(fic) The Hunted - Chapter Sixteen - PSoH
Sep. 16th, 2008 09:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yellowhordeDisclaimer: I don't own Petshop of Horrors and I make no money from this or any other fanfic I write.
Pairing: Leon x D
Category: Supernatural/Alternate Universe
Rating: R
Warning: Violence, Language, Sexual Situations and Hermaphrodite!D
Title: The Hunted
Author: yellowhorde
Notes: This was written for NaNoWriMo 2007
Previous Chapters: Prologue 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
"God damn it!" Leon smacked the steering wheel with his good hand hard enough to sting as he approached the stop lights on Ocean Park Boulevard. Traffic was relatively light for a Sunday, even by Los Angeles standards, and they were making good time. At their current pace, he'd actually manage to pick Chris up on time for a change.
"It wasn't your fault, Detective." D murmured, laying a soothing hand on Leon's thigh. "Just let it go."
Frustration vibrated though Leon's body as he stepped on the brake, easing his car to a stop at the red light. He glanced up at the sky and, despite his current foul mood, felt a brief burst of amazement at the vibrant autumn colors on display around him. Warm red, orange and gold leaves rustled in a gentle breeze and fat fluffy clouds glided silently overhead. Everything looked artificial somehow, he thought, almost as if their colors had been taken directly out of a child's box of crayons.
For a moment he felt a deep sense of contentment but it quickly melted away as guilt and that new, ever present anger rose and engulfed him once more.
"I can't let it go, D," he growled, then sighed as he raked his fingers through his hair. "Christ, I attacked that asshole. Broke his fucking nose. I let him goad me like a hot-headed teenager protecting his girl's reputation."
"I suppose in a way you were," D patted his leg and smiled as Leon shot a glare at him. "Protecting my reputation, that is," he quickly amended. "But you did not start that fight, Detective; no matter what Mr. Wilkinson or anyone else for that matter may say on the matter."
"Maybe I didn't start it, but I sure as hell finished it." The light turned green and Leon turned the car onto South Centinela Avenue, tires squealing.
D didn't know what to say to that so he turned his head and watched the scenery outside his window. The quiet streets were lined with spacious homes with picture-perfect lawns. A few of those houses, he suspected, boasted sparkling blue swimming pools in their back yards.
It was the American dream personified, he mused, ripe and ready for the taking for anyone who could pay the price. And pay they would, too. No price was too high for those who desperately hungered for that dream.
Though D didn't say it aloud, he was worried about Leon's display of savagery. In his mind he once more heard the crash of plates exploding on the ground, saw Charles Wilkinson reel back, blood gushing like a fountain from his broken nose. But it was the rage he remembered seeing dance in Leon's blue eyes that sent a shiver working down his spine, that and the savage joy that had followed on its heels as he inflicted pain upon another human being.
Yes, he had been provoked, D thought, and no one who had heard the crass words from Charles' lips would deny that fact, but Leon's reaction had overstepped all civilized bounds. And that just wasn't like him.
The detective had always had a temper as D could well attest, but he had never lost control and actually seriously hurt anyone before... until now.
Biting his lower lip, D moved his shoulders and winced slightly at the pain. It was yet another example of Leon's recent loss of control. The mark had all but faded thanks to his almost supernatural healing abilities, for some reason the pain still lingered, a brutal reminder which accentuated his concern.
Without a doubt, something was wrong with Detective Orcot, but D wasn't sure what it was or what the exact source of the problem could be. Was he having trouble at work, perhaps with a fellow police officer? Or was he still upset at being taken off the Fletcher case?
D couldn't say for sure one way or the other. Their tea-time conversations had seldom if ever ventured into their personal and private lives. They had always tactically skated around the now obvious matter of their feelings toward one another.
Or my feelings toward him, D mentally amended.
While he could only now bring himself to acknowledge what he felt for the detective, he had no way of knowing if Leon held the same feelings for him. Their joining had not been exactly one of mutual attraction - though sexual gratification had no doubt been one of the side benefits - but the result of a contract, a marriage arrangement of sorts, that had been forged by Leon's mother and his grandfather while they were both children. It was this contract that had ultimately saved the Detective's life as a child and would, hopefully, save his own people from extinction now.
With his mind far away, D barely noticed when Leon slowed and, entering a cul de sac, pulled over to the curb and parked the car in front of one of the pleasant houses that lined the street. Then he heard him speak his name quietly.
"D?"
"Yes?" Dragged from his own musing, D suddenly realized that they must have reached their destination. He smiled at Leon, but received no answer smile in return.
"Look, D, I-" Leon twisted around in his seat so he was able to look him square in the face. His facial expression, no longer angry, was somber and a bit uncertain. "Well, you see, the thing is... What I mean is..." He frowned and paused as if to gather his thoughts.
D noticed Leon subtly straighten his spine and square his shoulders as if he were mentally preparing for battle. Tension screamed through every line of his body. Whatever he was going to say, and D had a good idea what was on his mind, it was not going to be easy for either of them.
"Yes, Leon?" D's voice was gentle, encouraging.
"Shit, there's no way I can say this and not sound like an asshole, but-"
"You don't want your family, especially your little brother, knowing about our..." For one second D hesitated on the word relationship but instead opted for something more appropriate for the moment, "Our arrangement."
Leon's face registered his undisguised surprise at having D of all people beat him to the punch on such a delicate matter, and surprise was quickly followed by relief that he hadn't been the one who had to say it, at least not aloud. He mentally berated himself for his cowardice, but that didn't lessen the relief one bit.
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?"
He let out a small puff of breath he hadn't known he had been holding. "I don't think Chris is old enough to understand about, you know," He gestured helplessly between him and D, his shoulders slouching. "About us. And my dad... Christ, I don't even want to go there."
"I understand."
"You do?" Leon straightened and his eyes scanned D's face, searching his eyes to gauge his mood. "You're not mad?"
"No, of course not." D replied evenly.
And he wasn't mad at all. But it hurt more than he could have ever expected that Leon was too ashamed or embarrassed to reveal their relationship to those who mattered to him the most. Still, he did understand why care needed to be taken. Theirs was an unusual situation, one that went well beyond the acceptable norms of society.
"Great, that's great. Thanks a lot, man. That really takes a load off my mind."
The tension all but melted from Leon's body, but still he turned his head and directed his gaze across the tidy yard to the obviously well-maintained house as if to hide from the hurt that D suspected must have shown in his eyes despite his effort to keep his face pleasantly neutral.
"You're welcome."
The front door opened and Mrs. Thompson emerged from the interior of the house with Chris at her side, looking small and uncertain. She leaned down and said something to the little boy, neat in his blue jeans and red polo shirt. He glanced up at her with a grateful smile before dropping his backpack and letting go of her hand before sprinting toward the car.
Smiling, Leon opened the door, walked around the car to join D on the sidewalk, and joyfully spread his uninjured arm wide to receive the cannonball that was his little brother. Chris barreled into him and wrapped his arms around him tightly as if he never intended to let go ever again.
"Big bro! I'm so happy to see you!"
"Hey, squirt," Leon murmured roughly, pulling the child to him in a fierce one-handed embrace. He winced as a shot of pain raced down his arm. "Easy there, okay? I'm one of the walking wounded, now.” He ruffled the little boy’s baby-fine hair. “Miss me?"
"I guess so." Chris tipped his head back so he could meet his big brother's steady, if slightly misty gaze.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Anxiety clouded his big, blue eyes, so much like his brother's, and Leon felt a twinge of guilt when he saw the faint circles that had formed under his eyes.
"Hey, I’m as right as rain, kiddo. No fur bag is going to get the best of me. So don't go losing any sleep over it, okay?"
"Okay."
"Chris was really worried, Leon," Mrs. Thompson walked up, casual as ever in khaki twill slacks, a light blue sweater set and loafers, and offered one of her mother-smiles, as Leon always thought of them. It held a baffling mixture of warmth and relief with just a touch of exasperation. God knows he had given his own mother ample of reasons to practice her own version. "We all were. Are you alright?"
Knowing he'd be asked that question a lot over the next few days, Leon sighed, then chuckled ruefully. "I'm fine, really. The attack wasn't nearly as bad as I'm sure the media is making it out to be."
"Yeah, you're probably right, but there's always this knee-jerk reaction when you hear about a werewolf attack, you know? It sounds like something you'd see in a horror movie, but it's real." She shook her head in a bemused sort of way, and added, almost to herself, "It's really real."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
“Tomorrow’s the full moon,” Mrs. Thompson said, and though her voice didn’t betray her, there was a touch of unease in her eyes. She wrapped her arms about her as if she were cold. “Do you think that you might-“
“Everything will be fine.” Leon reached out and laid his hand lightly on her shoulder, gave it a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. And my partner and the rest of the team are on top of things. God willing, no one will get hurt and things will be back to normal in no time.”
Mrs. Thompson nodded her head even as her gaze traveled to D who stood by Leon's side smiling quietly. Her brows rose in surprise as she glanced between Leon and D and her face held an open question.
"And who is your friend, Leon?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah. He's, uh, a friend," Leon said, and it sounded lame even to his own ears, but it was, more or less, the truth. He ran his hand through his hair and scuffed his flip-flop clad foot against the sidewalk. Taking a deep breath, he resigned himself to making formal introductions.
"This is Count D. He picked me up at the hospital and stayed the night to make sure everything was, uh, working all right."
"D, this is Mrs. Thompson."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, madam." D held out his hand politely in the Western style, though Leon knew he probably would have been more comfortable bowing as was his custom. "You are very lovely and kind for taking care of Christopher during this small crisis."
"Why, thank you," Flushing with pleasure, Mrs. Thompson took his offered hand and gave him a rather besotted smile. Leon had seen D have a similar effect on both women and men. He had to give the guy some credit. He really did know how to pour on the charm. “But it was a pleasure, as always, believe me.”
"Count D?” She said reflectively, "Oh, my. How exotic. And here I thought Count was a European title."
"It is, actually, yes. But my grandfather was given the title long ago by England's ruling monarch."
"How fascinating!"
Watching the two of them chatter on almost like old friends, Leon couldn't help but feel relief that Mrs. Thompson had accepted his story at face value. Many, he knew, would not. It felt weird having D at his side, right out where people could see them together where they could make their own judgments or speculations. But if they were going to be boinking like a couple of hormone-crazy high school kids, the least he could do was introduce him to family and friends, even if the true nature of their relationship remained secret.
No matter how awkward it was for him to admit, even to himself, that he was having sex with D - another man, more or less - he couldn't keep D hidden away like some dark secret. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair to D. He meant more to him than that. Or he should. After all, they were trying to make a baby together. That had to count for something, didn't it?
It wasn't anyone's business what they did between the sheets, anyway. Their private lives were just that - private.
To hide a flutter of embarrassment that tightened his stomach, Leon hunkered down so he was eye to eye with his brother. "You do remember Count D, don't you, big guy?"
"Sure! He's the one who owns a weird pet shop in Chinatown, right?"
D arched his eyebrows at that. Leon grinned and sent him one of those kids-will-be-kids looks.
"That’s right."
"Maybe we can go there some time and check it out?"
"I don't think that's such a good idea." Leon muttered, shuddering at the memories of man-eating mermaids and killer rabbits. Rabbits, for Christ's sake! What a fucked up world.
"Why not?" Chris demanded, and to Leon's amusement he saw a bit of himself reflected in the stubborn jut of his jaw, the hell-or-high-water look of determination in his eyes. "I bet he has all kinds of cool stuff there."
"Yeah, he has shit that will blow your fucking mind, that's for sure."
Two pairs of disapproving eyes immediately pivoted his way. It was amazing that he didn't burst into flame under such intense heat. No words required, just that 'please, watch your language' stare. How did they do that? Leon wondered. If he could turn up the guilt factor like that while interrogating suspects, he'd be up for promotion in no time.
He was tempted to say that it was a mother thing, but D wasn't a mother... at least not officially. Or was he? God, it boggled the mind! It was probably way too early to tell one way or the other. But the idea of D carrying a child - his child since he's the only man D had ever had sex with - scared the hell out of him for reasons he couldn't even bring himself to even think about.
"Sorry, 'bout that." He mumbled, holding his hands palms up in a gesture of surrender.
"Just don't let it happen again, mister." Mrs. Thompson said, her words softened by the humor sparkling in her eyes.
"Yes, ma'am!" Leon delivered a smart salute that had Chris giggling and D smiling in bemusement.
"Anyway, Chris, you already have a pet, remember?"
"Nibbles gets lonely all by herself. Thanks." Chris accepted the backpack Mrs. Thompson handed him and absently shrugged it onto his small shoulders. He turned those blue eyes, so much like Leon's to Count D.
"Rats are social creatures, you know.” He rocked back on his heels. “It isn't good for them to be alone."
"Indeed, you are correct, Christopher." D smiled. Leon snorted.
"Whatever. It's a rat, it'll get over it. And I still don't think it would be a good idea."
"I bet I could get Dad to let me get another pet."
And he probably could, Leon thought wryly, detecting a subtle note of challenge in his brother's voice. Their father doted on the boy and Chris had managed to convince him that let him get a rodent as a pet. That still puzzled the hell out of Leon because both he and his father had long held the belief that dogs and cats were pets and everything else was just… weird.
Either Chris was a born salesman, or the old man was getting senile.
"Let’s leave that up to Dad, okay?" Leon hedged then turned and headed around the car to the driver's side. "Now, let's get going. Daylight's a-wasting."
"Goodbye, Mrs. Thompson." Chris waved as he ducked into the back seat. "See you tomorrow."
Leon started the engine then maneuvered the car away from the curb and retraced their route down Evensong Drive. Overhead, a small, privately owned airplane cruised by on its way to the nearby Santa Monica Municipal Airport. Darts of light reflected off its windshield as it passed by with a low rumbling roar. Chris pressed his fingers against the window and watched, fascinated, until it was disappeared over the treetops.
When the house was out of sight, Leon glanced at his brother through the rearview mirror. “What’s this about tomorrow night? She just got rid of you and you’re going to go bugging her again?”
“I told you a million times! Our Science Fair project is due Tuesday.” Chris mumbled as he turned from the window and began rummaging through his backpack. “And I’m going to spend the night tomorrow so she can drop us off… on time.” Leon’s eyebrows arched at the pointed reprimand in his brother’s voice. “Besides, Dad already said it was okay.”
D turned in his seat and smiled, “What are you doing for your project, Christopher?”
“A volcano,” Chris enthused. He pulled a crumpled piece of paper he had dug out of the crowded depths of his pack and handed it to D. It contained the instructions on how to build a baking soda volcano and included a grainy photo of one in mid-eruption, “It’s gonna be so cool!”
“A little advanced for you, kiddo, don’t you think?”
“Naw, it’s never too soon to start blowing stuff up.” Leon and D exchanged amused glances at this but Chris didn’t seem to notice in his excitement. “My teacher says I’m pretty good at science and stuff. And she was the one who came up with the idea.”
“That’s probably because she’s not the one who’s going to have to clean up the mess.” Leon mumbled under his breath.
“Be nice, Detective.”
Leon rolled his eyes and said nothing.
“I can’t wait for Dad to see it.” Chris accepted the piece of paper that D handed back to him and stuffed it back into his backpack. “We’ve been working really hard on it. It’s going to be the biggest blow-up ever!”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
And this was true. John Orcot loved being involved in his sons’ lives. Sometimes too involved, Leon thought wryly as he remembered the many attempts he had already made to fix him up with women. If he knew his father, he’d be at the school right out in the front row, video camera in hand, a proud grin on his face.
They drove in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sound the steady rumbling of the motor.
“Will you be there, Leon?”
Something very close to panic leapt into Leon’s eyes. “Will I be where?”
“The Science Fair, duh.”
Realizing that he had completely forgotten about it, Leon glanced into the mirror and met his brother’s hopeful gaze. Damn, the kid actually wanted him to be there. He could see it in those baby blues. And he had forgotten all about the damned thing. There was no way he’d be able to get the time off now.
“Uh, gee, I don’t know. It’s kind of short notice, don’t you think?”
“I told you about it three weeks ago!” Chris’ bottom lip jutted out in angry disappointment. Manfully, he didn’t cry. However, he did add a deliberate quiver to his lip in order to push the guilt button extra hard. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
“No, no, I didn’t.” Leon lied. They were almost at the shop now and he turned off North Broadway and onto Bamboo Lane, thinking fast. “I’ve just been busy… lots of things on my mind, you know… work and stuff.”
“Your brother will be at the Fair, Christopher.” D broke in with quiet conviction. “He wouldn’t miss it for the world. He already has the day off. Isn’t that right, Detective?”
“Yeah,” Leon nodded his head suddenly remembering that he was supposed to be off for the next few days, or so. Okay, more like weeks, but who was counting? “I’ve got some time off coming and I thought it would be great to watch my little brother blow shit up.”
“You’re really going?” In an instant, Chris’ eyes lit up in excitement and his grin was infectious.
“I’m really going.” Leon promised and offered one of his own smiles in return. Then he leaned toward D and whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “I’m really going, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are, Detective.” D patted his hand reassuringly. “You wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Carefully, Leon pulled the car to the curb and killed the engine. He got out and leaned down to speak to his brother. “Hey, stay here for a minute, will you, squirt? I’m going to make sure the Count here gets to his front door without getting mugged.”
“Sure.”
He walked around the car and chivalrously opened D’s door for him. D smiled at him and offered his hand. Leon accepted it and helped him out of the car, achingly aware of how the simple touch of his hand sent his heart skipping and heat swirling in his loins. The gesture was only slightly tarnished as he cast mortified glances around to make sure no one was watching as he strolled along beside D, trying very hard to appear casual as he descended the steps that led to the pet shop.
“Want me to stop by tomorrow night?” Leon asked once they reached the front door. He felt like an awkward teenager asking a girl if she’d had a good time on their date. Damn it, you’d think that once they’d gone and done the nasty everything else would come a little bit easier, but that just didn’t seem to be the case. He reached out and traced the tips of his fingers along D’s cheek.
“I’d like that.” D murmured, his eyes dark, lips slightly parted. He caught Leon’s hand in his own and, bringing it to his lips, pressed a light kiss along the bruised knuckles. “Very much.”
Leon made a small strangled sound as heat flashed through his body, surprised that such small gestures seemed to have such profound effects on him. His blood roared through his ears and he could see his longing reflected in D’s eyes. Hell, the air fairly crackled with it.
Before he realized it, he had D pushed up against the wall, one knee wedged between his legs, his good hand fisting in that dark silk of his hair. With a growl he yanked D’s head back and bit none too gently at the tender flesh of his throat.
D’s hands fluttered to his shoulders, hesitated, and it was uncertain whether he was trying to push him away or pull him closer. The soft moan that escaped past D’s lips, though, was certainly clear enough.
“D-detective… Oh! Please… yes.”
Somehow, knowing D was just as hot and ready for sex as he was almost pushed Leon over the edge of control. He wanted to rip away that prim and proper outfit D was wearing and make love to him, right there, right now, in front of God and everyone. And judging from the way he was reacting, D probably would have let him.
Probably.
God damn it!
Drawing from his innermost reserves of strength, he managed to find the will to break away. His breath was coming in hard pants and D, wide-eyed, looked just as shocked as he felt. There was a large red blotch forming where he had bitten him. To his chagrin, he could see faint teeth marks. He leaned forward and gave the other man a fast, hard kiss before stepping back and clearing his throat gruffly.
“Man, if my brother wasn’t waiting for me in the car…”
“But he is.” D struggled to remember how to breathe. His cheeks were tinted a delicate pink and he smoothed one hand over his rumpled hair to keep them occupied when all he wanted to do was pull the other man into his arms and ravish him senseless. “And you must go, Detective. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“You can count on it.”
Leon took his time walking back to the car, hoping the short walk would calm him down. When he reached the car, he noted that Chris had made himself at home in the front passenger side seat. He glanced up from one of his school books when he heard the door open.
“Are you okay, big bro?” His brows knitted in concern. “You’re face is all pink.”
“I’m fine.” Leon slammed the door, started the engine and put the car in reverse. “Let’s get you home.”
While Leon concentrated on navigating them through the streets, Chris reached out and fumbled with the radio knobs until he came to a station he liked. When the commercial break was finally over, the opening notes of Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On began to play. It had been a runaway hit every since that damned Titanic movie had come out last December and frankly, he was sick to death of hearing it.
Rolling his eyes, he reached over to change the channel, but Chris stopped him.
“Hey, I like that song.”
“You do?” With his fingers on the knob, he stared at his younger brother as if he had sprouted a second head.
“Yeah, I mean, sure. It’s okay.” The small shoulders shrugged. “Girls really dig that kind of stuff.”
Leon laughed. “We got ourselves a little lady’s man, here.”
“Well, they do.” Chris said defensively.
“Yeah, they do. Well, most do.” Leon amended, pulling back without changing the channel, though it just about killed him to do it. He was really sick of that song. “Not all.”
They drove in silence as the music filled the car. Celine Dion was replaced by Faith Hill's This Kiss, and by then Leon was ready to snap the radio off and call it a day.
Around them, traffic was beginning to pick up as they neared their neighborhood. There were family cars on the road filled with men, women and children in their Sunday best. Mothers, fathers, kids… Families.
Something tightened in Leon’s chest as his thoughts went out to the mother he had lost, the mother Chris had never had a chance to know. Though he hadn’t seen her for seven years, he though about her, missed her, every day. He glanced at his brother, who was looking out the window. And he knew that in some ways, he probably missed her every inch as much as he did.
Chris turned to his brother.
“Big bro, Dad’s coming home tomorrow, right?
“Sure is.” Leon said, blinking his eyes a few times. An eyelash, or dust mote, no doubt. “I’ll be picking him up at the airport around noon.”
“Good. I miss him.”
“Yeah,” Leon muttered, as he pulled into their driveway, “So do I.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
CHAPTER 17
A/N: Finally! Once again, I apologize about the long delay. R/L is hectic right now and I have very little time to do writing, fan fiction or original. Winter is coming and hopefully I'll have more free time soon.
As always, constructive criticism is appreciated.
Pairing: Leon x D
Category: Supernatural/Alternate Universe
Rating: R
Warning: Violence, Language, Sexual Situations and Hermaphrodite!D
Title: The Hunted
Author: yellowhorde
Notes: This was written for NaNoWriMo 2007
Previous Chapters: Prologue 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
"God damn it!" Leon smacked the steering wheel with his good hand hard enough to sting as he approached the stop lights on Ocean Park Boulevard. Traffic was relatively light for a Sunday, even by Los Angeles standards, and they were making good time. At their current pace, he'd actually manage to pick Chris up on time for a change.
"It wasn't your fault, Detective." D murmured, laying a soothing hand on Leon's thigh. "Just let it go."
Frustration vibrated though Leon's body as he stepped on the brake, easing his car to a stop at the red light. He glanced up at the sky and, despite his current foul mood, felt a brief burst of amazement at the vibrant autumn colors on display around him. Warm red, orange and gold leaves rustled in a gentle breeze and fat fluffy clouds glided silently overhead. Everything looked artificial somehow, he thought, almost as if their colors had been taken directly out of a child's box of crayons.
For a moment he felt a deep sense of contentment but it quickly melted away as guilt and that new, ever present anger rose and engulfed him once more.
"I can't let it go, D," he growled, then sighed as he raked his fingers through his hair. "Christ, I attacked that asshole. Broke his fucking nose. I let him goad me like a hot-headed teenager protecting his girl's reputation."
"I suppose in a way you were," D patted his leg and smiled as Leon shot a glare at him. "Protecting my reputation, that is," he quickly amended. "But you did not start that fight, Detective; no matter what Mr. Wilkinson or anyone else for that matter may say on the matter."
"Maybe I didn't start it, but I sure as hell finished it." The light turned green and Leon turned the car onto South Centinela Avenue, tires squealing.
D didn't know what to say to that so he turned his head and watched the scenery outside his window. The quiet streets were lined with spacious homes with picture-perfect lawns. A few of those houses, he suspected, boasted sparkling blue swimming pools in their back yards.
It was the American dream personified, he mused, ripe and ready for the taking for anyone who could pay the price. And pay they would, too. No price was too high for those who desperately hungered for that dream.
Though D didn't say it aloud, he was worried about Leon's display of savagery. In his mind he once more heard the crash of plates exploding on the ground, saw Charles Wilkinson reel back, blood gushing like a fountain from his broken nose. But it was the rage he remembered seeing dance in Leon's blue eyes that sent a shiver working down his spine, that and the savage joy that had followed on its heels as he inflicted pain upon another human being.
Yes, he had been provoked, D thought, and no one who had heard the crass words from Charles' lips would deny that fact, but Leon's reaction had overstepped all civilized bounds. And that just wasn't like him.
The detective had always had a temper as D could well attest, but he had never lost control and actually seriously hurt anyone before... until now.
Biting his lower lip, D moved his shoulders and winced slightly at the pain. It was yet another example of Leon's recent loss of control. The mark had all but faded thanks to his almost supernatural healing abilities, for some reason the pain still lingered, a brutal reminder which accentuated his concern.
Without a doubt, something was wrong with Detective Orcot, but D wasn't sure what it was or what the exact source of the problem could be. Was he having trouble at work, perhaps with a fellow police officer? Or was he still upset at being taken off the Fletcher case?
D couldn't say for sure one way or the other. Their tea-time conversations had seldom if ever ventured into their personal and private lives. They had always tactically skated around the now obvious matter of their feelings toward one another.
Or my feelings toward him, D mentally amended.
While he could only now bring himself to acknowledge what he felt for the detective, he had no way of knowing if Leon held the same feelings for him. Their joining had not been exactly one of mutual attraction - though sexual gratification had no doubt been one of the side benefits - but the result of a contract, a marriage arrangement of sorts, that had been forged by Leon's mother and his grandfather while they were both children. It was this contract that had ultimately saved the Detective's life as a child and would, hopefully, save his own people from extinction now.
With his mind far away, D barely noticed when Leon slowed and, entering a cul de sac, pulled over to the curb and parked the car in front of one of the pleasant houses that lined the street. Then he heard him speak his name quietly.
"D?"
"Yes?" Dragged from his own musing, D suddenly realized that they must have reached their destination. He smiled at Leon, but received no answer smile in return.
"Look, D, I-" Leon twisted around in his seat so he was able to look him square in the face. His facial expression, no longer angry, was somber and a bit uncertain. "Well, you see, the thing is... What I mean is..." He frowned and paused as if to gather his thoughts.
D noticed Leon subtly straighten his spine and square his shoulders as if he were mentally preparing for battle. Tension screamed through every line of his body. Whatever he was going to say, and D had a good idea what was on his mind, it was not going to be easy for either of them.
"Yes, Leon?" D's voice was gentle, encouraging.
"Shit, there's no way I can say this and not sound like an asshole, but-"
"You don't want your family, especially your little brother, knowing about our..." For one second D hesitated on the word relationship but instead opted for something more appropriate for the moment, "Our arrangement."
Leon's face registered his undisguised surprise at having D of all people beat him to the punch on such a delicate matter, and surprise was quickly followed by relief that he hadn't been the one who had to say it, at least not aloud. He mentally berated himself for his cowardice, but that didn't lessen the relief one bit.
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?"
He let out a small puff of breath he hadn't known he had been holding. "I don't think Chris is old enough to understand about, you know," He gestured helplessly between him and D, his shoulders slouching. "About us. And my dad... Christ, I don't even want to go there."
"I understand."
"You do?" Leon straightened and his eyes scanned D's face, searching his eyes to gauge his mood. "You're not mad?"
"No, of course not." D replied evenly.
And he wasn't mad at all. But it hurt more than he could have ever expected that Leon was too ashamed or embarrassed to reveal their relationship to those who mattered to him the most. Still, he did understand why care needed to be taken. Theirs was an unusual situation, one that went well beyond the acceptable norms of society.
"Great, that's great. Thanks a lot, man. That really takes a load off my mind."
The tension all but melted from Leon's body, but still he turned his head and directed his gaze across the tidy yard to the obviously well-maintained house as if to hide from the hurt that D suspected must have shown in his eyes despite his effort to keep his face pleasantly neutral.
"You're welcome."
The front door opened and Mrs. Thompson emerged from the interior of the house with Chris at her side, looking small and uncertain. She leaned down and said something to the little boy, neat in his blue jeans and red polo shirt. He glanced up at her with a grateful smile before dropping his backpack and letting go of her hand before sprinting toward the car.
Smiling, Leon opened the door, walked around the car to join D on the sidewalk, and joyfully spread his uninjured arm wide to receive the cannonball that was his little brother. Chris barreled into him and wrapped his arms around him tightly as if he never intended to let go ever again.
"Big bro! I'm so happy to see you!"
"Hey, squirt," Leon murmured roughly, pulling the child to him in a fierce one-handed embrace. He winced as a shot of pain raced down his arm. "Easy there, okay? I'm one of the walking wounded, now.” He ruffled the little boy’s baby-fine hair. “Miss me?"
"I guess so." Chris tipped his head back so he could meet his big brother's steady, if slightly misty gaze.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Anxiety clouded his big, blue eyes, so much like his brother's, and Leon felt a twinge of guilt when he saw the faint circles that had formed under his eyes.
"Hey, I’m as right as rain, kiddo. No fur bag is going to get the best of me. So don't go losing any sleep over it, okay?"
"Okay."
"Chris was really worried, Leon," Mrs. Thompson walked up, casual as ever in khaki twill slacks, a light blue sweater set and loafers, and offered one of her mother-smiles, as Leon always thought of them. It held a baffling mixture of warmth and relief with just a touch of exasperation. God knows he had given his own mother ample of reasons to practice her own version. "We all were. Are you alright?"
Knowing he'd be asked that question a lot over the next few days, Leon sighed, then chuckled ruefully. "I'm fine, really. The attack wasn't nearly as bad as I'm sure the media is making it out to be."
"Yeah, you're probably right, but there's always this knee-jerk reaction when you hear about a werewolf attack, you know? It sounds like something you'd see in a horror movie, but it's real." She shook her head in a bemused sort of way, and added, almost to herself, "It's really real."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
“Tomorrow’s the full moon,” Mrs. Thompson said, and though her voice didn’t betray her, there was a touch of unease in her eyes. She wrapped her arms about her as if she were cold. “Do you think that you might-“
“Everything will be fine.” Leon reached out and laid his hand lightly on her shoulder, gave it a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. And my partner and the rest of the team are on top of things. God willing, no one will get hurt and things will be back to normal in no time.”
Mrs. Thompson nodded her head even as her gaze traveled to D who stood by Leon's side smiling quietly. Her brows rose in surprise as she glanced between Leon and D and her face held an open question.
"And who is your friend, Leon?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah. He's, uh, a friend," Leon said, and it sounded lame even to his own ears, but it was, more or less, the truth. He ran his hand through his hair and scuffed his flip-flop clad foot against the sidewalk. Taking a deep breath, he resigned himself to making formal introductions.
"This is Count D. He picked me up at the hospital and stayed the night to make sure everything was, uh, working all right."
"D, this is Mrs. Thompson."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, madam." D held out his hand politely in the Western style, though Leon knew he probably would have been more comfortable bowing as was his custom. "You are very lovely and kind for taking care of Christopher during this small crisis."
"Why, thank you," Flushing with pleasure, Mrs. Thompson took his offered hand and gave him a rather besotted smile. Leon had seen D have a similar effect on both women and men. He had to give the guy some credit. He really did know how to pour on the charm. “But it was a pleasure, as always, believe me.”
"Count D?” She said reflectively, "Oh, my. How exotic. And here I thought Count was a European title."
"It is, actually, yes. But my grandfather was given the title long ago by England's ruling monarch."
"How fascinating!"
Watching the two of them chatter on almost like old friends, Leon couldn't help but feel relief that Mrs. Thompson had accepted his story at face value. Many, he knew, would not. It felt weird having D at his side, right out where people could see them together where they could make their own judgments or speculations. But if they were going to be boinking like a couple of hormone-crazy high school kids, the least he could do was introduce him to family and friends, even if the true nature of their relationship remained secret.
No matter how awkward it was for him to admit, even to himself, that he was having sex with D - another man, more or less - he couldn't keep D hidden away like some dark secret. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair to D. He meant more to him than that. Or he should. After all, they were trying to make a baby together. That had to count for something, didn't it?
It wasn't anyone's business what they did between the sheets, anyway. Their private lives were just that - private.
To hide a flutter of embarrassment that tightened his stomach, Leon hunkered down so he was eye to eye with his brother. "You do remember Count D, don't you, big guy?"
"Sure! He's the one who owns a weird pet shop in Chinatown, right?"
D arched his eyebrows at that. Leon grinned and sent him one of those kids-will-be-kids looks.
"That’s right."
"Maybe we can go there some time and check it out?"
"I don't think that's such a good idea." Leon muttered, shuddering at the memories of man-eating mermaids and killer rabbits. Rabbits, for Christ's sake! What a fucked up world.
"Why not?" Chris demanded, and to Leon's amusement he saw a bit of himself reflected in the stubborn jut of his jaw, the hell-or-high-water look of determination in his eyes. "I bet he has all kinds of cool stuff there."
"Yeah, he has shit that will blow your fucking mind, that's for sure."
Two pairs of disapproving eyes immediately pivoted his way. It was amazing that he didn't burst into flame under such intense heat. No words required, just that 'please, watch your language' stare. How did they do that? Leon wondered. If he could turn up the guilt factor like that while interrogating suspects, he'd be up for promotion in no time.
He was tempted to say that it was a mother thing, but D wasn't a mother... at least not officially. Or was he? God, it boggled the mind! It was probably way too early to tell one way or the other. But the idea of D carrying a child - his child since he's the only man D had ever had sex with - scared the hell out of him for reasons he couldn't even bring himself to even think about.
"Sorry, 'bout that." He mumbled, holding his hands palms up in a gesture of surrender.
"Just don't let it happen again, mister." Mrs. Thompson said, her words softened by the humor sparkling in her eyes.
"Yes, ma'am!" Leon delivered a smart salute that had Chris giggling and D smiling in bemusement.
"Anyway, Chris, you already have a pet, remember?"
"Nibbles gets lonely all by herself. Thanks." Chris accepted the backpack Mrs. Thompson handed him and absently shrugged it onto his small shoulders. He turned those blue eyes, so much like Leon's to Count D.
"Rats are social creatures, you know.” He rocked back on his heels. “It isn't good for them to be alone."
"Indeed, you are correct, Christopher." D smiled. Leon snorted.
"Whatever. It's a rat, it'll get over it. And I still don't think it would be a good idea."
"I bet I could get Dad to let me get another pet."
And he probably could, Leon thought wryly, detecting a subtle note of challenge in his brother's voice. Their father doted on the boy and Chris had managed to convince him that let him get a rodent as a pet. That still puzzled the hell out of Leon because both he and his father had long held the belief that dogs and cats were pets and everything else was just… weird.
Either Chris was a born salesman, or the old man was getting senile.
"Let’s leave that up to Dad, okay?" Leon hedged then turned and headed around the car to the driver's side. "Now, let's get going. Daylight's a-wasting."
"Goodbye, Mrs. Thompson." Chris waved as he ducked into the back seat. "See you tomorrow."
Leon started the engine then maneuvered the car away from the curb and retraced their route down Evensong Drive. Overhead, a small, privately owned airplane cruised by on its way to the nearby Santa Monica Municipal Airport. Darts of light reflected off its windshield as it passed by with a low rumbling roar. Chris pressed his fingers against the window and watched, fascinated, until it was disappeared over the treetops.
When the house was out of sight, Leon glanced at his brother through the rearview mirror. “What’s this about tomorrow night? She just got rid of you and you’re going to go bugging her again?”
“I told you a million times! Our Science Fair project is due Tuesday.” Chris mumbled as he turned from the window and began rummaging through his backpack. “And I’m going to spend the night tomorrow so she can drop us off… on time.” Leon’s eyebrows arched at the pointed reprimand in his brother’s voice. “Besides, Dad already said it was okay.”
D turned in his seat and smiled, “What are you doing for your project, Christopher?”
“A volcano,” Chris enthused. He pulled a crumpled piece of paper he had dug out of the crowded depths of his pack and handed it to D. It contained the instructions on how to build a baking soda volcano and included a grainy photo of one in mid-eruption, “It’s gonna be so cool!”
“A little advanced for you, kiddo, don’t you think?”
“Naw, it’s never too soon to start blowing stuff up.” Leon and D exchanged amused glances at this but Chris didn’t seem to notice in his excitement. “My teacher says I’m pretty good at science and stuff. And she was the one who came up with the idea.”
“That’s probably because she’s not the one who’s going to have to clean up the mess.” Leon mumbled under his breath.
“Be nice, Detective.”
Leon rolled his eyes and said nothing.
“I can’t wait for Dad to see it.” Chris accepted the piece of paper that D handed back to him and stuffed it back into his backpack. “We’ve been working really hard on it. It’s going to be the biggest blow-up ever!”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
And this was true. John Orcot loved being involved in his sons’ lives. Sometimes too involved, Leon thought wryly as he remembered the many attempts he had already made to fix him up with women. If he knew his father, he’d be at the school right out in the front row, video camera in hand, a proud grin on his face.
They drove in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sound the steady rumbling of the motor.
“Will you be there, Leon?”
Something very close to panic leapt into Leon’s eyes. “Will I be where?”
“The Science Fair, duh.”
Realizing that he had completely forgotten about it, Leon glanced into the mirror and met his brother’s hopeful gaze. Damn, the kid actually wanted him to be there. He could see it in those baby blues. And he had forgotten all about the damned thing. There was no way he’d be able to get the time off now.
“Uh, gee, I don’t know. It’s kind of short notice, don’t you think?”
“I told you about it three weeks ago!” Chris’ bottom lip jutted out in angry disappointment. Manfully, he didn’t cry. However, he did add a deliberate quiver to his lip in order to push the guilt button extra hard. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
“No, no, I didn’t.” Leon lied. They were almost at the shop now and he turned off North Broadway and onto Bamboo Lane, thinking fast. “I’ve just been busy… lots of things on my mind, you know… work and stuff.”
“Your brother will be at the Fair, Christopher.” D broke in with quiet conviction. “He wouldn’t miss it for the world. He already has the day off. Isn’t that right, Detective?”
“Yeah,” Leon nodded his head suddenly remembering that he was supposed to be off for the next few days, or so. Okay, more like weeks, but who was counting? “I’ve got some time off coming and I thought it would be great to watch my little brother blow shit up.”
“You’re really going?” In an instant, Chris’ eyes lit up in excitement and his grin was infectious.
“I’m really going.” Leon promised and offered one of his own smiles in return. Then he leaned toward D and whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “I’m really going, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are, Detective.” D patted his hand reassuringly. “You wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Carefully, Leon pulled the car to the curb and killed the engine. He got out and leaned down to speak to his brother. “Hey, stay here for a minute, will you, squirt? I’m going to make sure the Count here gets to his front door without getting mugged.”
“Sure.”
He walked around the car and chivalrously opened D’s door for him. D smiled at him and offered his hand. Leon accepted it and helped him out of the car, achingly aware of how the simple touch of his hand sent his heart skipping and heat swirling in his loins. The gesture was only slightly tarnished as he cast mortified glances around to make sure no one was watching as he strolled along beside D, trying very hard to appear casual as he descended the steps that led to the pet shop.
“Want me to stop by tomorrow night?” Leon asked once they reached the front door. He felt like an awkward teenager asking a girl if she’d had a good time on their date. Damn it, you’d think that once they’d gone and done the nasty everything else would come a little bit easier, but that just didn’t seem to be the case. He reached out and traced the tips of his fingers along D’s cheek.
“I’d like that.” D murmured, his eyes dark, lips slightly parted. He caught Leon’s hand in his own and, bringing it to his lips, pressed a light kiss along the bruised knuckles. “Very much.”
Leon made a small strangled sound as heat flashed through his body, surprised that such small gestures seemed to have such profound effects on him. His blood roared through his ears and he could see his longing reflected in D’s eyes. Hell, the air fairly crackled with it.
Before he realized it, he had D pushed up against the wall, one knee wedged between his legs, his good hand fisting in that dark silk of his hair. With a growl he yanked D’s head back and bit none too gently at the tender flesh of his throat.
D’s hands fluttered to his shoulders, hesitated, and it was uncertain whether he was trying to push him away or pull him closer. The soft moan that escaped past D’s lips, though, was certainly clear enough.
“D-detective… Oh! Please… yes.”
Somehow, knowing D was just as hot and ready for sex as he was almost pushed Leon over the edge of control. He wanted to rip away that prim and proper outfit D was wearing and make love to him, right there, right now, in front of God and everyone. And judging from the way he was reacting, D probably would have let him.
Probably.
God damn it!
Drawing from his innermost reserves of strength, he managed to find the will to break away. His breath was coming in hard pants and D, wide-eyed, looked just as shocked as he felt. There was a large red blotch forming where he had bitten him. To his chagrin, he could see faint teeth marks. He leaned forward and gave the other man a fast, hard kiss before stepping back and clearing his throat gruffly.
“Man, if my brother wasn’t waiting for me in the car…”
“But he is.” D struggled to remember how to breathe. His cheeks were tinted a delicate pink and he smoothed one hand over his rumpled hair to keep them occupied when all he wanted to do was pull the other man into his arms and ravish him senseless. “And you must go, Detective. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“You can count on it.”
Leon took his time walking back to the car, hoping the short walk would calm him down. When he reached the car, he noted that Chris had made himself at home in the front passenger side seat. He glanced up from one of his school books when he heard the door open.
“Are you okay, big bro?” His brows knitted in concern. “You’re face is all pink.”
“I’m fine.” Leon slammed the door, started the engine and put the car in reverse. “Let’s get you home.”
While Leon concentrated on navigating them through the streets, Chris reached out and fumbled with the radio knobs until he came to a station he liked. When the commercial break was finally over, the opening notes of Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On began to play. It had been a runaway hit every since that damned Titanic movie had come out last December and frankly, he was sick to death of hearing it.
Rolling his eyes, he reached over to change the channel, but Chris stopped him.
“Hey, I like that song.”
“You do?” With his fingers on the knob, he stared at his younger brother as if he had sprouted a second head.
“Yeah, I mean, sure. It’s okay.” The small shoulders shrugged. “Girls really dig that kind of stuff.”
Leon laughed. “We got ourselves a little lady’s man, here.”
“Well, they do.” Chris said defensively.
“Yeah, they do. Well, most do.” Leon amended, pulling back without changing the channel, though it just about killed him to do it. He was really sick of that song. “Not all.”
They drove in silence as the music filled the car. Celine Dion was replaced by Faith Hill's This Kiss, and by then Leon was ready to snap the radio off and call it a day.
Around them, traffic was beginning to pick up as they neared their neighborhood. There were family cars on the road filled with men, women and children in their Sunday best. Mothers, fathers, kids… Families.
Something tightened in Leon’s chest as his thoughts went out to the mother he had lost, the mother Chris had never had a chance to know. Though he hadn’t seen her for seven years, he though about her, missed her, every day. He glanced at his brother, who was looking out the window. And he knew that in some ways, he probably missed her every inch as much as he did.
Chris turned to his brother.
“Big bro, Dad’s coming home tomorrow, right?
“Sure is.” Leon said, blinking his eyes a few times. An eyelash, or dust mote, no doubt. “I’ll be picking him up at the airport around noon.”
“Good. I miss him.”
“Yeah,” Leon muttered, as he pulled into their driveway, “So do I.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
CHAPTER 17
A/N: Finally! Once again, I apologize about the long delay. R/L is hectic right now and I have very little time to do writing, fan fiction or original. Winter is coming and hopefully I'll have more free time soon.
As always, constructive criticism is appreciated.
