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Define Arc	By : BlackberryPatch Category: +M to R > Pet Shop of Horrors Views: 8525 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Pet Shop of Horrors, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Desecration
- 2-Despot
- 3-Damask
- 4-Definition
- 5-Damsel
- 6-Dearth
- 7-Dirigere
- 8-Disturbance
- 9-Decadence
- 10-Disease
- 11-Draht
- 12-Darkness
- 13-Dva
- 14-Daguerreotype
- 15-Draconigenae
- 16-Deification
- 17-Deviant
- 18-Doyoubi
- 8
- 9
- 10
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pet Shop of Horrors and no money is being made from this fanwork.

WARNINGS: language, lemon/yaoi, horrific elements

With many thanks to ZeoViolet for making me think.

=]

-------------------------

"America is the only country that went

from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between."

-- Oscar Wilde

-

"Blind, loving, wrestling touch! sheath�d, hooded, sharp-tooth�d touch!

Did it make you ache so, leaving me?"

--Walt Whitman

-

"Decadence"

-

�Welcome back Orcot.�
Leon nodded at the chief, allowing a small smile to pull at the corner of his mouth. �It�s good to
be back sir.�

The chief harrumphed. �Well, I hope after your rather lengthy sabbatical, which the department reimbursed you for,� he added, shooting a significant look at Leon, �that you�ll be able to focus on your job and we won�t be having any more� incidents.�

Leon smiled tightly. �Yes sir.�

�Right.� The chief tossed a folder across his desk to Leon. �Here�s your first case. Fresney�s already been working it, so she�ll fill you in on what she�s got so far.�

Leon nodded. �Yes sir,� he said again, then bolted out of the office as fast as he could to go find Jill.

She greeted him warmly, Leon returning her embrace wholeheartedly.

�You look good,� she said pulling back to examine him more fully as she made this assessment, nodding in agreement with herself. �Vacation suits you apparently.�

�Jill, vacations suit everybody,� he shot back teasingly.

She mock-glared at him. �You know what I mean.� Her expression grew more serious. �You look like� you got something figured out.� She put a hand on his arm and smiled. �I�m glad.�

He returned her sincere smile. �Yeah, me too. Actually,� he continued, his smile turning into a grin as his expression eased, �I have a favor to ask, Jill.�

She sighed theatrically. �With that tone, it�s gotta be something big. Alright, but not if it gets you out of doing real work. You�re back buddy boy. You gotta earn your bread.�

-o-o-o-o-

D looked up as the door to the shop opened, his heart in his mouth as he held his breath, as he had every time the door had opened in the past three months. And just as it always had been, the person who walked in through the door was not the one he
wanted it to be. But at least this time it was still someone he
was waiting for. �Ah Detective Fresney. Good afternoon.�

Jill smiled at him. �Hello Count. I just wanted to pick up those papers we talked about.�

�Of course. I have them ready for you.� Walking to a side table, D flicked through a pile of papers and folders until he found what he was looking for. �Here we are.� He held a folder out to Jill who took it.

�Thank you Count.� She smiled again, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, as she glanced through the folder�s papers. �With this, and provided we catch her with some of the evidence, we can definitely close this case.�

D spread his hands self-deprecatingly. �I did nothing but comply with the terms of the warrant you brought.�

Jill�s smile turned to a mischievous grin. �That is the truth of it, isn�t it Count?� She shook her head slightly in fond remembrance as she turned to leave. She�d approached D, asking for help on the case in question. He�d protested that he couldn�t disclose information about the shop�s patrons� but had suggested himself that he would be bound to help her if she secured the proper paperwork. �Thanks anyway,� she said, turning to leave, but paused then, her hand on the door. There was something else she wanted to tell D. She looked over at him. �I�m not really supposed to say anything,� she began, but he beat her to the rest.

He met her eyes and froze. �Leon,� he breathed.

She nodded. �He�ll be there tonight,� she returned softly.

�Thank you,� D replied, and, as she pushed the door open and left, he sank into a chair. Leon� Leon was going to be there tonight.

-o-o-o-o-

�Thanks for letting me borrow your place,� Leon said, glancing at Jill sideways as he tried to wrestle his bowtie into submission. �And for letting me stash Chris here for the evening.� His brother was currently in the spare bedroom
cum office watching cartoons while T-chan shed on Jill�s couch.

She sighed as she emerged from her bedroom, fastening her earrings in their proper places as she approached him; they sparkled and whispered as they hung almost to her bare shoulders and accented perfectly the deep wine red of her gown. �I�d have to have been blind not to see it coming. You told me to
have all your stuff moved out of your apartment; I figured when you got back you�d have nowhere to stay for a day or two.� She emphasized the shortness of the time she expected Leon to be staying with her, and neglected to mention that she had thought he�d probably have elected to crash with D at the shop. Jill still had no idea why Leon had left town so abruptly, and she wasn�t about to pry, but she was nothing if not curious. She had several of the pieces of the puzzle; putting them together in different ways, trying to make sense of it all, was enough to tide her over until Leon decided to explain. �Anyway, you needed somewhere to get ready. Couldn�t have you showing up tonight looking like you usually do.� She straightened his tie and he snorted. �Count D gave me the papers,� she said softly and she felt Leon stiffen slightly. She finished with the tie. �They had all the information we needed. We should have her tonight.�

Leon nodded. He hesitated. �D will be there tonight,� he said softly, more of a statement than a question.

�Mmm,� Jill agreed offhandedly, pretending she wasn�t watching Leon closely from under her eyelashes as she reached for her purse. �You read the file?� she asked absently, sure that he had.

Leon�s face darkened. �Yeah,� he said shortly.

She nodded and tucked her purse under her arm. �Well, you ready?�

He grinned, slightly predatorily, and offered her his arm. She smiled brightly and allowed his to escort her out the front door and down the stairs.

The party was already in full swing as they arrived. Leon handed Jill off to her real date and melted into the flow of people. He wasn�t really in the mood to deal with all of these people at the moment, and he wondered why the chief had assigned him to this case. He was fresh back; the department�s surveillance of Lady Bona Amortiss had been going on for at least four months. This was a sensitive operation and one that Leon was sure didn�t need him. But then he thought about what the Lady Amortiss was suspected of; the chief probably figured Leon wouldn�t have been able to keep away and had decided not to tempt him on his first day back. Leon grinned darkly; the waitress about to offer him champagne scampered away at the look on his face. Her movements caught Leon�s eye and he shook himself out of his momentary reverie. Glancing up, he took in the surroundings of the garden party and spotted their hostess almost immediately, several terraced steps higher than where he stood at the moment. She was dressed ostentatiously and, as always, had a train of sycophants trailing after her as if to increase her importance with their presence. She was hard to miss, but Leon wondered if he�d noticed her because of who she�d stopped to talk to.

As she passed through the crowd, the Lady was pausing to speak with the guests she felt were worthy of her notice; no one, Leon thought, fit that bill better than Count D. Though, he thought amused, she shouldn�t stand next to him too long or he�ll make her look cheap. Oh, too late� Snickering softly, Leon turned to liberate a glass of the champagne from the nervous waitress; downing it in one gulp he turned back to the scene before him. He looked up at D and was mildly surprised, even knowing what he knew, when he felt none of the wild panic or paralyzing dread that had, over the past few months, come to be associated with that face, or something that looked awfully
like it. He had to smile. �I did it,� he whispered, and let his eyes take in the spectacle.

If Lady Amortiss� extravagant red concoction of a dress was supposed to make her the main focus of the party, she�d failed miserably when she�d invited Count D. He�d given up his usual garb for the night and wore a traditional kimono. It was a shimmering gold, the twisting outline of a phoenix, wings outspread, decorated the back and both sides of the front in a contrasting dark, royal purple that matched the under-kimono. D�s lips were the same dark purple, and Leon had to fight the sudden urge he felt to go over to the man and touch them. When the Count raised an arm to touch his hostess� hand, iridescent fire ran along the length of his full sleeves; Leon could see his fingernails were almost six inches long, looking like knives, painted a dark purple as well. Lady Amortiss looked somewhat uncertain about the situation as that hand cupped hers but something D said as he bowed over her hand must have soothed her, for she laughed nervously and appeared to relax. She responded and they talked briefly, Leon too far away to hear any of their words. After a few moments she moved to step around D to greet other guests; the motion brought her closer to him for a moment. Turning toward her, wearing an expression of such malice that Leon shivered, D whispered something in her ear that made her stumble. Gracefully he slipped away from her and his glimmering form disappeared into the crowd as she turned toward where he had been, eyes wide in indignation and what appeared to be fear.

Leon wondered what D had said to her, but Jill caught his eye from across the garden and a fierce gesture of her hand reminded him that they had work to do.

-o-o-o-o-

It was hard to keep from shivering in revulsion as the Lady Amortiss approached him, but the feeling was familiar to D and he pulled his usual smile on his face and greeted her as his hostess for the night. She couldn�t know why he was really there; her mind couldn�t entertain such a thought. While she was familiar with all manner of subterfuge and black plots, she imagined that no one would ever do such a thing to her. She had the city bent to her desires; she must have known there were police at this event, but so far her talented lawyer had managed to keep her out of any of the serious repercussions that usually followed most of the actions she engaged in, so she wouldn�t be worried- even if justice was about to come to her from a different plane.

He gladly left her company, slipping among the other guests, exchanging greetings with some of them; everyone knew who the Lady Amortiss
really was, but no one could possibly pass up one of her garden parties. There was someone in particular D was looking for though� And when he noticed Jill standing next to a well-built, towheaded man his heart skipped a beat.

�Count D!� Jill turned toward him with a smile, the man next to her turning as well. �May I introduce my date, Andrew MacLean?�

The tall blonde man, Andrew, bowed formally. �It is an honor Count. Jill has told me so much about you.�

D stood for a moment, stunned, but gathered himself quickly, returning the bow. �The honor is mine. And I wish I could return the compliment,� he said, raising an eyebrow at Jill, �but you would appear to be our mutual friend�s best kept secret.�

Jill blushed slightly. �It�s not like that, really.� She smiled at Andrew. �We�ve been friends for awhile, and I didn�t want to say anything about, um, our new relationship too prematurely, and then�� A shadow passed over her face. �Then other things happened, and I thought� Well, I didn�t want to rub it in.� She met D�s eyes and he nodded. D could think of another reason why Jill hadn�t brought Andrew around to see him before; up close, the man didn�t really look like Leon, but enough so that a comparison was inevitable. He didn�t want to but he
found his mouth opening to inquire after Leon's whereabouts, but Jill beat him to it. �Leon should be around here somewhere,� she said, stepping closer to Andrew and using him as a support as she stood on tiptoes to glance out over the crowd. �I saw him just a minute ago.�

�Thank you, Detective, but I�m sure we�ll run into each other eventually.� He forced a smile; D had the sudden suspicion that Leon was avoiding him. Jill returned his smile uncertainly, and suddenly D felt he had to get away. �If you will excuse me,� he bowed to Andrew, and more deeply to Jill as he took her hand briefly. �We both have work to do tonight.� He felt Jill squeeze his hand before he slipped away.

D stood on one of the steps of the garden staring blindly off into nothing as the party moved around him. Leon� Leon was here somewhere. Leon didn�t want to see him- of this he was certain. Something inside of him cried out at that thought, though he wondered what other outcome he had expected. His father� His hands curled into fists, mindful of his nails. He was not his father, but they might as well have been the same person. Leon� He felt the sudden blinding urge to find his father and tear his face from his body, but the thought was followed almost immediately by a feeling of helplessness as he knew himself unable to follow through on that desire.

�I sense I am much in your thoughts,� a voice from behind him said in his ear. �My son.�

D stiffened, his entire body tense, refusing to turn around, and suddenly, below him, he could see Leon. The detective was talking to one of the waitresses, though flirting would have probably been a more descriptive term.

�You wish to revenge him upon me,� the voice continued. D closed his eyes. Long fingers gripped his shoulder and spun him around and his eyes flew open in surprise. �Can you not see it, my son?� his father hissed, eyes dark with anger. �That is exactly why you needed to be distanced from him. You are� attached to that� that human!� D stared at him in wonder as his father�s wild anger slowly settled into a mask of cold rage on his face. �The only thing that should garner your devotion is the cause. Nothing else in this world is worth your affection. Particularly not one of them.
They are, all of them, false.� He drew back suddenly and gestured around him. �Or have you forgotten where you are? Have you forgotten what bones built the foundation of this house?�

D shut his eyes. �No,� he whispered.

His father nodded. �Good. Then do not forget that he,� he gestured at Leon, D turning to follow the line of his motion, �is one of them.� He paused to watch Leon, encouraging the serving girl he was talking with to spread her legs slightly so that Leon could slip his hand up her skirt. D looked away. His father smiled darkly. �It would appear that he took my education to heart, though it is more likely that his true nature decided to assert itself. Decay is a part of them; their very selves.�

D looked at his father sharply. �Education?�

His father grinned, a savage joy twisting his mouth as he leaned closer to his son. �I have made sure that he will never come to you again, never trust you, and will flee at the prospect of your touch.� He reached up to touch his son�s cheek softly. �You should thank me. I have saved you
from something worse.�

D stared at him, stunned beyond movement. �You followed him,� he whispered. �You kept following him, when he left.� He stared at his father, searching for the truth in that mirrored face. �You� You�� But D choked on the words and couldn�t give voice to what his father had done to Leon. His hands tensed, and he raised them, the sharp edge of his long nails coming threateningly close to his father. But his hands shook and he had to drop them, his whole body shaking, his eyes shut tight.

�I see,� his father said softly. �Instead of thanks, I get hate. Ah well,� he continued philosophically. �It seems to be genetic. As long as you remain as impotent to act upon yours as I am to act upon mine.� His
gaze grew distant for a moment, his hatred focused on something- someone-
not present, and he cast one last odious glance at Leon before disappearing into the passing crowd.

D had to sit down he was shaking so hard. Leon� Oh, Leon� It was no wonder Leon didn�t want to see D; it was no wonder� D hugged his arms around himself, a single tear falling from each eye. He would find some way to make it up to Leon. Some way to say how unutterably sorry he was- how the sorrow consumed his being. Q-chan chirped worriedly near him and he looked up, pleased to see the creature. Q-chan had been mysteriously absent several times over the past few months, but he was here tonight. �I know,� D whispered. �I know, there is work to be done.� Tonight at least, he could do nothing about Leon. Tonight there was larger game afoot, and it was about time he concentrated on that.

-o-o-o-o-

�So what do you say we head inside and find us a room? Continue this in private.� Leon bent his head near the waitress�, his hand brushing along the inside of her thigh.

She sighed. �We�re not supposed to let party guests go inside,� she insisted, but he could feel her weakening.

�Come on. I'm sure you know a way to get in where no one would see us,� he pushed. He
nuzzled under her jaw and brushed soft kisses along her neck.

�Oooh,� she moaned brokenly. �Ah�. um, there�s a door behind the kitchen,� she gasped, her hands tangling in his hair. �No one watches it.� He backed off his assault as her voice got too breathy. �It,� she gathered her thoughts, reaching down to touch his face. �It bypasses the kitchen and there are stairs that take you straight to the second floor.� She broke off hesitantly, and looked at him deeply for a moment. Intelligence flashed in her eyes as she said, �Are you�� But she broke off suddenly, deciding she didn�t want to know. �Come on,� she said, pulling him lightly toward the mansion on the hill, just above the terraced garden.

He followed as nonchalantly as he could, surreptitiously scanning the crowd for Jill. He touched the communicator in his pocket, signaling her.

Up three terraces closer to the house, Jill felt the communicator in her purse buzz softly. Andrew noticed it but only raised an eyebrow. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. �I�ve gotta go to work honey. I�ll catch you later.� She tossed him a wave over her shoulder as she moved toward the house, and he waved back, amusement on his face.

�Be careful,� Andrew whispered under his breath, knowing that Jill wouldn�t want such a benediction, and wouldn�t listen to it if he gave it, but knowing also that this was quite a different operation from her usual beat.

The waitress easily lead Leon to the door she had described, the pair of them ducking inside. Leon moved to kiss her, expecting her to want to make out like horny teenagers, the atmosphere adding to the illicit nature of their supposed union. But she pulled away. �You
are a cop,� she said, her voice firm in her knowledge but scared of the developments that might follow.

He stopped. �Yeah. How�d you know?�

She giggled nervously. �Wishful thinking? Look,� she pulled him close and whispered, �I�ll testify, but you gotta get me outta here alive.�

Leon�s arms came up around her protectively almost automatically as his eyes widened in surprise. �Why?�

She shivered, nervous energy again expelling itself as laughter. �Cause if I�m not alive I can�t testify, stupid. Because she killed my brother,� she answered his real question. �She killed� other people too, and I know she�s gonna do it again and keep doing it as long as no one stops her.�

�You have proof?�

She looked up at him, her eyes huge in the semidarkness. �I saw her do it.�

He nodded, jumping a little as the door he�d left ajar shifted open. He had his gun out almost before he�d registered what was happening. The girl cried out, trying to muffle the sound with her hand as she clung to Leon, nervousness giving way to pure fear at the possibility of discovery.

�It�s just me,� Jill said, and Leon relaxed. The girl sobbed a deep shuddering breath into his shoulder before regaining her composure and turning to the other detective. �Hello,� Jill said to her. Jill�s long skirt peeled easily off from the bodice of her dress to reveal the more economical pants she wore underneath, her gun holster strapped to her thigh.

�This is�� Leon started, but switched to, �She says she�ll testify.�

Jill looked surprised and gratified, but shot Leon a look. �You don�t even know her name? Shame, Leon; shame.�

He shrugged sheepishly, but motioned impatiently. �We need to get going.� He turned to the girl. �Where?�

�There�s a lower level under the basement- that's where she keeps all the juicy stuff. But the only way to get there is through the master bedroom- or the loading dock,
where all the guards are. The bedroom�s up these stairs and at the end of the hall.�

�What�s your name honey?� Jill asked softly.

She blushed, still shaking with the stress of the past few moments. �Danielle.�

�Look Danielle,� Jill continued in a businesslike tone, �there�s a couple ways we can do this. You can come with us if you want, you can wait here, or I can knock you unconscious in case you�re discovered or we don�t accomplish what we�re after. That way you won�t get in too much trouble.�

Danielle shook her head. �I�m in trouble any way you slice it. I�ll wait here. Are there any more of your people coming?�

Leon pulled out his communicator. �Teams B and C- brown wooden door, right side from garden, behind kitchen. Hostage needs escort.�

There was silence in response, and then a soft, �Confirmed.�

Danielle giggled, covering her mouth with her hand and shaking with the effort to repress her nerves. Jill looked at her. �Can you direct them when they get here?� Danielle nodded. �Good; Leon, let�s go.� Leon nodded. His face a cool mask, he moved slowly up the stairs, gun held at the ready. Jill mirrored him, two steps behind and on the other side of the staircase.

Once they reached the top, they moved steadily and stealthily down the hallway to the door at the end. Easing forward, Jill turned the knob as Leon covered her. The bedroom appeared to be empty, of life anyway; the pair moved across it watchfully, silently. Trying not to let the opulence of the room distract him, Leon looked for a good place to hide a secret passage. �Here,� he said quietly, motioning to a large mirror that stood to the side of the bed.

Jill shook her head. �Too obvious,� she murmured, but tried it anyway, and to her surprise when she pushed against the silvered glass the mirror swung open to reveal a well-lit passageway. �So much for originality,� Jill said, her gun drifting down from its ready position.

�Don�t drop your guard,� Leon warned. Solemn again, Jill nodded and eased her way into the passageway. The pair descended these stairs as carefully as they had ascended the previous set, though from the noise and stench it was easy to tell that there was going to be a far different reception waiting for them when they reached the end this time.

Stepping down into the brightly lit room, Leon steeled himself, but that didn�t in the slightest prepare him for what he saw.

Directly before them, as if wanting to immediately acquaint them with the worst of what they might find, before a blazing fire, two young men were working to remove the skin off the carcass of what had been an elegant white tiger. The animal�s head had already been removed; it stared at them, the blood dried around the sockets where its eyes had been and the gaping hole where teeth and tongue had been removed obviously pre-mortem. The tiger appeared to have died from having its brain removed from its skull while still fully alive; a third young man was adding the organ in question to a mixture brewing over the fire and Leon recalled that he�d heard an old wives tale that consuming the brain of a tiger was supposed to endow one with younger, smoother skin. Something other than wood was burning on the fire as well, and the smell, in addition to the sights he could see, was making Leon nauseous. The men noticed Leon and Jill immediately and stopped what they were doing; their eyes looked on the intruders not so much with hope
or fear as in anticipation of the end of their suffering, one way or another.

Leon let his eyes drift past the immediate horror to take in what lay behind it. There were doorways to other rooms, but he didn�t even want to think about what was in them yet. Other animals were crammed in cages too small for comfort, waiting their turn to be of use to the mistress of the house, in one way or another. Three more young men, who were tending these animals, looked up as Leon came toward them. He noticed all the young men wore heavy collars around their necks; some wore iron leg shackles as well. Leon frowned in distaste; slavery was almost the least of the things Amortiss was guilty of.

An unmistakable death rattle as someone gasped for a last breath brought Leon�s attention back to the moment and took it off his surroundings. There was a room off to his right separated by an open doorway. His gun held ready, he moved toward it, Jill moving after him also alert. Everyone watched them, the boys as well as the animals, which had grown unusually silent. Leon stepped into the room and, tearing his eyes from the cages that lined the walls, settled them on a familiar form standing not far from the door.

D let the body he was clutching against him slide from his grip, and as the body of the man fell away from him his long, painted fingernails pulled free of the man�s chest. D looked up and for a moment he and Leon stared at each other over the barrel of Leon�s raised gun. Blood stained his kimono and dripped from his fingernails, pouring out of the man lying at his feet to spread over the ground, but D only stared at Leon, something in his expression flickering toward regret before it went back to savoring the recent taste of retribution.

A commotion behind Leon drew the attention of the small group, and Jill raised her own weapon to cover the newest arrival as Lady Amortiss stumbled down the last few steps of the secret entrance from her chambers. �Eduardo?� she cried piteously when she saw the body lying on the floor, and she moved to his side without acknowledging anyone or anything else in the room. Her arrival brought a collective intake of breath from the animals that remained, and the people as well, and then silence that was so absolute it echoed.

While he had suspected the identity of the man D had stabbed, Leon was somewhat gratified to learn that it was indeed Eduardo Suarez, Amortiss� infamous lawyer. As the woman moved to kneel beside the fallen man D glanced down at her evilly. �Did I not say that you would reap the wicked you have sown?� he murmured to her, but Leon could hear him clearly. D twitched his fingers and brought their deadly tips down closer to the Lady Amortiss.

Leon cocked his gun. �Stop,� he said forcefully. D looked up at him, a white-hot rage burning in his eyes as he met Leon�s. �Don�t touch her,� Leon warned. �She�s under arrest and she�ll stand trial.� D stared at him, his face going unreadable as he held Leon�s gaze over the body of a woman who was certainly not worth the effort.

�Leon,� he whispered.

�Dammit D,� Leon growled, �stand down.�

�Leon,� Jill murmured, stepping to move between them, but Leon held up a hand to stop her, his eyes never leaving D�s.

�Stand down,� Leon repeated.

D stared at him, but slowly he withdrew his hand and took a step back. Jill, glancing between D and Leon, moved quickly to restrain the hysterically weeping Amortiss. She paused to check the lawyer�s pulse and reported, �He�s not dead. Yet.� Leon and D continued to stare each other down, but the sudden arrival of backup jolted Leon back to his job. He turned and issued orders to B & C Teams as they fanned out and covered the area, and when he turned back D was gone.

-o-o-o-o-

Cleanup was a bitch.

Leon only watched with half his attention as the Lady Amortiss was packed off to the station. Suarez was packed off to the hospital, but pronounced dead on arrival. No one was crying any tears over that, other than Amortiss, but an offhandedly questioned Leon maintained he didn�t know exactly who had skewered the lawyer. Dark hair, slender build, was all he would say; no race, no gender, though considering Suarez� previous job had involved keeping a number of gang members out of jail, with variable success, the list of suspects was tending toward girlfriends of disappointed previous clients.

Danielle was proving most helpful, guiding recovery teams and cleanup crews through every inch of the mansion and surrounding grounds. An uncountable number of illegally imported humans, animals, and other, nonliving items had been discovered and Danielle�s accusation of murder had been followed by other claims; some of the slaves listed others who had died because of the work Amortiss put them too and listed other wrongs perpetrated against them, from beatings to rape, while some of the other slaves were silent, not even telling their names. They walked carefully, holding themselves tightly, as if they could not yet believe that this was not a dream.

The animals responded in much similar ways- some seemed knowledgeable, confident in the fact that their former mistress was deposed. Others curled in on themselves in their small cages as they waited to be transported elsewhere. As soon as crime scene photos were taken, several of the animals were taken to the zoo, others to local shelters. The chief suggested Leon contact Count D to take in some of the creatures, and Leon agreed to do so- tomorrow. The chief grumbled about it, but Leon wasn�t standing down.

It must have been several hours later when a very tired but satisfied Danielle leaned against the same car that Leon was leaning on as he took a break, and looked over at him. She knocked the ash off a cigarette someone had given her and raised an eyebrow suggestively. �Still up for that private continuation?�

His eyes widened slightly in surprise. �Um, look, I��

She cut off his stammered protests with a wave of a hand and a weak grin. �I know, you were just doing your job.�

�Danielle,� he said softly, touching her cheek to get her attention. She looked at him, surprised. �That wasn�t just it,� he tried to say, but she cut him off again.

�I know,� she said quietly, leaning in close to him for a moment, breathing in the clean, masculine scent of him. �I�m okay,� she whispered. �It�s just been� a long day.�

He nodded, knowing that for her this day of suspense and terror had lasted since the moment her brother had been murdered. Only now that she was able to speak of what had happened to him did she feel she was able to relax. Leon put an arm around her reassuringly and squeezed her shoulders.

�Danielle?� Jill said, coming over to them. Danielle looked up at her. Jill smiled encouragingly. �They�re done asking you questions for today.� She hesitated, fairly sure she already knew the answer, but asked anyway, �Do you have somewhere you can stay?� Danielle shook her head mutely and Jill met Leon�s eyes over the other girl�s head.

�Well,� Leon said, standing up. �I guess I�d better get my stuff cleared off of Jill�s couch or there won�t be any room for you.�

Danielle looked up at him, confused. She glanced at Jill.

Jill smiled at her, but turned a look on Leon. �You�ll be okay?�

He grinned back. �Yeah, I�ve already got somewhere to stay tonight. Though I�d appreciate it if you could keep an eye on Chris for me till tomorrow.� Jill nodded.

Danielle glanced between them both, flustered but beginning to understand. �I� can stay with you?� She looked hopefully at Jill.

Jill smiled. �All I�ve got�s a couch, but you�re welcome to it for as long as you need it.�

�Th� Thank you,� the girl whispered. �It won�t be more than a couple of days,� she promised, meeting Jill�s eyes with sincerity.

�Don�t worry about it,� Jill said. She looked over at Leon. �Where are you going to be?� she asked.

He turned away from the mansion and the bustle of cops about their business. �You know the number,� he said softly, then stepped off into the darkness of the night.

-o-o-o-o-

D wasn�t sure how he got back to the shop. His first clear memory was of standing in the main front room of the shop, Pon-chan looking at him questioningly. He shook himself, and suddenly realized he was shivering all over. He sat down in the middle of the floor and wrapped his arms around himself, trying to keep himself from shaking apart. Leon� He closed his eyes. Oh Leon� He wanted to cry out, to howl his emptiness to the stars, but something inside of him was too broken to even express his grief. He hadn�t really had time to take in what his father had told him, and, right on the heels of it, Leon�s coldness and determination to fight for Amortiss� �human rights� stung like a slap to the face.

Q-chan landed on the floor beside him and gave him a look that was more evaluative than sympathetic. He chirped worriedly, hopping closer. D reached down and cupped his hands around the creature, lifting him up and holding him closer.

�I tried,� D whispered, �I tried to keep going, but I� I can�t,� he confessed brokenly. �I can�t, not if Leon�s not here� Not if he�s� hurt because of me.� He shivered again. �I didn�t� I didn�t think it would affect me so,� he marveled as tears streamed down his face, and he touched his wet cheek with wonder. Q-chan chirred comfortingly at him as D looked up directionlessly and appealed, not of the creature before him but of the emptiness around him, �Grandfather� why? I can�t�� D folded in on himself, still shivering, arms wrapped tightly around his legs as he hid his face against his drawn up knees. Q-chan absently tried to offer more comfort, but seemed preoccupied. Pon-chan crept forward to crouch beside her god, followed by others. They gathered around D, purring and whining softly in an effort to cheer him.

�I�m being selfish, I know,� D murmured after a long while. He turned his head sideways so he could look at the faithful that surrounded him, but the glowing eyes they turned on him were not accusatory. �I�m sorry,� he said, but he could see that the words meant nothing to them. �I don�t know why I� why he influences me so� So much��

�You love him.� The voice was Pon-chan�s, soft but firm. She nosed his hand. �It�s like you always say- there�s no reason for it and no way to explain it.�

D stared at her, trepidation on his face. �Love? I can�t��

A lean greyhound bitch pressed her cold nose to his face. �You said you did not understand our devotion to the humans,� she murmured; the shaggy sheltie squeezing between her lean legs to get closer continued the thought with, �But we did think you�d understand it better when it happened to you.� Other dogs behind them huffed good-naturedly in agreement. A regal Siamese queen curling underneath D�s raised knees shot the canines a disdainful look before turning eyes on D that expressed a deep sympathy, saying that she understood all to well the moment when even the greatest creature realized what the dogs so cheerfully recognized.

D leaned back, away from them. �But I��

�It is difficult,� the Siamese purred, �to acknowledge that this race of large, brutish creatures,� and D wondered whether she was talking about humans or the dogs, �can produce something that deserves your compassion, and- even more- your,� she paused, �devotion.� She narrowed blue eyes at D. �But it is true.� Her eyes slid all the way shut as she sighed in fond remembrance. �Perhaps those mouth breathers,� she indicated the dogs, who only slicked back their ears slightly at her abuse, �give their affection too readily, but they are not entirely wrong.� A few tails wagged at this.

D rose to his feet uneasily, staggered back a step as he moved away from the animals. �No,� he murmured, half incoherent as he stumbled to his feet. �I� I can�t��

The Siamese flattened her ears at him and bared her teeth in a knowing grin as the tip of her tail twitched. �Yes deny, beloved.� She stood and turned to leave. �It will change nothing, and it shows your roots; always the last to acknowledge your own hearts, you who are ruled by them are also the last to remember the truth of this rule.�

The front door of the shop clicked quietly as it was opened and then again as it shut; the softness of the sound revealing that someone familiar with the mechanism was the one who had just entered. D, reeling where he stood, turned toward the door. �Leon,� he breathed, but couldn�t say anything else.

Leon had changed out of his tux and was carrying a duffle bag that he dropped by the door as he stepped hesitantly into the shop. As D could only stare at him, he cleared his throat and glanced down, watching where he stepped as he moved slowly into the pet shop. The animals made a place for him, moving out of his path and encouraging him closer to D. Still a few feet away from D, Leon stopped and looked at him in the low light. His clothes were still covered in blood and there were tears dried on his face, but Leon again had to fight the urge to reach over to touch the other man�s dark lips.

�I� I had to prove something to myself,� Leon said, his voice low and abrupt, but clear in the sudden stillness of the shop. He met D�s gaze. �I�ve had a couple people talking a lot of shit to me the past couple months. Stuff they thought they knew� stuff they thought could scare me. I had to see how much of it was true.�

D blinked in confusion. �What�� he began, but closed his eyes and said with heart-breaking honesty, �Leon, I�m so sorry.�

To his surprise Leon smiled at him. �There is no regret in the animal world,� the detective said- unexpectedly; easily. �Actions are performed; consequences accepted.� He moved a step closer to D, his expression suddenly serious. �D, I� I�ve been through a lot of shit.� He reached out suddenly and grabbed D�s chin, forcing the other man to look at him as he continued, �None of it was your fault.� D started to protest, but Leon finally gave in to his desire and let his fingers brush over those dark lips to still them. �None of it,� he said firmly. �It was a guy who maybe looks a lot like you, but he�s got a whole mess of other shit going on in here,� he tapped his skull with the knuckles of his other hand. He grinned recklessly. �I�ve been doing some studying and he�s never going to fool me again.�

D took a step back. �What?� He reached out a hand toward Leon, but drew it back suddenly, afraid to touch the other man, afraid he�d disappear. �He told me what� what he did to you, and you say you�ve been studying?! Oh, Leon�� He pulled back from the other man and glanced down at himself, just remembering that he was still covered in the blood of the man he�d killed. He�d dragged Leon into this, this world of his revenge, and it was his fault, whether or not Leon was going to admit it. He took a deep breath, pulling away from Leon�s fingers that seemed to have developed a sudden fascination with his lips. �Maybe we should, ah,� his hands brushed distastefully over his dirtied clothes, �take a moment and� get more comfortable before we continue this conversation.�
Or he could take a moment and still his wildly whirling thoughts.

Leon stared at him, but nodded slowly. He moved to sit on the couch as D slipped into the kitchen to wash his hands
and face. D let the stained kimono drop in a pile beside the sink as he let the water wash soothingly over his skin, bringing greater clarity to his thoughts. Wearing the silken
kosode, D returned to the main room, pausing a moment to look at Leon; the detective had turned on the lamp beside the couch where he was sitting and his hair caught the light, the strands turning bright and golden. The Siamese sat on the floor in front of him; Leon offered her his hand, but tentatively, as if he thought she would take it off rather than let him pet her with it. She regarded him with a look that seemed to suggest the same, but then turned her head and rubbed her cheek against his knuckles in approval. He turned his hand, and his fingers almost dwarfed her delicate head as he stroked her cheeks and tickled under her chin. Leon smiled, easily, and D could only stare at him and wonder how he could smile at all.

Shaking himself, D moved into the room and over to the tea cart. �I�ll make some tea,� he said distractedly, brewing the tea with half a mind on his job as Leon made a soft affirmative noise. When it was ready he poured a cup for Leon and carried it to him.

Leon looked up at him as their fingers brushed. �Thank you,� he whispered, and D shivered.

Sitting with his own cup of tea, D curled his fingers around it in desperate defense, sipping at the comforting liquid. He didn�t know where to begin- there was so much that needed to be said.

Leon sat back easily, relaxed, looking at D from under lowered lids as he sipped his tea. The dark purple of the
kosode shimmered softly in the dim light that caught the glint of the
embroidered patterns that decorated it, D�s long, slender, deadly nails gleaming as well. Uncertainty marked his face, his eyebrows knitted together in worry as he drank his tea. �D,� Leon said clearly, drawing the other man�s eyes to him. Leon set his tea aside, meeting D�s tentative gaze. He opened his mouth, and all the reassuring words he�d planned disappeared as he said, in a voice he thought was almost a whine, �I said I was coming back.� D obviously hadn�t expected him to return, despite his words.

�I know.� D�s hands tightened around his teacup. �But,� he looked away, �you said that before he�� He paused, taking a deep breath. �Leon, it is my fault. It is because of me that my father targeted you; because I allowed you to�� He ducked his head, the emotions he felt must be expressed almost too open for him to stand. ��To have a place in my heart.�

Leon sucked in a breath. �Alright,� he said generously, �maybe it is your fault.� D looked up at him, surprised. Leon held his eyes, leaning forward
as he set his teacup to the side. �D,� he said softly, earnestly, �it doesn�t matter what your dad does- what he says, promises, or threatens me with- I would not give up that place in your heart for anything.�

D�s eyes slowly widened as the full import of those words sank in, his mouth opening in a protest that never quite formed. Leon leaned forward further, brushing his fingers over D�s lips again with a shiver.

�I� I can�t,� D finally managed to get out. He took Leon�s hand in his own and held it away from face, an act of sheer will power. �I can�t let you�� He took a deep breath and started again. �My� Our cause is too important to allow�� He swallowed. �Selfish desires to interfere.� He almost couldn�t get the entire sentence out. Oh, Grandfather- please, appear and tell me that I am released, that I am free to do what I want�

Leon grinned. D stared at him, bewildered. �Isn�t part of your job to not care about what happens to stupid humans?� D gaped at him, but Leon took D�s hand in his own and brushed the back of the slender digits against his own lips. �If I have a desire to be near you, how does that interfere with your job?�

D�s breath caught in his throat. �I� You distract me,� he whispered, not believing what he was hearing, knowing it had to be a dream.

�I make you think about people differently than you used to,� Leon said, his voice muffled against D�s skin. He looked up. �And that�s the problem.�

�Yes,� he breathed in response, shivering.

�Why?� Leon asked, like any child�s innocent inquiry that asked too much. His eyes shone lambent in the dim light, the lamplight bright on the back of his head still gilding his hair. �Why is changing the way you think a bad thing?�

Why? D shivered; he shut his eyes, refusing to look at Leon. �Because we cannot forget.�

Leon shifted; he was kneeling before D now as he rested his chin on D�s knee and looked up at him. �No one said you had too. But things can change; feelings can change.�

D shook his head. Opening his eyes he looked at Leon with wonder. The detective grinned at him, feral in the shadows of the lamp. �Leon, I�� Long fingers brushed over Leon�s cheeks, stroking back into his hair, even longer nails careful not to catch his skin. �I want� I want you to stay, so badly.� Leon sighed at this whispered confession. �But I� I can�t� I can�t let you just��

�I understand,� Leon replied. He leaned back, sitting up. �I had to do the same.� He tested the sharp edge of one long fingernail with his own finger. �Amortiss.� He looked up. �She�s worse than goat shit, but I had to fight you for her- to prove that I could.� D nodded; Leon did understand. As Leon had needed to reassert his own independence in that way, so D needed to be able to affirm that their relationship was not going to interfere with his cause. �Your grandfather told me,� Leon continued conversationally, �that you could control me. I guess I had to prove that you couldn�t. Because he was wrong- you wouldn�t do that to me.�

D felt a thread of something, something unnamed and terrifying, run through him. Wrong� �I� could� in theory.� He cupped his hands under Leon�s chin. �But I couldn�t hurt you,� he whispered. �Grandfather does not understand how�� He took a deep breath. �How much I,� fingers touched Leon�s lips and the detective gently sucked the fleshy pad of D�s thumb between his teeth before releasing it as D sighed, �I care for you, Leon.� Pon-chan shifted beside him suddenly; he hadn�t even noticed she was there, but she looked at him significantly. Love� No, he couldn�t� �Leon, I,� he started, but Leon bent closer to him and their lips brushed tentatively before meeting again more firmly.

Breaking off from the kiss, D looked at Leon, a smile starting to spread over his own face. �You Americans. So arrogant,� he murmured, leaning forward to kiss Leon again, more deeply.

Leon broke the kiss this time, grinning as he touched D�s face. �You look better. Are we done talking?�

D nodded, smiling sadly. �For now, I think, yes.� He removed his hands from Leon�s face with difficulty, allowing Leon to lean back, waiting for him to stand and leave. Except that he didn�t. The detective remained exactly where he was, looking up at D with suddenly unreadable eyes. �Where�- D had to wet his lips before he could continue- �Where are you staying?�

�Jill told you I gave up my apartment?� Leon asked, and D nodded. �Ah.� He lowered his head and looked up at D through the fall of his shaggy hair. �You throwing me out?� he whispered, and D started.

�No, I�� He looked down again, giving in to a sudden urge and burying his fingers in that golden hair. �You want to stay?� It sounded more hopeful than he wanted it to.

Leon paused before answering. �Well, before I left I practically lived here anyway. Doesn�t make sense to pay for another place, that�s why I told Jill to move me out. And since Chris is gonna be here, I figured I might as well move in too. Unless,� he looked up at D, �you don�t want us?�

D�s fingers tightened reflexively in Leon�s hair. �Chris is� returning?�

Leon turned his head so his lips brushed over D�s palm. �He�s at Jill�s tonight. I wanted to talk to you before I brought him over. But yeah; he�s safe.�

That seemed like a cryptic statement, and D wasn�t sure whether or not he wanted to probe it further. But there was something he needed to confirm before he welcomed Leon back. He seized the man by the chin and lifted his face so that the light played over it, D�s own face suddenly remote as he cast an evaluative look over Leon. Leon shivered but didn�t flinch from D�s gaze. �Leon, you will tell me if he tries anything else.�

Leon felt a tremor run through him; D wasn�t asking a question, he was commanding. Leon saw in that moment what the Count had warned him about- D�s ability to exert his will over others. But rather than the condescension that the older two generations gave him, Leon could feel D�s real fear behind those words- fear for Leon and his wellbeing. �He can�t hurt me,� Leon said confidently. �But,� he allowed, �that�s not something I could keep from you even if I wanted to.�

D sighed and, his hand still under Leon�s chin, rose, pulling Leon to his feet with him. He released Leon so that only the tip of his index finger under the man�s chin connected them, drew the man after him, and in this manner led Leon toward the bedroom. His entire being thrilled at the presence- the sight, the sound, the smell- of Leon in a way that filled all of his earlier emptiness.

He opened the door of the bedroom to reveal a room that had changed drastically from the last time Leon had seen it. Not only was the furniture completely rearranged, it had been entirely refinished and all of the furnishings- from the curtained drapes around the bed to the rugs on the floor- had been replaced. Leon froze when he saw it. �D,� he said, words leaving him as he stepped up behind the other man and wrapped his arms around him.

D relished Leon�s candid embrace, raising his own hands to touch the arms that surrounded him. �I couldn�t look at this room the same way ever again. I didn�t think you wanted to either.�

Leon grinned against the back of D�s neck; so D had known he was coming back. Putting a few things together, Leon said, �He was there tonight. At the party.� D stilled in his arms. �After he talked to you, that�s when you thought I wasn�t gonna come back.�

�Yes,� he said softly. He turned to look at Leon, but there was none of the paralyzing dread he�d expected on that face. Instead, Leon looked only thoughtful. D reached up to brush his fingers over the man�s face in wonder. �I�d forgotten,� he murmured, �this extraordinary� resiliency you humans have.�

Leon grinned. �Yeah, well don�t think too highly of me yet,� he murmured back, flinching as D�s hands slipped underneath the shirt he wore and long nails touched his stomach. D froze, instantly retreating, but Leon grabbed his wrist. �Don�t stop,� he whispered, swallowing nervously as he leaned in close to D to kiss his neck.

D sighed, his hands going back under the shirt, around to the firm muscles of Leon�s back as he rested his cheek against the man�s chest. �Tell me, whatever you want.�

Leon smiled. �I want you.� He kissed D�s ear. �The real you.�

D shivered. Sharp fingernails ripped the shirt from Leon�s body before the detective could utter any protest, and D was tasting the smooth plains of Leon�s chest. Leon trembled, his hands coming up to grip at D�s shoulders as a long tongue slid over one nipple and long fingers pressed against the firmness of strong muscles, ghosting across his stomach before touching there again more firmly when the motion met with only favorable reactions this time. His eyes slitting in pleasure as the strong man before him shuddered and moaned at his touch, D looked up at Leon�s face from under his lashes, wanting to make sure this was indeed what Leon wanted, and the soft expression of bliss on the detective�s face as his head fell back and his lips parted started a feeling pooling in D�s stomach that rose up and filled him. He pressed his lips to Leon�s neck, tasting the beating of his heart under the skin, before he took the man�s hands and pulled him toward the bed.

Leon followed as D led him, only pulling back slightly and taking a deep breath before he reached out and touched the sheets. D slipped behind him and trailed delicate kisses down his back, tracing the line of the detective�s shoulder blade with his tongue. Long nails teased lightly at the skin of Leon�s lower back, D always careful to keep then from doing harm, and down to hook in the belt of Leon�s pants. D pulled slightly but Leon�s hands came up to cover D�s. �Wait.� D froze; was Leon not ready yet? �I can take them off myself,� Leon grumbled as he undid the belt and slid the pants down his legs before tossing them near the bed. �I�m sure you had fun tearing up my shirt, but if I let you express your opinion of all my clothes, I�d have none left.� He turned and faced D, D pausing to take in the body presented to him before he reached over to rest his hand on Leon�s hip and pull him closer.

D looked up at Leon, relieved that that was the problem rather than something else. �I�m sure I could find you something,� he said with a smile.

They stood for a moment before their lips met tentatively and then with more certainty, Leon�s mouth opening and his tongue pressing forward to meet D�s. Leon pulled at the tie that held the
kosode shut and the silk fluttered open as he snaked his hand in under the cloth to rest it on D�s hip, mirroring D�s own hold on him. D moaned softly, breaking off their kiss as he leaned back to look up at Leon. Reaching up his hands, he held Leon�s face between them, drinking in his features. His thumb brushed over Leon�s lips, flushed from kissing, before his hands slid down to Leon�s shoulders, pushing him back slightly so that he was seated on the edge of the bed. Leon shivered, but D almost instantly was leaning over him, tongue and fingers moving over Leon�s skin, eliciting soft moans from the man as he relaxed, his legs falling open slightly as he leaned his weight back on his hands braced against the bed. D worked his way downward quickly, Leon not even aware of what D was doing until slender fingers touched against his inner thigh and warmth closed around his half hardened cock. His breath torn from him in a sudden gasp, Leon glanced down to see those dark lips that had so fascinated him all evening closed around the head of his cock. He could feel D�s tongue flicking against that sensitive flesh, and his control exploded. �Oh god, D,� he moaned, one hand coming forward to bury itself in silken hair as he spread his legs further, easing back on the bed slightly to better support himself. Long fingers wrapped around his thighs, the deadly nail of one thumb tenderly teased at his balls, and D swallowed more of him, answering Leon�s moans with one of his own- the vibration causing Leon to shudder and gasp, falling back on the bed completely as his back arched with the sudden intensity of the pleasure.

D grinned, letting the fully hardened flesh slip from his mouth, Leon groaning in loss. D blew softly against the oversensitive flesh, eliciting more, louder sounds from Leon, and again as he let his tongue trace the underside of Leon�s cock. Ignoring that dark flesh for a moment, D turned his head to press his lips in soft, chaste kisses against Leon�s inner thighs. �Leon,� he murmured. Leon groaned; D could see his hands twisting desperately in the bed sheets as he tried to hold on to his sanity with the pleasure that was starting to completely overwhelm him. Grinning, D nuzzled against Leon�s crotch, rubbing his face in the soft curls that gathered at the base of his cock.

�Oh god, D!� Leon groaned desperately, and D had mercy on him, grabbing Leon�s legs firmly and holding them open as he relaxed his throat and took the detective fully in his mouth. Leon arched back, his mouth open in a silent scream as he thrust up against that wet warmth in urgent oblivion. As he came back to himself slightly, his hips moved again, falling into a steady motion as he sought frantically to plunge himself as deeply as he could inside of D, in that moment wanting nothing more than to be so deeply joined with him that nothing could separate them- to be caught in this moment of pleasure forever.

It couldn�t last, as all truly good moments can�t, and Leon felt that pooling in his stomach that told him he was about to come; his balls tightened
against his body and all of his skin seemed suddenly too small to hold him. He reached out blindly for D, his hand finding and burying itself in the other man�s silky hair. �D, I,� but he never got any farther than that, because D�s fingers ghosted over his thighs and D�s throat seemed to open wider, taking him in further, and he couldn�t think, let alone speak, as he thrust up into that welcoming warmth and fell over the edge, shooting his essence down D�s throat as the other man swallowed him, and kept swallowing, demanding every drop that Leon was willing to give as Leon continued to shudder in ecstasy.

D let the softening flesh slide from his mouth slowly, reluctantly, Leon whimpering softly as D released him. D stood, looking down at Leon sprawled, in boneless grace after his release, across the bed, his mouth parted slightly as he breathed. He looked up at D and D moved toward those eyes. Shedding the silken garment that hung half forgotten from his shoulders, D crawled up onto the bed and lay down beside Leon, pressing himself against Leon�s back as the man half curled on his side. D kissed his way softly over Leon�s shoulder and up along the back of his neck, brushing sweaty hair out of his way and tasting the pale gold sheen of the detective�s skin as he hesitantly reached his hand over and let it fall across Leon�s waist.

Leon reached up himself and twined his fingers with D�s, pulling that arm more firmly around his waist and D smiled, his lips pressed against the soft joining of neck and shoulder. Leon sighed, content, and murmured, �I�d forgotten how� how much I missed you.�

D sensed that Leon had amended that statement halfway through, but he could also feel the truth in the words that had been spoken. He leaned his forehead against Leon�s shoulder and whispered back, �I missed you as well.� They lay together for a moment, and just when D was sure Leon had fallen asleep the man shifted and turned over so that he was facing D.

One hand came up to cup the back of D�s head and Leon kissed him almost fiercely, demanding� something; D wasn�t sure what. But as Leon broke the kiss, slowly releasing D�s lower lip from where he�d worried it gently between his teeth, and his heated gaze met D�s, D knew the detective was nowhere near done for the night. A slow, secretive smile spread over D�s face.

Taking Leon�s shoulder in one hand, D pushed him over so that he was lying on his back, D straddling him. D moved slowly as he reached up to caress Leon�s cheek and then kiss him again, but Leon didn�t hesitate as he looked up into D�s eyes. Raising his own hands, Leon brushed fingers over D�s lips in continued fascination as D smiled, amused by Leon�s almost childlike fixation. He made a mental note of it, and resolved to purchase more of this particular shade of lip color. Shifting to the side, D reached behind him and stirred some life back into Leon�s flaccid cock, the detective murmuring softly in encouragement.

Leon pulled D closer to him and ran his hands over D�s thighs, the other man shivering, before glancing around for lubricant. �In the drawer,� D indicated the bedside table with one long fingernail, and Leon grumbled as he crawled over toward it. Watching Leon with a grin on his face, D followed him and when Leon stopped moving to reach over and open the drawer, D leaned down suddenly to drop a trail of kisses along the curve of his ass, and then traced his tongue along the crease where the leg joined the body. Leon dropped his head on his arm as he unsuccessfully tried to suppress a moan. His fingers gripped the small bottle of lotion tightly as he rolled over and looked up at D as the other man kissed his way up Leon�s body until they were face to face. Leon felt his way along D�s body as their lips met in a sudden passion, feeling his way between pale thighs to stroke the hardening cock that curled there. D moaned into the kiss, and, when they broke for air, he murmured the detective�s name before tasting the man again.

His hands well slicked, Leon traced his way back between D�s thighs until he found the opening there. D moaned in anticipatory ecstasy as Leon�s finger slid inside of him and
D shifted his hips closer to the man to help him reach. Leon pulled D closer, the other man shifting his weight onto his knees that rested to either side of Leon
as Leon eyed the length that hung tantalizingly close to his face and took in between his lips, scraping the head lightly with his teeth. �Mmmm,� D shuddered, falling forward to catch himself on his hands as he savored the sensation, his eyes sliding shut. Leon�s eyes shone with humor as he absorbed the taste that was solely D- so frighteningly similar to his father�s, yet reassuringly different in a way that Leon wasn�t sure he could explain. He�d gotten so good at noticing the differences between father and son over the past few months that he wasn�t sure exactly how it was that he could see them. He slid a second slicked finger inside of D as the body that crouched over him shivered and moaned, thrusting back against that intruding finger, which was followed by a third.

Ready, D slipped away from Leon�s hands, sliding his body back along the man�s. Reaching back carefully with one hand, he guided Leon�s hard cock until he could feel it against his ass, and then he eased his body back until he could feel Leon inside of him. The detective inhaled deeply, his hands coming up in an unconscious gesture to frame D�s face. D stared at him hungrily and Leon�s cupped hands curled around the ends of D�s hair, as if measuring the length of it. A cold shiver went through D as he realized what Leon was doing. Noticing his expression, Leon quickly reached out to him, but D couldn�t hold in the whispered, �I�m so sorry,� that slipped out between his lips.

�No, shh,� Leon murmured, pulling D closer to kiss his eyelids, and his cheek where a tear had escaped. �Shh, shh. I�m okay.� He turned his head, his mouth close to D�s ear, and added, �D, I love you.�

D stiffened, pulling back suddenly. He stared at Leon, his eyes wide, and drew back again when Leon tried to reach out to him; but the pulling back motion settled Leon more firmly inside of him and he gasped as Leon tried to suppress another moan. �D,� he asked worriedly, but D�s hands were suddenly on his face, fingertips tracing the outline of his lips.

�Say it again,� D breathed, and Leon complied readily. D shivered and leaned his head against Leon�s chest, listening to the beat of his heart. �Oh, Leon.� He reached up with one hand and buried those fingers in thick golden hair. �Leon, I�� He turned the man�s head so that Leon�s vision was filled with dark lips, which a nervous tongue darted out to moisten, as D returned, �I love you.�

Leon inhaled sharply, drawing a breath he hadn�t realized he was holding. His arms came up and wrapped around D, pulling the other man flush against him as Leon rolled them over, deeper into the bed. For a moment, he only held the smaller man against him, but Leon�s body was demanding more. Rolling D under him, Leon pushed himself up on his hands as he withdrew and slid back against D�s warm, welcoming body. D�s legs gripped Leon around the waist, his eyes sliding shut as he cried out, Leon�s second stroke finding that perfect place inside of him. Leon grinned, burying his face in D�s neck for a moment as he relished the smell and sound of the man. �You smell different,� he murmured in pleasure, a slight stiffening on D�s part and slender fingers gripping suddenly too hard around his biceps the only warning that he�d spoken aloud. �God D, you�re nothing alike,� he continued, in an attempt to clarify, but Leon lost all interest in trying to explain anything as he moved against D again, a shuddering moan tearing from him as D�s body held him tightly. �Oh god, D,� he hissed, his body shivering suddenly with the effort to contain what he was feeling.

D shivered too, unnerved by Leon�s sudden comparison, though he supposed he shouldn�t be. Or shouldn�t be surprised at least. His legs tightened around Leon�s waist as pleasure exploded throughout his body and he moaned loudly, knowing that Leon liked to hear his pleasure. Leon rolled them over again so that D sat above the man and Leon could concentrate on watching his lover. His hands fell down to curl around D�s cock, the slick flesh sliding easily between his fingers. D braced his hands against Leon�s chest and moaned as he shivered, thrusting against the hand that held him, higher thought suspended for the moment.

They moved against each other, lost in the pleasure of each other, in the pleasure of giving
pleasure that was received just as readily, for what felt like an eternity. Leon
felt more than heard D�s breath hitch, the fingers that were tracing patterns
across his face and through his hair suddenly removed to clutch desperately at the sheets, long nails shredding
the fine cloth. His hand tightened around D�s straining cock, D groaning in response, inhaling suddenly as Leon leaned up to whisper again, �I love you,� the words like a benediction as D found his release in that moment, the soft milk of his seed spattering over Leon�s hand and both of their stomachs.

Shaking with the strength of that release, D touched his lips to Leon�s neck before answering, �And I you, Leon, and I you.�

Leon almost didn�t hear him, caught in his own rapture, but the words penetrated the warmth in his brain, and he whimpered, reaching his hands up to take D�s
face in them and he kissed his lover desperately as he came, deep within the other man�s body.

They parted, meeting each other�s eyes as they panted for breath. D reached up to brush the back of his hand wonderingly against Leon�s cheek.

�Leon,� he murmured, scanning the man�s eyes for any signs of pain- physical or psychological. But Leon only brushed fingers over D�s lips and smiled contentedly.

�You have a fleck of gold in your right eye,� Leon said conversationally, �that is about half again lighter than the rest of it.� His left hand raised to brush D�s cheek under the eye in question as D looked at him in confusion. �I told you I�ve been studying,� Leon continued with a grin. �And you don�t have to worry about me because I�m not going to let him beat me.�

D�s hand curled into a fist. �I� I don�t want him to hurt you.� He looked away. �You were right to take Chris away; I can�t protect him either.�

�I know. That�s why I went to a higher authority.� Grinning, Leon pulled D against him, burying his face in the crook of his neck.

D tried to push Leon away, to make him talk, and make sense this time, but he gave in to the feeling of Leon�s body against his and sighed. Leon
was warm against him and he found he could easily convince himself
that everything else could wait for another day. He reached to stroke the pale head tucked under his chin, his fingers slipping easily through the golden strands before he pressed his lips to the man�s
forehead in a quiet benediction.

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Define Arc

"America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between." -- Oscar Wilde-"Blind, loving, wrestling touch! sheath�d, hooded, sharp-tooth�d touch!Did it make you ache so, leaving me?"--Walt Whitman

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"America is the only country that went

from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between."

-- Oscar Wilde

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"Blind, loving, wrestling touch! sheath�d, hooded, sharp-tooth�d touch!

Did it make you ache so, leaving me?"

--Walt Whitman