time I started coming to him for information instead of
accusing him of everything and anything...It took me long enough to even consider him a friend. Why was I so scared? He frowns. C’mon Leon, you know the answer to that. You didn’t want to let him close, just like you
don’t let anyone close. Don’t wanna be hurt. Looking back, he can see that he has wanted D for some time in terms of closeness, not just the physical. He has just refused to admit it, even to himself.
I suppose I do love him.
His thoughts are interrupted by D’s return. He sits on the bed next to his lover and hands him a cup of steaming liquid. Leon lifts his head and gulps it down. When he finishes, D places an ice pack against his face to reduce
the swelling.
“Hey, this is the same tea you gave me last night,” Leon accuses, “What’s in it? Did you know what was going to happen?”
“No, but I was hoping that it would.” D smiles happily. “And besides, it’s just a natural muscle relaxer.” Leon gives him a weird look, then sighs and leans back into the pillow.
“By the way, what time is it?”
“About 6am, I would say.”
“Shit. I have to go get ready for work.” He starts to get up. D gently pushes him back down.
“Please, you need to rest. Also, I did not know that you went to work on Saturday.” He flashes Leon a teasing smile.
“Uhh...oh yeah.”
D lifts the sheets and starts to lightly massage Leon’s body. Leon tenses slightly at first, expecting pain at his touch, but wherever D’s fingers contact his skin, the pain disappears. He sighs in pleasure as D strokes his
chest, and runs his hands along his inner thighs. He starts to feel the same dizzy sensation from the night before. Well, you’re just full of surprises, my dear, Leon thinks as he puts two and two together.
“Hey D,” he says drowsily.
“Yes?”
“Umm...when you told me you were a kami, I went and did some research, looking through the old legends and stuff, but I still don’t really understand what you are.”
“Does it really matter?”
“Not much at this point, I guess, but I’m kinda curious. I mean, you certainly don‘t feel like a spirit to me.”
D laughs softly. “It is not so easy to explain. It is like you are asking me to explain what a rabbit is; the best thing I can do is show you one. You understand?”
“Yeah, but I think that’s a lousy comparison.”
D chuckles in response. “Get some sleep, my love.” He lightly kisses Leon on the lips and turns to leave the room.
“You’re leaving?” Leon looks uneasy.
D turns around. “I must mind the store,” he says, then adds, “Grandfather will not bother you again. I made certain of that.”
“Why did he attack me in the first place?”
“He has never liked you, Lee. It’s nothing personal; he doesn’t like humans in general. However, as I said before, I did not expect him to react so violently to the change in our relationship.”
“So he’s trying to protect you?”
“Yes. Please, go to sleep now. You will not come to harm.” With a swish of his skirts he leaves the room.
Leon does not wake until late afternoon. He feels a very hostile presence in the room, but upon opening his eyes, he sees only Q-chan sitting on the bedpost, giving him a glare that sends chills down his spine. Unnerved, he
grabs his clothes, which have been cleaned and folded, and dresses himself, never taking his eyes off the little creature. Then he dashes from the room to find D.
He finds the Count in the main part of the store, and pulls him into a tight embrace, kissing him passionately.
Q-chan flies in behind him, shrieking in outrage. “Qqqqqqq!!!!”
Not breaking the kiss, Leon gives him a roman salute, which does nothing to dissuade him.
Finally, D breaks off the kiss. “That’s enough, Grandfather!!”, he snaps. Q-chan snorts and flies away.
“That bat-thingy is your grandfather?” Leon asks. He scratches his head. “So you can shape shift, too?”
“I suppose, but I do not choose to.” he smiles. “You are not so skeptical as you were once.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve seen some pretty freaky stuff since we met. I’ve seen *you* do some freaky stuff since we’ve met. I’d have to be a complete moron not to believe any of it.”
“Well then, would you like some tea?”
“Actually, I could use a full meal. I’m starving!”
“That can be arranged as well. Wait here, please.” He turns and leaves the room.
Leon takes a seat on the couch, then realizes that all the animals in the room are looking at him. “And what are you all staring at?!” he snaps. They all look away.
“That’s better,” he mutters.