>part one<
They were at it again. The same misleading banter. Count D balanced on the edge of his seat as Leon paced. A
sip of tea and then his eyes followed him, and Leon went on as if it meant nothing.
“Are you hearing me, Count?” Leon growled, seemingly annoyed by D’s lack of response.
“Always.” D sighed, gently placing the cup on the table before him. Without further words he folded his hands neatly in his lap and stared up as Leon passed him yet again. The Detective never could sit still for very long.
“So, what do you think?”
“Detective, why are you so upset, is Ms. Delmonte such a frightening monster?”
Leon took two more steps then paused, his head cocked slightly as if he heard something no one else could. He was making an admirable effort to be polite this morning, but D could see his frustration peeking through every glimmer of a movement he made. Was he that on edge over the tauntings of one woman? D didn’t think so.
“One would think,” the Count whispered, reaching once again for his tea, “That a man such as your self would be pleased.” But he raised his chin and addressed Leon directly, eyes a muted brightness beneathe a veil of black. “Did you really want my opinion on Ms. Delmonte, Detective?”
Leon stopped at that, blue eyes narrowing. He recognized the subtle tint to the Count’s voice---he couldn’t be sure of it, but it was as if he were being mocked beneathe that unreadable façade. His mouth tightened noticeably, but he nodded and fell back into his pacing as if it were all he could think to do.
“Then I will tell you…You don’t care for Ms. Delmonte, you care only for what she means to me.” D’s hand raised just as Leon’s mouth snapped open. In one gesture he forced him back into silence. “Not what she means to me personally, but what her pursuit of you means to me.”
“What the hell are you saying?” Leon snapped, shoving his hands into his jean pockets as if their conversation had just out-lived its worth.
D’s lips thinned as he once again set his cup down, his long nails a sharp blue contrast. “Must I spell it out for you, Detective?” He rose, smoothed his hands nonchalantly down the front of his cheongsam, then smiled minutely.
“That is what I mean,” he said, his arms falling to his sides. “If you could hear what your eyes say…” D slipped into movement, and, with one hand placed lightly on his arm…managed to convince Leon to finally sit.
And he could see it in his glare, the knowledge of what was happening and the denial of it. The search for words that would not reveal that the thought had occurred to him. Leon was so adamant about believing in his own lies---it seemed a pity that no one else did.
D leaned over him, his hair falling in soft wisps around his eyes. “Be still a moment, Detective, there is something I must tell you.” And just like that, Leon obeyed. Stared up at him cautiously, but quietly.
The smile that came to the Count’s lips was small, but it conveyed enough that Leon’s eyes widened. Without allowing time enough for the thought to connect, D pressed his lips into Leon’s and watched as his eyes widened further.
A moment descended into that swirling pool of silence before Leon seemed aware of what was happening. His hands rose and grasped D’s shoulders tightly, he paused a moment then shoved.
The Count stepped back, certain a fight would ensue. But Leon looked away as if stunned beyond words, his blue eyes appearing to swim with uncomprehension. Slowly he pushed past D, his hands aimlessly reaching out and moving him aside. He didn’t move in haste, it was almost as if each step was being fought for.
D watched him go without further movement, then sighed as soon as the door closed. With a small ‘queep’ Q-chan left his perch and flew to D’s shoulder, looking almost delighted. The Count seemed to listen to the babbit a contemplative moment before his delicate eyebrows drew together, his mouth a reflection of displeasure.
“Don’t be absurd,” he snapped, staring blindly at the door. “Of course he’ll come back.”