part two: Subsequent Consequences
Unnh, my head, Leon thinks, Where am I anyway? Who did I go home with?
As his head clears he remembers getting thrown out of his co-worker’s car the night before. (flashback to Leon landing face first in a mud puddle) Unfortunately, that’s all he remembers. He then takes in his surroundings, especially the oriental decor. His clothes have been dried and left hanging up.
Son of a bitch, I’m at the pet shop aren’t I? The count’s never going to let me live this down if it is. He slowly makes his way out of the bed. Oh man, this has got to be the pet shop- the smell of incense is too strong for it to be anywhere else. Not even Buddhist temples are this bad.
He gets dressed and heads downstairs. D is on the phone with someone, but he beams with happiness as soon as he sees Leon.
“Ah, Leon, Jill would like to speak to you. She says it is very important.”
“Thanks.” He takes the phone from D. Boy, is he cheerful this morning. Did I hear him right, or did he just call me by name? Weird. “Hey Jill, what’s up?” *pause* “What do you mean she was drunk? She was supposed to be the designated driver!!” *another pause* “No, I don’t know anything, I barely remember getting tossed out of a car much less anything else!” D, who is standing behind him, visibly deflates. Leon doesn’t see it. “All right, I’ll come in and make a statement.”*pause* “Yes, I’ll come in as soon as I can. Bye.” He slams down the phone.
“I don’t believe this! Hey, D!”
“Hmm?”
“Look, the woman who was supposed to take me home last night wasn’t much more sober than I was, and she apparently got her car twisted into a pretzel. I gotta go down to the station and give the chief a statement.”
“Fine. Go then.”
Huh? Why is he so depressed all of a sudden? Talk about mood swings. “Um, yeah. And thanks for taking me in last night...”
“You are always welcome here, Detective.”
“Well, I’ll see you later then. Bye!” And now he’s back to calling me that! I’m definitely coming back later to figure this one out.
After he leaves D sits down on the couch and covers his face with his hands.
A while later, Leon leaves the chief’s office. So much for not working on New Year’s day. “Hey Jill! You got a minute?”
“For you, Leon, always. What do you need?”
“Look, I need to get something for D. You got any suggestions?”
“But of course...”
Later that afternoon Leon returns to the pet shop, a small box of expensive chocolates in hand. As he walks in he sees D sitting on the couch motionless holding a cup in both hands. The afternoon tea is laid out on the table in front of him, but he seems lost in thought. He doesn’t notice as his friend approaches.
“Hey, it’s not like you to let your tea get cold.”
Startled, D looks up.
“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon, Detective.”
“Well, when one minute you’re in an exceptionally good mood and calling me by my first name and the next you look like you lost one of your pets, it makes me wonder.”
He casually drops the box of chocolates on the table in front of D. The Count’s eyes widen slightly as he recognizes the label, but makes none of his normal exuberant responses. Leon takes a seat on the couch next to him.
“There is nothing for you to worry about Detective. Your manners improve miraculously under the influence of alcohol. .” D gives a small half-smile, but nothing like his normal mischievous one.
Leon takes a seat next to him. “Uh-huh. But that doesn’t explain why you’re so unhappy that I can’t remember anything.” At D’s surprised look he adds, “I got to thinking, and I figured that’s the only thing I said while I was on the phone that it could have been.”
“There is nothing important for you to remember, I assure you.”
“I didn’t pledge my undying love or anything like that?”
“Of course not. Why would you ask?”
“Because I distinctly remember kissing you at least once.”
D turns his head away. “I told you that you would regret it in the morning.”
He starts to stand up. Leon grabs him by the arm and pulls him back down.
“I don’t exactly regret it. I’ll admit, I’m kinda confused, but I’m not disgusted, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
D doesn’t respond. Worried, Leon puts an arm around his shoulders. The count turns and buries his face in his friend’s shoulder. Leon’s mind races. The closeness of the other man feels incredibly good, and he fights the urge to kiss him again. What is this? he thinks, I thought I liked women. And if I’m bi, how come D is the only guy I’ve ever been attracted to? Not that it matters; I’m supposed to be investigating the guy, for crying out loud! I can’t get involved with a suspect, male or female!
He cups a hand under D’s jaw.
D looks up. “Leon?”
“Look, D, I...” Leon pauses, looks into his friend’s eyes for a moment, but loses his resolution. Instead of making a speech about not wanting a conflict of interest, he pulls the count into a tighter embrace, then kisses him, hard.
“Mmmm!” D is ecstatic. This is so much more than he had hoped for. They exchange heated kisses for a couple of minutes.
Leon suddenly pushes himself off of D, and stumbles away from the couch. He is gasping for breath.
“Is something wrong?” D asks.
“Look D, I-I’m really sorry, I..” He stammers.
“Why?”
“It’s just...it’s just that...I’m sorry...I just...I’ve gotta go.” He turns and bolts from the pet shop.
D smiles. “Hmmm.” The most zealous ones are always the most passionate as well. He turns to Q-chan “And here I thought I was back to square one with him,” he says. Q-chan snorts. “Don’t be so skeptical.” D replies, “Walls may be easy to maintain, but once they fall down, they are not so easy to rebuild, after all.”