Revenge Exchange

A/N: Hey guys. I have had a very…bad few days. Though the original plan was to have this chapter for you all edited and formatted for Monday, I kind of couldn’t. Yeah, it sounds like an excuse, right? Not this time. I got into a major highway accident, and my car is smashed. No broken bones, but I’ve got a concussion, some really icky bruises, and a prescription for drugs that knock me out for hours and hours. Now I have put off taking my pain pills for you guys so that you can read chapter six. Please enjoy. And review!

Don’t forget to read all the way to the bottom. There’s a preview of Chapter 7.

Warning:

S-ai--Shounen-ai (no sex yet…sorry)
Flu--Fluff

Chapter 6: Bravery

“More than ever…
I need to feel you.
More than ever…
I see the real you.”
--Yellowcard, “Waiting Game”

Ten-chan blinked at the sleeping man. He had just entered Leon’s room, and found something rather interesting. Leon was lying on the bed, asleep, but he held his pillow the way a small child does a stuffed animal. This was something that the detective had not done before. Unable to stop himself, he approached the man. It was adorable to see a grown man hugging a pillow, and Ten-chan sighed. It really was too bad that D wouldn’t allow him to touch the human, because he felt a nearly overwhelming urge to curl up next to Leon, and snuggle.

Instead, he flipped on the lamp. “Wake up, detective.” Ten-chan stood watching as the man rolled awkwardly over onto his side, the new braces he wore on his legs causing them to be heavy, but not unmanageable. Leon pushed the pillow away lazily before he slid to the bed’s edge. Ten-chan liked Leon best when he was just waking up. He didn’t seem to mind him being there, and once in a while, he scratched behind Ten-chan’s ears as a good morning.

Today, the physical therapist was coming to the shop. This meant that Leon was going to have to ignore all of Ten-chan’s comments, and pretend that all of the animals in the shop were mute, and dumb. The woman who came to help the detective regain the use of his legs was rather annoying, as far as Ten-chan saw it. For that matter, D did not seem to like her very much, either.

Because of the treatment he was going to receive later, Ten-chan got extra-close to Leon. He sat on the edge of the bed, bracing one arm on the bed behind the human, and leaned close. “Therapy today, Leon.” A sleepy nod was the only answer the man gave. “I don’t like it when you ignore me.” This was the absolute truth. Ten-chan did not like it when anyone ignored him, but he considered Leon Orcot to be his own personal plaything, and because of this relationship, he truly despised the days when the woman came to make Leon do all of the stretching and flexing exercises to get the mobility back in his legs.

“Spoiled brat,” the blonde human yawned, throwing an arm around Ten-chan’s shoulders and pulling him into a bear-hug. “You’re worse than old goat-beard is with Chris.” Ten-chan buried his face in the front of Leon’s shirt, welcoming the rare voluntary contact. Nosing into the fabric, he snuggled into the man’s grip. When one of Leon’s arms loosened, he felt short nails scratching his head, and he purred, leaning into the touch. Leon chuckled good-humoredly. “Like that?”

“Mmm…” Ten-chan hummed, his eyes closing.

“Ahem.” Ten-chan growled in the back of his throat, his eyes opening. He hated being interrupted when Leon finally decided that he was going to be nice. D’s voice came again, sounding irritated. “Should I leave you two alone?”

An evil smile came over Ten-chan’s face when Leon turned red. “Yes,” the golden-eyed fox replied in a sultry tone. “We were in the middle of something.” D was clearly not amused.

“Leon, perhaps you should get dressed. That odious woman has just arrived, and her voice is grating on my nerves.” There was a crease between D’s eyebrows, and Ten-chan smiled inwardly. D really didn’t like the physical therapist. Leon let go of Ten-chan, depositing him on the bed gently. The man then took up his crutches and hobbled over to the dresser, where he pulled out a clean shirt and a set of shorts.

Ten-chan covertly watched how D looked away when Leon’s old t-shirt he wore to bed went over his head. It seemed that the shopkeeper did not like looking at the scars that now decorated the detective’s back. Most notably, there was one with visible staple scars from just to the left of his spine to where his shoulder began. The pink, freshly healed skin was a jagged line, because the thug had been creative in his ‘carving’. Ten-chan smirked, “I suppose I should see if Tot-chan needs any help in the kitchen…” before he slipped out of the room, leaving D alone with the detective.

--

D steadied his breathing. The room seemed a bit warmer than it should be. Leon tossed his t-shirt into the hamper, across the room. This, of course, called D’s attention to the fact that he was still only partially clothed, a detail that had adverse effects on his mental stability. The movement brought his eyes back to the still-healing man. He had begun gathering the clean t-shirt so that he might better slip it over his head. “Damn,” Leon muttered. He had dropped the shirt on the floor.

The man stood there, glaring at the garment, for a long moment, before he tried to use his right crutch to pick it up. D crossed the room before he knew what he was doing, and had the shirt in his hands before realizing it. Leon reached for it, but stopped. D froze, the shirt held in both of his hands, soft worn cotton bunched in his fingers. He studied Leon through hair that had fallen over his eyes. His hair was getting too long, and it needed a trim. He could probably do with a shave. There was sleep at the corners of his eyes, and the folds from the pillowcase were imprinted on his right cheek.

“D,” Leon said quietly, “I—“

“Leon Orcot!”

Both men groaned aloud. Janet McCullough, the physical therapist, had apparently invited herself into the rear of the shop again. She entered the room without knocking. For an instant, D’s eyes flashed murder before he could cover it. He truly hated that woman. He stepped around Leon, shielding him from her view. Giving the woman a hard look, he said with practiced politeness in his tone, “Madame, Leon is not yet dressed. Please give us a few more minutes.” He watched her dark eyes narrow.

The overly tanned skin of the woman’s face drew back in a rather fake smile, and she then said in her highly pitched voice, “Sure. I’ll just go and wait in the room, then.” When she was gone, D sagged where he stood.

Then, he turned around. Leon was still facing the dresser. Reaching out, he almost touched one of the man’s scars, but caught himself. Instead, he gently pushed the shirt over Leon’s head, pulling shaggy blonde hair out of the collar. Straightening the bunched fabric, he held one of the sleeves while a muscled arm slid through, careful not to touch the other man. After doing the same with the second sleeve, D reached for the clean shorts that hung out of the bureau’s drawer.

“You don’t have to do this,” Leon’s voice was quiet. D’s fingers closed on the well-worn twill of the shorts, tugging slightly. The process of maneuvering the baggy shorts on over the braces was awkward, but faster than if Leon had been doing it alone. Without really thinking about it, D fastened and zipped them as well, his arms reaching around the other man. Though he had been very careful not to touch Leon with his hands, no matter how they wanted to do so, D was helpless to stop the movement of those tanned shoulders as they stiffened. The detective’s back straightened too quickly for D, and the slightly shorter man found that he was suddenly pressed against Leon’s back.

For a moment, D was unable to breathe. Leon’s shirt was warm against the side of his face, and he could feel the pulsing of the man’s heart. In the instant before he let go, D closed his eyes, simply feeling the closeness, the firm, reassuring weight of Leon’s body. But as quickly as it had come, the moment was over, and D pulled away, an apology falling from his lips. “Pardon me, Detective,” he murmured hastily, backing away and nearly tripping over a fallen shoe. “I…I will see you when your therapy is completed…”

--

“D…wait…” Leon called, but D was already out of the door. He felt like he wanted to bash his head against the wall. Hell, it might do him some good. No. What would do him good would be for him to make D stand still long enough to get some answers. It wasn’t just his imagination anymore. Leon was not sure that it had ever been, now. There were times he could think back on…when he should have realized what was happening. Damning himself for a fool, he shoved his feet into the black slippers D had given him for his last birthday.

He couldn’t figure out if he should laugh or cry. D had the uncanny talent for showing up at random times when he was least expected, and doing something that threw Leon off completely. Like during the Evanjelin Blue case. After the singer disappeared, and they suspected foul play on part of the fiancé, they’d all been sitting around the station, trying to figure out how to approach the situation. And then, out of nowhere, D’s voice was in his ear, so close that he’d nearly jumped out of his skin. The shopkeeper had brought tea and a basket full of food. Why could he remember that so well, right down to the way that black satin trim along the collar of D’s dress had reminded him of the man’s hair?

As he hobbled out of the room, Leon cursed himself once again. He should have seen it coming. But it had blind-sided him at that parade, though he did not know what it was at the time, and now he was paying the price for it. The hallway stretched out like it usually did, various animals running around in differing states of dress or undress, and Leon smiled faintly at them. He thought he saw Cordelia from the corner of his eye, but when he turned his head, she was gone. The door to the room they used for his therapy was open, and he entered it. Janet was sitting in a chair, that same old mean-spirited grin on her face.

Ten-chan slipped in behind him, hopping up onto the table on the far wall. “Sadistic cow,” the fox growled, and Leon had to try very hard not to laugh. He settled for a smile and greeting the woman who would torture him for the next three hours.

--

Tot-chan leaned against the stove. He crossed his arms over his chest and eyed D for what had to be the fifth time since the shopkeeper had rushed into the room. There was a light sheen of sweat on the man’s pale skin when he came in, and he seemed agitated. Now, he was calm enough, but something was off. D was sitting there at the table, fiddling with a napkin absently, his fingers smoothing it surreptitiously, and sighing every now and again. A grunt escaped the totetsu’s throat. “Spill it, D.”

Long fingers stopped their movement, and his head turned toward the goat-boy. Tot-chan’s face was drawn in an expectant look, his eyebrows raised, lips pursed. “Well?” came the sharp not-quite-request for information. “What’s eating you? If you sigh one more time, I think I might have to go and eat that human, just so you’ll shut up.” D looked alarmed. He pressed his lips together nervously. Tot-chan rolled his eyes. The man avoided looking at him, and instead inspected the wood of the kitchen table.

“I…nothing’s wrong.” D muttered, obviously lying.

Tot-chan walked over to the table, leaning on the wood with his elbows. “Don’t give me that, D. Did that stupid human do something to upset you?” D shook his head. “Well, then what’s the problem?” Now that he was so close, he could see that the man’s face had turned a very subtle shade of pink. Oh. So that’s how it is, huh? Smiling toothily, his canine teeth glinting in the fluorescent lights, Tot-chan said in an uncharacteristically sly tone, “You should just bite him, D.”

This statement made D’s purple and gold eyes widen significantly as he gaped at Tot-chan. Then, they narrowed. “Not all species can use those methods,” came the tart reply.

“Then try flowers and candy. That’s what humans do, isn’t it?” Tot-chan enjoyed the way D’s face turned a darker version of pink, and he looked away. “Come on, D. You two are so obvious it’s just disgusting.”

Now, the dark-haired man’s back straightened, surprise painting his face. “Two?”

Tot-chan threw his hands up in exasperation, his voice thundering through the kitchen. “You have got to be kidding me!” The wide-eyed expression of innocence and naiveté on D’s face made him want to scream. It was so obvious to him that the detective was smitten with D…and vice versa…that it should have been clear to either one of them. Leon, he could understand. That man wouldn’t know anyway. Humans were like that. But D? “Get out of my kitchen, D.” When D tried to protest, Tot-chan just crossed his arms over his chest and said firmly, “Out, D.” Slowly, the slender man rose from his chair, and walked from the room. Tot-chan growled under his breath about stupidity as he worked on preparing Leon’s breakfast. Now he really wanted to spit in it.

--

Leon leaned heavily against the wall, legs shaking. “Jesus…” he breathed, glad that Janet was finally gone. The room seemed like it was going to fall over…or was that just him? Probably him. The next thing he knew, he felt arms supporting him, pulling him until he reached the little couch. He was gently settled down onto it, his legs pulled up onto the cushions.

He felt a glass pushed into his hands, and heard Ten-chan. “Drink that, Leon.” He did as he was told, gulping the water quickly, sighing when he had finished. The fox sat on the floor, regarding him with those golden eyes, looking concerned. “Are you all right?” Ten-chan asked, taking the glass. Leon nodded. But he didn’t feel fine. His legs were on fire. They’d worked without his braces again, trying to make his knees bend, and also get him to stand up without the crutches. It was frustrating, not being able to move around like he used to.

The pain in his legs was almost unbearable. It was like a burning ache, and he really just wanted to knock himself out. “You were right though,” he grunted, “she is a sadistic cow.” Ten-chan laughed, and pushed his sweaty hair off of his forehead. After a long time of just sitting, Ten-chan picked up one of his braces, carefully lifting Leon’s left leg to put it beneath, then cinching it tightly with the Velcro straps. Doing the same with the other brace, Ten-chan then helped him to his feet and handed him the crutches. “Thanks, kiddo,” he said as he scratched just behind the fox’s left ear. An absolutely goofy grin spread over Ten-chan’s face, and Leon couldn’t help it. He laughed.

Somewhere between the therapy room and Leon’s bedroom, Ten-chan disappeared. Leon was unconcerned, since that happened every now and again. His hand touched the knob on the door, and he smelled pancakes and tea. Suddenly ravenous, he turned the brass fixture and pushed into the room. The tray sat on the table, his tea already poured. Pancakes, butter, syrup, and a small bowl of jam were arranged neatly on the rosewood tray, and Leon looked around for D. He did not see him.

Letting out a slow breath, Leon sat down to eat. The food was excellent, as always. The pancakes were sweet, butter very nearly soaking them, and making them melt in his mouth. Tea, warm and fragrant, was the perfect compliment to the maple syrup. But something was missing. As Leon pondered this problem, he sipped his tea. When he had done with the cup, he placed it on the tray and stood to hobble over to the bathroom. He was sticky and not a little smelly from his torture session with Janet, and he needed a shower.

Better yet, he might just have to take a bath. Soaking for about half an hour would do his sore muscles a world of good.

--

D was very distracted. He tried hard to listen to the woman as she told him how the cat she’d purchased was doing, but he found no interest in her words. Every few minutes he would catch himself touching his face, where it had been pressed against that old shirt, feeling firm muscles beneath. When he did, D would give himself a little shake. Sighing lightly, he turned his attention back to the woman. It was going to be a long day.

Twenty minutes later, when the woman had bought a new collar for the cat, he ushered her out of the shop. It was almost noon, now. He would have to take Leon his lunch. As much as he dreaded seeing the man after that incident this morning, D could barely contain his need to be around him. Not sure if it was fascination or something infinitely more dangerous, D made the short trek to the kitchen to see if Tot-chan had cooled off from the last time he had decided to yell at him.

The goat-boy was moving swiftly around the kitchen, preparing something that smelled like mushrooms. He looked up from the bowl where he was marinating a large Portobello mushroom, and snorted when he saw D. Once he had skewered it and put it to broil in the oven, Tot-chan raised one eyebrow at him. “Are you ready to stop being stupid about this, or do I need to eat someone?” When he got no answer, he merely smirked and went to the stove, removing a boiling pot from the heat. He took this to the sink, draining out linguine pasta, and heaping it onto a plate, spraying it with a bit of olive oil. The marinade was added to a butter sauce, and let simmer into a glaze.

In a way, D envied how well the totetsu cooked. His envy was suspended, however, when a strong pair of hands gripped his shoulders, squeezing. Tot-chan’s gruff voice came close to his right ear. “You aren’t usually this cowardly, D.” Those hands began kneading, and D’s eyes fluttered shut at the pleasant sensation. “I have never seen you shrink away from something you wanted.”

His head fell forward, hair hanging down over his face. D said quietly, “This is different…”

The oven’s buzzer rang, and Tot-chan moved to take out the mushroom. Setting the pan on the counter atop a bright orange trivet, he said pointedly, “That’s what makes it so important to be brave, D.” He knew that Tot-chan had a point, but there was no way he could…no. He knew that there was something between he and Leon, but he didn’t know what it was. And it was unlike him to just jump into something without examining every side of the situation. He had to be careful. D just watched silently as the mushroom was sliced, and arranged atop the pasta. The marinade glaze was poured over this, and topped with grated Romano cheese and freshly ground black pepper.

Tot-chan moved to the refrigerator, from which he pulled a small plate with a lid. When the lid was removed, D saw a perfect slice of pure ivory-colored cheesecake. This, the chef drizzled liquid chocolate over, and placed a ripe strawberry on the top. D’s mouth was watering. He felt himself reaching for the sweet confection, but then a sting across his hand let him know that he was displeasing the cook. The cover was replaced, and then the pot of tea was put onto the tray, along with the dessert, a small bowl of soup, and the plate of Portobello pasta. “Try not to eat Leon’s dessert.”

D made a face, and picked up the tray and utensils on his way out of the kitchen. He could control himself. Besides, whatever sweets were in the shop, he had rights to them over anyone else. Leon could have his cheesecake. D had raspberry and cream tarts waiting for him in the parlor.

The walk to Leon’s room seemed rather long. He knocked on the door, and waited. After a moment, he pushed into the room, finding Leon asleep. Very quietly, D settled the food tray on the table. Then, he moved to stand at the side of the bed. The edges of his lips curled upward as he looked down at Leon. He’d fallen asleep in his bathrobe. Apparently, that horrible woman had worked him especially hard this morning. He always had a nap after their sessions, but they never made him so tired that he didn’t put on fresh clothes. At least he’d been able to pull up the covers.

He looked younger when he slept. D leaned down, gently taking hold of Leon’s shoulder, shaking him lightly. “Leon,” he said softly, “wake up, Leon.” Though he did not wake, he shifted in the bed, rolling onto his side and hugging his pillow. Something in D’s chest melted, and he could not keep from letting out a little sound of delight. As a connoisseur of all things sweet, D thought that it was quite easily the most charming thing he’d seen in a long time. “Leon,” D meant to speak louder, but it only came out as a whisper.

To his surprise, blue eyes opened, blinking groggily up at him. Leon smiled sleepily, “Hey, beautiful…” before his eyes closed again. D’s face instantly broke out in a blush, which intensified when a large hand fell over his, giving a slight squeeze before going slack again and sliding back onto the mattress. Trying to calm himself—quite unsuccessfully—he straightened to a standing position again, and set out all of the plates for Leon’s lunch. By the time he was finished (he made rather too much noise while setting down the teapot), Leon was sitting up awake. “Hey, D…can you help me?”

The detective tried to stand, but fell back onto the bed; legs still weak from the therapy that morning. D approached, and slung Leon’s arm over his shoulders, helping him over to the table. When he lowered the man into his chair, he thought that Leon’s fingers lingered a bit on his neck when he slid his arm away, but then passed it off as his imagination.

Seating himself nearby, he watched Leon eat. It still amazed D how much he could eat. When he came to the dessert, the detective smiled slightly. Leon ate the creamy stuff slowly, savoring each bite, and when he had finished the cake, he used his fingers to get the remaining chocolate from the plate. D had to look at something else when Leon put his finger into his mouth; otherwise he thought he might faint. The strawberry, he presented to D. “Here,” he said with a smile, “you should have something sweet, too.” D took the fruit carefully, preserving the small amount of chocolate still clinging to its surface.

The thing was juicy, and D sighed happily as he devoured it. Leon watched him eat, sipping his tea. Silence filled the room, pressing in on them, making D feel awkward again. He fidgeted under the table with his hands, intermittently stilling them. Finally unable to stand it, D stood and began collecting the dishes. Leon’s hand caught his wrist, and he stopped moving. D was sure that his heart stopped when he turned toward him.

Blue eyes burned up at him, and it was all he could do to breathe. He could feel the grip on his wrist shift, and the way that hand pulled at him, bringing him closer to those eyes. “D,” Leon’s voice seemed darker somehow, “don’t go.” Shocked to the point of speechlessness, D could only blink at those intense blue eyes as they came closer still. The hand holding him released his wrist, only to relocate to the back of his neck. “Don’t run away again,” he whispered against D’s lips, sounding a bit breathless, “Kiss me, beautiful, before I lose my nerve.”

--

Jesus…his heart was beating so fast…He’d said it. For a split second, Leon thought that D was going to back away. He was sure that D was going to run out of the room, completely disgusted with him. “Leon…” D breathed before he pressed his mouth firmly against Leon’s, sinking to his knees next to the chair. Leon shifted, turning his body toward D. He could taste strawberry juice lingering on lips that did not need the help in being sweet.

And then those lips parted, and Leon opened his own mouth, nibbling at D’s lips and dipping his tongue into impossible sweetness. One of D’s hands slid over his chest as the kiss deepened, and he slipped his other hand into the hair at the side of D’s face, finding the texture to be just as addictive as that of the man’s lips. When the kiss finally ended, Leon rested his forehead against D’s, his eyes remaining closed, and really unaware of when he had closed them. “I’ve wanted to do that…” he admitted, “…for so long…” He heard D’s breath hitch, and smiled. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know it…”

When he opened his eyes, D was staring at him, something like uncertainty in his eyes. Placing a small kiss at the corner of the man’s shapely lips, Leon tried to reassure him. “It’s been coming on for a while now,” His eyes slipped shut, and before he could stop himself, he was kissing D again. It was so hard not to! “God…” he gasped between kisses, during which D’s arms wound around his neck, pulling him ever closer, “…I could lose myself in you…” And it was true. Leon could just be like this all day, holding the slender, beautiful creature he now had in his arms. He could watch the way D’s eyes drooped until they shut, and listen to the tiny surprised sounds that the man made when he did something different with his mouth.

Finally, with great effort, he pulled away from that highly addictive mouth, and slipped his hands from D’s hair. D’s face had taken on a highly attractive flush, and he had to keep himself from touching it. He would just try to kiss him again. “D, say something.”

D swallowed audibly. Hand trembling, he reached out and touched Leon’s cheek. “You…you feel…when I saw you there…all the blood…” He wasn’t sure, but he thought there might have been tears gathering in D’s eyes. “…but now, you will be well, Leon.” D kissed him, all but throwing himself onto Leon; he then said fiercely against his ear, “I promise I will never let anything like that happen to you again.”

He wasn’t sure what to think about this sudden burst of sentiment. It was unlike D to be so emotional, but Leon couldn’t say that he was going to complain. The way they were right now was perfect. Something warm and wet began soaking into the shoulder of his robe, and Leon pulled D away from his neck, where the man’s face was buried. Tears were running freely down cheeks that were now blotchy with released near-hysterical emotion. “Shhh,” he said softly, using the corner of his sleeve to wipe away the wetness on D’s face, “It’s okay…I’m like a cockroach, honey. You can’t kill me that easily.”

--

A/N: Hurray! You made it to the end! Now, all we have to do is wait a few days, and I’ll post the next chapter. And just so you can have a bit of a tease, here’s a preview…

From Chapter 7: Come Together

…“Mm…” D’s voice took on a seductive purr, “…do not thank me yet, Leon. The water is very hot.” With a light nip at D’s lower lip, Leon replied, “I like it hot…”…

… “Leon,” he said softly in the man’s ear, “would you let me cut your hair?”…