Pearlholy
Titleless title
A small slice of life RP that depicts/explores the relationship between a grumpy doctor and charismatic detective.
@Yuuki of the Strata
@Yuuki of the Strata
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Le Mien
- Thread starter Pearlholy
- Start date
Pearlholy
Titleless title
Damien's friendship with Leo De Luca was more trouble than it was worth. The doctor already had his hands full with the growing number of sick patients in the small town and now he took it upon himself to help Leo. At first, Damien was just around for second opinions whenever police ever needed a medic on the scene. Then, it slowly transitioned to the point where the doctor spent his evenings illegally scribbling on papers as if he was some police rookie. Oh, but his generosity did not stop there. Whenever the doctor was preventing the detective from doing any permanent damage to his liver and empty stomach, Damien was out preventing any human succubus from over feeding that glutton. Starvation and alcohol poisoning were the least of their worries as now the underpaid law enforcer was faced with another problem: his living space. Whatever Leo was paying for his rent seemed like a complete rip-off. The place was falling a part. Last the doctor checked, there were signs of mold forming in the corner of the ceiling of the detective's bedroom. The windows rarely closed properly. Forget about the heating system. It never worked when it was supposed to.
How the hell did the doctor become Leo's clutch was beyond him, yet, there he was, standing in the front yard of Leo's apartment building with his car parked behind him. There was no sense of dread upon seeing the dumpster of a place but his eyebrows furrowed at the mere thought of having to step into that engrossing living space. With a tired sigh, the grumpy doctor stepped forward and walked closer to the apartment door. "Leo," Damien called out as he rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. The weather was growing colder but his temperament often kept the man warm.
He knocked on the door several times before taking the liberty of pulling out his set of keys from his pants and unlocked the door to Leo's apartment. It wasn't like he enjoyed keeping that spare key around him but it made complicated life much easier to have it in possession when Leo was far too smashed to find his keys. The sight of disorganization and filth discouraged the doctor. He grumbled under his breath, "What the hell am I going to do with you." The room seemed to be vacant. Instead of waiting for the detective to greet him, Damien too it upon himself to clean up the pile of papers on the floor.
@Yuuki of the Strata
How the hell did the doctor become Leo's clutch was beyond him, yet, there he was, standing in the front yard of Leo's apartment building with his car parked behind him. There was no sense of dread upon seeing the dumpster of a place but his eyebrows furrowed at the mere thought of having to step into that engrossing living space. With a tired sigh, the grumpy doctor stepped forward and walked closer to the apartment door. "Leo," Damien called out as he rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. The weather was growing colder but his temperament often kept the man warm.
He knocked on the door several times before taking the liberty of pulling out his set of keys from his pants and unlocked the door to Leo's apartment. It wasn't like he enjoyed keeping that spare key around him but it made complicated life much easier to have it in possession when Leo was far too smashed to find his keys. The sight of disorganization and filth discouraged the doctor. He grumbled under his breath, "What the hell am I going to do with you." The room seemed to be vacant. Instead of waiting for the detective to greet him, Damien too it upon himself to clean up the pile of papers on the floor.
@Yuuki of the Strata
sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
Pissed was only scratching the surface of what Leo was feeling. Everything recently had been going to shit. Not only was work getting heftier with less pay, every woman in town was trembling at the thought of the serial rapist coming after them. And with that excuse, the girls that were looking for ways to get closer to the Italian took advantage of his weakness for scared and crying women. Rosemary from the flower shop had used the excuse of being stalked to spend the night at his place. Leo refused her staying over at first, but eventually gave in when tears ran down her cheeks. She didn't get past the living room though and after he'd found out it was a guise to try and get close to him, he promptly kicked her out. Work was becoming increasingly more difficult with all of those kinds of distractions.
On top of that, the commissioner was still punishing him for kicking the asses of some thief kids that stole from the corner store with toy guns and spraining another guy's wrist during interrogation. Leo's mood had definitely been short as of late.
Add in familial issues. The youngest of his siblings, Aries, was getting into more trouble and he couldn't go out to set him straight.
And to top everything off. He was bound to this shithole of an apartment for the next half a year with a rent payment increase, no maintenance to the heater or the sink, or the busted windows. The outlets in the bedroom worked only sometimes. How he landed here was purely on his luck. He blamed it on the black cat that liked to frequent his place.
With dark bags under his eyes, Leo growled and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Sleep wasn't an option as of late. Even if he had the time between shifts, the constant nightmares and night terrors kept him from getting any good rest. He took in a deep breath, slowly letting out a puff of smoke, not even caring that he was smoking indoors. He barely even heard the doctor as he let himself in. He was standing in front of the back wall in his bedroom, staring at the web of pictures and red string he'd put together. Yes, he had taken his work home with him. This guy, this serial rapist had become more threatening. Now there were murders.
Leo hissed and rubbed his head before looking to his desk and rummaging through the files. "There's nothing..." He growled and slammed his hand down then swooped it across the table, scattering the papers onto the ground. "There's something I'm not seeing!" He snapped more to himself as he walked out of the bedroom and up the hall toward the kitchen. He paused when he saw Damien picking up various alcohol bottles and tossing them. "Hey, when'd you get here?" He took the used up cig from between his lips and smashed it in one of the several ash trays he had about his apartment. His smoking habit had increasingly picked up since he took on this case.
On top of that, the commissioner was still punishing him for kicking the asses of some thief kids that stole from the corner store with toy guns and spraining another guy's wrist during interrogation. Leo's mood had definitely been short as of late.
Add in familial issues. The youngest of his siblings, Aries, was getting into more trouble and he couldn't go out to set him straight.
And to top everything off. He was bound to this shithole of an apartment for the next half a year with a rent payment increase, no maintenance to the heater or the sink, or the busted windows. The outlets in the bedroom worked only sometimes. How he landed here was purely on his luck. He blamed it on the black cat that liked to frequent his place.
With dark bags under his eyes, Leo growled and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Sleep wasn't an option as of late. Even if he had the time between shifts, the constant nightmares and night terrors kept him from getting any good rest. He took in a deep breath, slowly letting out a puff of smoke, not even caring that he was smoking indoors. He barely even heard the doctor as he let himself in. He was standing in front of the back wall in his bedroom, staring at the web of pictures and red string he'd put together. Yes, he had taken his work home with him. This guy, this serial rapist had become more threatening. Now there were murders.
Leo hissed and rubbed his head before looking to his desk and rummaging through the files. "There's nothing..." He growled and slammed his hand down then swooped it across the table, scattering the papers onto the ground. "There's something I'm not seeing!" He snapped more to himself as he walked out of the bedroom and up the hall toward the kitchen. He paused when he saw Damien picking up various alcohol bottles and tossing them. "Hey, when'd you get here?" He took the used up cig from between his lips and smashed it in one of the several ash trays he had about his apartment. His smoking habit had increasingly picked up since he took on this case.
Pearlholy
Titleless title
That damned Leo was creating a mess everywhere he went. Damien had just finished organizing the empty bottles of alcohol and the sound of hands slamming on wood accompanied by the sound of fluttering papers signaled more chaos awaited. Despite his mean penchant of being a sarcastic, it was unusual for Leo to be this sour. No one can simply be in the worst mood than the King of Grouches, which was the doctor.
"Your list of indulgences is just growing, isn't it," the medical expert grumble inaudibly. Compulsive drinking, compulsive eating, compulsive smoking... this man was a hot mess. He should just walk away from the apartment now and forget that he was even here. The Italian detective did not even notice Langston's presence. Now would have been the perfect timing to leave. However, this was Leo that we were talking about. And that man was first and foremost, Damien's only friend. He might as well be the only cursed individual Damien gave a damn about. He was the only person Damien had emotionally invested in over the years and it would have been a shame if he walked out when Leo needed the doctor the most.
With the moonlight shedding light into the unlit apartment, he could see the traces of the smoke. The smell of Marlboro's tobacco lingered in the dusty yet humid air. His frown flattened considerably and a wave of concerned glossed over his eyes. Just what exactly was stressing the detective so much?
"You better lay off on these," the man greeted as he shook the empty bottle of rum in his hand. He straightened his back and tossed the last bottle to the nearest garbage. His calm yet stern facial expression was met with Leo's racked-up-anxiety. "I called you and you didn't answer. So I decided to come over and check on you." Did he indirectly say that he was worried? Not more than he wanted to admit it. It was around then, his dog companion, Gil the husky, dashed into the apartment living room and barked enthusiastically at the detective. Wagging its' tail, the dog approached the detective and licked the smoker's hand. "So this is where you've been camping? You know you're not paid for working at home..." The doctor walked past the detective and entered the bedroom. A chunk of his sanity just died a little at the sight of the wall of red cluster fuck.
God damn it, he should have just left.
"Your list of indulgences is just growing, isn't it," the medical expert grumble inaudibly. Compulsive drinking, compulsive eating, compulsive smoking... this man was a hot mess. He should just walk away from the apartment now and forget that he was even here. The Italian detective did not even notice Langston's presence. Now would have been the perfect timing to leave. However, this was Leo that we were talking about. And that man was first and foremost, Damien's only friend. He might as well be the only cursed individual Damien gave a damn about. He was the only person Damien had emotionally invested in over the years and it would have been a shame if he walked out when Leo needed the doctor the most.
With the moonlight shedding light into the unlit apartment, he could see the traces of the smoke. The smell of Marlboro's tobacco lingered in the dusty yet humid air. His frown flattened considerably and a wave of concerned glossed over his eyes. Just what exactly was stressing the detective so much?
"You better lay off on these," the man greeted as he shook the empty bottle of rum in his hand. He straightened his back and tossed the last bottle to the nearest garbage. His calm yet stern facial expression was met with Leo's racked-up-anxiety. "I called you and you didn't answer. So I decided to come over and check on you." Did he indirectly say that he was worried? Not more than he wanted to admit it. It was around then, his dog companion, Gil the husky, dashed into the apartment living room and barked enthusiastically at the detective. Wagging its' tail, the dog approached the detective and licked the smoker's hand. "So this is where you've been camping? You know you're not paid for working at home..." The doctor walked past the detective and entered the bedroom. A chunk of his sanity just died a little at the sight of the wall of red cluster fuck.
God damn it, he should have just left.
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sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
Seeing the doctor and that disapproving look made Leo feel almost guilty. For years Leo had dealt with drinking and smoking addictions. When he had met Damien Langston so long ago, he found the company of the man to be fresh. There was no face that he needed to put up. He didn't have to be charming. He could be as bitter as he possibly wanted and the man would just sit beside him and let him vent. Whether Damien was listening or not, he wasn't very sure. But how attentive the man was any other time, he could only assume Damien took everything it. He wasn't a psychiatrist in the least. But he was a good friend.
Leo's eyes went to the bottle and he rubbed the back of his neck. He was caught red-handed. He nodded slightly and went to the kitchen to find another pack of cigarettes. This would be his third one in the last six hours. "Ah, sorry about that. My phone probably died. I forgot to charge it." He muttered, opening drawers and then closing them. He was out of packs. He let out another sigh and placed his hands on the counter. As he looked around, he drummed his fingers against the counter, thinking of where he might have some stored.
Hearing the door open, he looked over to see the large dog bounding in. A faint smile fell on Leo's lips as the dog nudged and licked at his fallen hands. "Hey there bud." He said, crouching down to pet the dog more affectionately. He started to scratch the dog's backside before he stood and looked to see where the doctor had gone. He followed down the hall and stood a little ways behind him.
"Yeah, well...I'm not paid for being suspended again either." He huffed and frowned wearily as he looked into his bedroom. His eyes settled on the gruesome photos of the latest murder victim. A woman in her early to mid twenties, fairly attractive with blonde hair. He walked up to the photo and stared hard at it, as if he were expecting it to eventually speak to him. "The third one this month. Amelia Lovely." He glanced back at Damien. "She worked at the hair salon." His eyes returned to the map before him. "This guy has no routes, no patterns. The only pattern for victims is that they're young attractive women. None of them had made claims of someone bothering them previously, family and friends hadn't said they were acting strange before or met someone new." His frown deepened.
"Damien, I've got a gut feeling...I know this person..."
Leo's eyes went to the bottle and he rubbed the back of his neck. He was caught red-handed. He nodded slightly and went to the kitchen to find another pack of cigarettes. This would be his third one in the last six hours. "Ah, sorry about that. My phone probably died. I forgot to charge it." He muttered, opening drawers and then closing them. He was out of packs. He let out another sigh and placed his hands on the counter. As he looked around, he drummed his fingers against the counter, thinking of where he might have some stored.
Hearing the door open, he looked over to see the large dog bounding in. A faint smile fell on Leo's lips as the dog nudged and licked at his fallen hands. "Hey there bud." He said, crouching down to pet the dog more affectionately. He started to scratch the dog's backside before he stood and looked to see where the doctor had gone. He followed down the hall and stood a little ways behind him.
"Yeah, well...I'm not paid for being suspended again either." He huffed and frowned wearily as he looked into his bedroom. His eyes settled on the gruesome photos of the latest murder victim. A woman in her early to mid twenties, fairly attractive with blonde hair. He walked up to the photo and stared hard at it, as if he were expecting it to eventually speak to him. "The third one this month. Amelia Lovely." He glanced back at Damien. "She worked at the hair salon." His eyes returned to the map before him. "This guy has no routes, no patterns. The only pattern for victims is that they're young attractive women. None of them had made claims of someone bothering them previously, family and friends hadn't said they were acting strange before or met someone new." His frown deepened.
"Damien, I've got a gut feeling...I know this person..."
Pearlholy
Titleless title
"Funny that you say that, the line actually connected," the doctor commented softly as he continued to decode and understand all the red links on the wall. One thing Damien learned the hard way over time was whenever Leo became obsessed with a case, there was no means to reach him by telephone. Workaholism, for one, was a pardonable addiction to which the medical expert was familiar with. The detective's unwavering dedication for his job was something that Damien had always admired and never condemned. The strong lingering scent of substance abuse was another story.
Suspended. Again. Why did the fool keep doing that to himself? "Great, more volunteering work. Aren't you just a generous fucker?"
While Gil sniffed around the apartment and left the two humans, Damien waited for Leo to return to the bedroom. Idly, with his arms crossed, he pushed his glasses up his nose bridge and trailed his gaze down to study the pictures of the deceased victims. Blood splatter and missing limbs did no phase the doctor, it was Leo's repetitive inability to pull himself out of the hole he dug. Damien was no detective but there were other things he could do to lend a helping hand. Proving a meal and filing reports were one of the options. Damien listened intently to the detective as he shuffled through the pictures scattered around the desk. There was no wound details that he dismissed, so what else could be missing to the big picture? "And your gut feeling is never wrong, what else is it telling you?"
With his back turned to the desk, his golden gaze scanned the room and groaned. "Did it say anything about moving out? The air is poisonous here and you won't be able to think clearly like this," he tried to open the window by the damn thing was jammed. "Never mind just the air, I'd be just as distressed having to work in this room."
Suspended. Again. Why did the fool keep doing that to himself? "Great, more volunteering work. Aren't you just a generous fucker?"
While Gil sniffed around the apartment and left the two humans, Damien waited for Leo to return to the bedroom. Idly, with his arms crossed, he pushed his glasses up his nose bridge and trailed his gaze down to study the pictures of the deceased victims. Blood splatter and missing limbs did no phase the doctor, it was Leo's repetitive inability to pull himself out of the hole he dug. Damien was no detective but there were other things he could do to lend a helping hand. Proving a meal and filing reports were one of the options. Damien listened intently to the detective as he shuffled through the pictures scattered around the desk. There was no wound details that he dismissed, so what else could be missing to the big picture? "And your gut feeling is never wrong, what else is it telling you?"
With his back turned to the desk, his golden gaze scanned the room and groaned. "Did it say anything about moving out? The air is poisonous here and you won't be able to think clearly like this," he tried to open the window by the damn thing was jammed. "Never mind just the air, I'd be just as distressed having to work in this room."
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sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
"I don't trust any of the idiots at the station. All of the recent hires are dumb as rocks and the ones with any power are corrupt." One thing Leo absolutely hated more than doing paperwork was a corrupt cop. Even with his entire family having their hands in criminal activity, Leo vowed to never be involved. Upon that vow, his family respected his decision and let him out of it. Leo, with all the years of skill under his belt could have easily moved up to commissioner spot. But he knew better than anyone that power corrupted. He didn't want any of that.
Leo pinched the bridge of his nose, a slightly pained expression on his face. His head was killing him, telling him that his gut was wrong. But that intuition, deep down he knew was more accurate than anything else. But time and time again, even if his intuition was right, he was punished for it. Spraining that guy's wrist resulted him in fessing up. Kicking those kid's asses got them out of juvie. But in law enforcement, just going off of gut feelings didn't cut it. You were the criminal at hand if you had no evidence to back up your claim.
With a sigh, he shook his head. "I dunno, I feel like I see this person daily. Like he's skating right under my nose. But...I can't figure out who it is. This has to be male, in order to out power all of these women. But he's incredibly smart to know to hide any trace of fingerprints or DNA." He let out a growl and ran fingers through his shaggy hair. "Hell, it's almost like he's watched a bunch of crime dramas or something."
His attention turned back to Damien and he tilted his head and let his shoulders sink. "I told you already, I can't. I can't afford an eviction, and it costs more to break the lease early and move someplace else. I'll be fine here till the lease is over." In Leo's personal life, one thing he didn't like was change. Though he was spontaneous to an extent, he felt more secure when he was set in his ways, whether they were good ways or bad. Though his routines changed often, he worked best on them.
"Besides checking to see if I'm still alive, what's up?" He started, wanting to change the topic from his living situation. He walked over to his desk and opened a couple drawers. Nothing. He opened one drawer and popped open a secret compartment. There he found one cigarette and a zippo. He looked over the stick for a second and then checked the zippo before putting the smoke to his lips and lighting it up.
Leo pinched the bridge of his nose, a slightly pained expression on his face. His head was killing him, telling him that his gut was wrong. But that intuition, deep down he knew was more accurate than anything else. But time and time again, even if his intuition was right, he was punished for it. Spraining that guy's wrist resulted him in fessing up. Kicking those kid's asses got them out of juvie. But in law enforcement, just going off of gut feelings didn't cut it. You were the criminal at hand if you had no evidence to back up your claim.
With a sigh, he shook his head. "I dunno, I feel like I see this person daily. Like he's skating right under my nose. But...I can't figure out who it is. This has to be male, in order to out power all of these women. But he's incredibly smart to know to hide any trace of fingerprints or DNA." He let out a growl and ran fingers through his shaggy hair. "Hell, it's almost like he's watched a bunch of crime dramas or something."
His attention turned back to Damien and he tilted his head and let his shoulders sink. "I told you already, I can't. I can't afford an eviction, and it costs more to break the lease early and move someplace else. I'll be fine here till the lease is over." In Leo's personal life, one thing he didn't like was change. Though he was spontaneous to an extent, he felt more secure when he was set in his ways, whether they were good ways or bad. Though his routines changed often, he worked best on them.
"Besides checking to see if I'm still alive, what's up?" He started, wanting to change the topic from his living situation. He walked over to his desk and opened a couple drawers. Nothing. He opened one drawer and popped open a secret compartment. There he found one cigarette and a zippo. He looked over the stick for a second and then checked the zippo before putting the smoke to his lips and lighting it up.
Pearlholy
Titleless title
Damien frowned and wondered what bothered him more: identifying himself with Leo's diligence or the flippant possibility of losing his friend to a case. This trend seemed to coming on stronger than before. Lives were at stake and waiting on ratting out murder wasn't an option. Both knew that all too well but it was wearing off on Leo. The worst part? The detective wasn't even conscious about his self-harming behaviour. How was it that Damien couldn't help the only fucking person that mattered to him? He wasn't brought up to be this useless; he was a doctor. He was supposed to save lives. Why was it that he couldn't save Leo?
It wasn't like the doctor ignored Leo's musing. There were other, stronger and frustrating stimuli, that distracted the thirty years old man... like the overwhelming smell of tobacco mingling with the detective's cologne. It intoxicated Langston's mind in worst ways possible. Moreover, his inability to open the cursed window boiled his blood. "Better start making a list of everyone's favourite TV show," he retorted as he continued to fight with the broken window frame. This poorly crafted thing was just as stubborn as the detective. No wonder Leo was so attached to this wreck; there had every bit of him in this god forsaken apartment.
He just couldn't take his eyes off from the compulsive smoker, now could he? All it took was a double-take, and Damien was back to babysitting the detective. "Stop that," Damien commanded as he confiscated the cigarette away from Leo's grasp. His other free hand brushed against Leo's. An accidental touch that was casually readjusted to push the other drawer close. Just as he thought, this air was fucking poisonous. "I'm not just here to check if you're still alive, I'm here to make sure you stay alive." What kind of doctor would Langston be if someone died on his watch? Ditching the window, Damien faced his friend once more, "Holmes, I dislike repeating myself as much as you do. This is not a god damn livable space. You say that you can't, just admit that you don't want to. Just look at this!" He grabbed a pile of unorganized pictures and papers before slamming them down on the desk again. He motioned around the room. "I haven't seen a single progress in days and the place is only getting messier." Closing his eyes, and pinching his nose bridge under his glasses, he sighed, "Look, if this is about the money, just let me cover for you." The bastard never said no to food or booze. Taking the couch was nothing new to the detective. He camped at his clinic and at his place before. "There's enough place at my home to fill...this..." His eyes rolled as he tried to find a suitable word to describe the chaos. "mess." Oh well, at least the doctor tried.
It wasn't like the doctor ignored Leo's musing. There were other, stronger and frustrating stimuli, that distracted the thirty years old man... like the overwhelming smell of tobacco mingling with the detective's cologne. It intoxicated Langston's mind in worst ways possible. Moreover, his inability to open the cursed window boiled his blood. "Better start making a list of everyone's favourite TV show," he retorted as he continued to fight with the broken window frame. This poorly crafted thing was just as stubborn as the detective. No wonder Leo was so attached to this wreck; there had every bit of him in this god forsaken apartment.
He just couldn't take his eyes off from the compulsive smoker, now could he? All it took was a double-take, and Damien was back to babysitting the detective. "Stop that," Damien commanded as he confiscated the cigarette away from Leo's grasp. His other free hand brushed against Leo's. An accidental touch that was casually readjusted to push the other drawer close. Just as he thought, this air was fucking poisonous. "I'm not just here to check if you're still alive, I'm here to make sure you stay alive." What kind of doctor would Langston be if someone died on his watch? Ditching the window, Damien faced his friend once more, "Holmes, I dislike repeating myself as much as you do. This is not a god damn livable space. You say that you can't, just admit that you don't want to. Just look at this!" He grabbed a pile of unorganized pictures and papers before slamming them down on the desk again. He motioned around the room. "I haven't seen a single progress in days and the place is only getting messier." Closing his eyes, and pinching his nose bridge under his glasses, he sighed, "Look, if this is about the money, just let me cover for you." The bastard never said no to food or booze. Taking the couch was nothing new to the detective. He camped at his clinic and at his place before. "There's enough place at my home to fill...this..." His eyes rolled as he tried to find a suitable word to describe the chaos. "mess." Oh well, at least the doctor tried.
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sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
As soon as the cigarette left his lips, he let out a disappointed growl. His eyes followed the cigarette, not paying attention to the small touch to his hand. He moved away from the drawer and let out a fickle huff before leaning his backside against the desk. How annoying. He felt like he needed that...and there Damien was, taking his only moment's joy away. "I said I'll be fi--"
There it was. That nickname that Damien occasionally called Leo. He knew that it was a way of Damien to show concern. He'd noticed how he used it. But he also knew what it came with. Here comes the scolding. He didn't want to hear it. Not today. He was already stressed as it was. He didn't want to hear Damien snap at him about his living space.
But slowly more and more needles were being stabbed into Leo. As it went from his living space to his work and progress, Leo could feel that temper within him grow. He clenched his jaw, biting his tongue. "It's not about money. It's not about the damn money." He snapped, pushing off of the desk. He paced around, trying to keep his voice from raising. But it seemed like the more he paced, the more adrenaline starts to flow in him. He was irritable. And any little thing could become a trigger at this point. "If it were ever about money, I wouldn't have this shit job at the station. I wouldn't put up with that slimeball of a commissioner. I wouldn't..." He paused when he returned to the desk. There was a moment's pause before he grabbed the edge of the desk and lifted it, as if attempting to flip it over. He kicked the desk and turned away. "Everything is right under my nose and I can't FUCKING FIND IT. It's RIGHT THERE and I can't grab it! There's SOMETHING I'm missing and it HAS TO be RIGHT THERE."
He was angry and venting. This case was maddening. He was on the right track, but would it be so believable that one of his own coworkers was the serial rapist? A man that he greeted daily, saw and ate lunch with. Someone who he could speak so casually with and share an occasional laugh. It was had to think that behind those sunglasses were the eyes of a demented killer. Leo's intuition told him he knew this man. But no one would expect hiding in plain sight would be so easy.
There it was. That nickname that Damien occasionally called Leo. He knew that it was a way of Damien to show concern. He'd noticed how he used it. But he also knew what it came with. Here comes the scolding. He didn't want to hear it. Not today. He was already stressed as it was. He didn't want to hear Damien snap at him about his living space.
But slowly more and more needles were being stabbed into Leo. As it went from his living space to his work and progress, Leo could feel that temper within him grow. He clenched his jaw, biting his tongue. "It's not about money. It's not about the damn money." He snapped, pushing off of the desk. He paced around, trying to keep his voice from raising. But it seemed like the more he paced, the more adrenaline starts to flow in him. He was irritable. And any little thing could become a trigger at this point. "If it were ever about money, I wouldn't have this shit job at the station. I wouldn't put up with that slimeball of a commissioner. I wouldn't..." He paused when he returned to the desk. There was a moment's pause before he grabbed the edge of the desk and lifted it, as if attempting to flip it over. He kicked the desk and turned away. "Everything is right under my nose and I can't FUCKING FIND IT. It's RIGHT THERE and I can't grab it! There's SOMETHING I'm missing and it HAS TO be RIGHT THERE."
He was angry and venting. This case was maddening. He was on the right track, but would it be so believable that one of his own coworkers was the serial rapist? A man that he greeted daily, saw and ate lunch with. Someone who he could speak so casually with and share an occasional laugh. It was had to think that behind those sunglasses were the eyes of a demented killer. Leo's intuition told him he knew this man. But no one would expect hiding in plain sight would be so easy.
Pearlholy
Titleless title
If only they could be going off on a tangent—at least there, somewhere in the midst of a disagreement, there would be a meeting point. They were on a parallel and they were unable to from eye-to-eye. Currently, the doctor was trying to approach a matter but the detective replied with a different topic. Not surprising since Leo breathed for his investigation.
Where the detective boiled to the point of ebullition, Damien felt his blood run freeze. His friend’s outburst slowly faded as he listened to himself inhaling and exhaling deeply. “Leo,” Damien stated in the calmest tone. His lower lips folded, his tongue thoughtfully running over it. His scrutinizing gaze settled on the Italian law enforcer and he called Leo a second time, somewhat defeated. He felt like a ticking bomb where his patience was running thinner by the second. When De Luca could no longer contain his frustration, Damien’s eyes fluttered closed.
Why the hell did he even bother showing concern when all Leo bloody cared about was waltzing in a tunnel with no light? It may be a race against time and another female will fall victim to the serial killer. It was terrible news, it was horrible to let a criminal on the loose but watching Leo’s sanity crumbling and dying bit by bit was more agonizing than the larger problem at hand.
“Are you fucking done?”
His hand gripped on the window sill. He wouldn’t go as far as displaying any physical anger. He was better than that. He was Damien fucking Langston. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t possibly handle… except the growing fear of losing Leo. “Can you just stop slapping your dick on this case for a god damn minute? Even when you were suspended, you still showed up at the station. And you haven’t for a long fucking time. Didn’t you say it yourself? That your superiors were corrupt? What in the god damn world are you doing here? Why don’t you go out there and investigate them instead of mopping over Francesca? Because--in the end, isn’t all about amending that one big ass mistake you just couldn’t fix?”
He marched over the door of the bedroom. Fuck this mold and dusty smell. Fuck that smell of Marlboro and his cologne. Fuck Leo. “If you keep this up, you’ll end up dying before you can even crack the case. Why don’t you fucking think about that for a moment too while you’re at it. Think about how many more women will die just because you were too busy poking at pictures with a toothpick.”
He stared at the detective before walking out. “If that’s what you want, you’re more than welcome to die in that grave you just dug yourself. See if I’ll give a damn then.” He slammed the door behind him and left the apartment with Gil whining and tailing him. It wasn’t the first time Damien and Leo argued and there were more arguments to come. It was inevitable but it didn’t stop the doctor from being so angry either.
Where the detective boiled to the point of ebullition, Damien felt his blood run freeze. His friend’s outburst slowly faded as he listened to himself inhaling and exhaling deeply. “Leo,” Damien stated in the calmest tone. His lower lips folded, his tongue thoughtfully running over it. His scrutinizing gaze settled on the Italian law enforcer and he called Leo a second time, somewhat defeated. He felt like a ticking bomb where his patience was running thinner by the second. When De Luca could no longer contain his frustration, Damien’s eyes fluttered closed.
Why the hell did he even bother showing concern when all Leo bloody cared about was waltzing in a tunnel with no light? It may be a race against time and another female will fall victim to the serial killer. It was terrible news, it was horrible to let a criminal on the loose but watching Leo’s sanity crumbling and dying bit by bit was more agonizing than the larger problem at hand.
“Are you fucking done?”
His hand gripped on the window sill. He wouldn’t go as far as displaying any physical anger. He was better than that. He was Damien fucking Langston. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t possibly handle… except the growing fear of losing Leo. “Can you just stop slapping your dick on this case for a god damn minute? Even when you were suspended, you still showed up at the station. And you haven’t for a long fucking time. Didn’t you say it yourself? That your superiors were corrupt? What in the god damn world are you doing here? Why don’t you go out there and investigate them instead of mopping over Francesca? Because--in the end, isn’t all about amending that one big ass mistake you just couldn’t fix?”
He marched over the door of the bedroom. Fuck this mold and dusty smell. Fuck that smell of Marlboro and his cologne. Fuck Leo. “If you keep this up, you’ll end up dying before you can even crack the case. Why don’t you fucking think about that for a moment too while you’re at it. Think about how many more women will die just because you were too busy poking at pictures with a toothpick.”
He stared at the detective before walking out. “If that’s what you want, you’re more than welcome to die in that grave you just dug yourself. See if I’ll give a damn then.” He slammed the door behind him and left the apartment with Gil whining and tailing him. It wasn’t the first time Damien and Leo argued and there were more arguments to come. It was inevitable but it didn’t stop the doctor from being so angry either.
sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
At Damien's short tempered reply, Leo stopped his ranting and raving to look at him. Though Damien showed little signs of anger through body, he could tell just by being in the room with him now that he was furious. It didn't zap the anger and rage Leo had though. If anything, it made it worse. He thought Damien could understand, but in Leo's mind, it was clear that he didn't.
He didn't want to listen to Damien any further. This scolding and chastising only made Leo's blood boil. The mention of Francesca...the lone woman that he couldn't save when he had the chance. She had pleaded him to help her when no one would. No one had believed her when she said someone was out to get her. They only laughed and kept going. No injury, no trace. Leo however, had agreed and for months he would walk her home, check her windows and doors and then head back to work. The day his commissioner ordered him to stop or he would lose his job was the worst day of his life. A day he would never forget until the day he died.
"Don't..." He said quietly, his voice trembling with anger. "Don't." He said a little louder. Anger was starting to blind him.
As the door slammed, Leo simple stood there in the deafening silence. He was alone again. Trying to even muster a breath, he raised a hand and brought it to his face, rubbing over his cheek, eye and knotting it into his hair. He fell back against the desk and sat there. What....was he doing to himself?
Leo hadn't talked to Damien in the in the passing couple of weeks. Not even a text to show he was alive. If Damien had text him, Leo had ignored. The door to his apartment remained locked, but if Damien used the key, surely he would still have access. Bottles still scattered all over the place, but the content of them had gotten lighter. Leo had fixed himself up enough, packed up what evidence he had at home and went back to the station. Several people were surprised the detective hadn't hung himself with how he just disappeared upon the news of his suspension. And the commissioner was not the most pleased to see the sharp eyes of Leo De Luca back in focus.
"Got anything new, Sterling?" Leo asked as he passed the tall dark haired man with sunglasses on. He pulled the chair out from his desk and sat down, looking over things.
"Ahh, nothin' really. There's a few reports here and there, but nothing pertaining to the case."
Leo's eyes flickered to Roy Sterling, then over to the new recruit girl who was shuffling around with files. She paused for a brief moment, glanced at Roy and then looked away before rushing to the filing cabinets. Leo's brow furrowed slightly at the sight but his attention quickly turned to the phone. Someone had picked it up, but then put it on hold.
"Detective De Luca. A girl was taken to the hospital about half an hour ago. It's an SVU call."
Leo took in a breath. His heart was starting to beat faster. Something about this stirred him. Maybe it was the fact that this woman would be at Damien's hospital. But now wasn't a time for personal affairs. He would have to mend that later. "I'm on my way."
"Should we notify the hospital for you?"
"No, I'll give the head doctor a heads up." With that, Leo grabbed his overcoat and headed out of the station. As he headed to his car, he gave Damien a quick text.
Might have a lead. I'm on my way over.
Soon enough he made it to the hospital. He waited down at the nurse's station to speak with Damien. He needed a doctor's permission to be led to the room. He prayed that the girl was stable enough to speak. He supposed he would know soon enough.
He didn't want to listen to Damien any further. This scolding and chastising only made Leo's blood boil. The mention of Francesca...the lone woman that he couldn't save when he had the chance. She had pleaded him to help her when no one would. No one had believed her when she said someone was out to get her. They only laughed and kept going. No injury, no trace. Leo however, had agreed and for months he would walk her home, check her windows and doors and then head back to work. The day his commissioner ordered him to stop or he would lose his job was the worst day of his life. A day he would never forget until the day he died.
"Don't..." He said quietly, his voice trembling with anger. "Don't." He said a little louder. Anger was starting to blind him.
As the door slammed, Leo simple stood there in the deafening silence. He was alone again. Trying to even muster a breath, he raised a hand and brought it to his face, rubbing over his cheek, eye and knotting it into his hair. He fell back against the desk and sat there. What....was he doing to himself?
Leo hadn't talked to Damien in the in the passing couple of weeks. Not even a text to show he was alive. If Damien had text him, Leo had ignored. The door to his apartment remained locked, but if Damien used the key, surely he would still have access. Bottles still scattered all over the place, but the content of them had gotten lighter. Leo had fixed himself up enough, packed up what evidence he had at home and went back to the station. Several people were surprised the detective hadn't hung himself with how he just disappeared upon the news of his suspension. And the commissioner was not the most pleased to see the sharp eyes of Leo De Luca back in focus.
"Got anything new, Sterling?" Leo asked as he passed the tall dark haired man with sunglasses on. He pulled the chair out from his desk and sat down, looking over things.
"Ahh, nothin' really. There's a few reports here and there, but nothing pertaining to the case."
Leo's eyes flickered to Roy Sterling, then over to the new recruit girl who was shuffling around with files. She paused for a brief moment, glanced at Roy and then looked away before rushing to the filing cabinets. Leo's brow furrowed slightly at the sight but his attention quickly turned to the phone. Someone had picked it up, but then put it on hold.
"Detective De Luca. A girl was taken to the hospital about half an hour ago. It's an SVU call."
Leo took in a breath. His heart was starting to beat faster. Something about this stirred him. Maybe it was the fact that this woman would be at Damien's hospital. But now wasn't a time for personal affairs. He would have to mend that later. "I'm on my way."
"Should we notify the hospital for you?"
"No, I'll give the head doctor a heads up." With that, Leo grabbed his overcoat and headed out of the station. As he headed to his car, he gave Damien a quick text.
Might have a lead. I'm on my way over.
Soon enough he made it to the hospital. He waited down at the nurse's station to speak with Damien. He needed a doctor's permission to be led to the room. He prayed that the girl was stable enough to speak. He supposed he would know soon enough.
Pearlholy
Titleless title
Leo was a joke. While Damien dropped a text or a call, the detective never replied. Meanwhile, he would get a jiff that Leo would still respond to calls from damsel in distress.
Whatfuckingever.
Although the doctor was never known to be a social drinker and was rarely seen without the detective at the bar, it was becoming a natural occurrence to see Langston with a glass of cognac in his hand, alone. Leo’s relative who was the bartender barely counted as company. Gil seemed to disappear on him frequently as well. Usually, in a bar setting, Leo and he would cross patch and exchange a few words. Things would go back to normal and they would resume to being friends. However, lately, there was this growing and nagging feeling that settled in the back of his mind that the likeliness of things. He’ll be damned if it was a gut feeling but the worst was about to come.
Dr. Langston wasn’t wrong; today there was a victim in SVU. Although the cell phone on his desk vibrated, he did no more than glance at it; he was preoccupied in with documentations. After assessing the situation and treating the patient, Damien immediately filed a detailed report of the patient’s condition. A request for a psychologist was also filed. Therapy was on the way—a precaution if anything. Family members were contacted. In a moment of weakness, a female victim needed the support of her loved ones.
It was only after paperwork was done that Damien left his office. While he remembered that there was a message alert, it slipped from his mind until he arrived at the reception and saw Leo De Luca. Seeing the tanned man’s face encouraged him to check his cell phone now. He wasn’t surprised—as if the doctor was already expected the detective before the text message was received.
“Make it fast,” the myopic doctor grumbled as he approached the law enforcer. “The patient’s condition stabilized but that doesn’t mean you can go push the wrong buttons.” He held out a folder for the other to take. Turning his heels, he silently signaled the chain smoker to follow him to the patient’s room.
Whatfuckingever.
Although the doctor was never known to be a social drinker and was rarely seen without the detective at the bar, it was becoming a natural occurrence to see Langston with a glass of cognac in his hand, alone. Leo’s relative who was the bartender barely counted as company. Gil seemed to disappear on him frequently as well. Usually, in a bar setting, Leo and he would cross patch and exchange a few words. Things would go back to normal and they would resume to being friends. However, lately, there was this growing and nagging feeling that settled in the back of his mind that the likeliness of things. He’ll be damned if it was a gut feeling but the worst was about to come.
Dr. Langston wasn’t wrong; today there was a victim in SVU. Although the cell phone on his desk vibrated, he did no more than glance at it; he was preoccupied in with documentations. After assessing the situation and treating the patient, Damien immediately filed a detailed report of the patient’s condition. A request for a psychologist was also filed. Therapy was on the way—a precaution if anything. Family members were contacted. In a moment of weakness, a female victim needed the support of her loved ones.
It was only after paperwork was done that Damien left his office. While he remembered that there was a message alert, it slipped from his mind until he arrived at the reception and saw Leo De Luca. Seeing the tanned man’s face encouraged him to check his cell phone now. He wasn’t surprised—as if the doctor was already expected the detective before the text message was received.
“Make it fast,” the myopic doctor grumbled as he approached the law enforcer. “The patient’s condition stabilized but that doesn’t mean you can go push the wrong buttons.” He held out a folder for the other to take. Turning his heels, he silently signaled the chain smoker to follow him to the patient’s room.
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sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
Leo knew that his presence there wouldn't be welcomed with open arms. He didn't expect so. But how his mind had been, how could he face his most loyal friend, knowing fully well that at every waking minute, he was pissing the doctor off. He needed to kick himself into gear, even if it had meant to push away everyone temporarily in the process.
He didn't greet Damien with his usual smile. He simply nodded a greeting and took the file. "I'm not here to push buttons. I'm here to get on track." Leo replied calmly, his words meaning more than just speaking with the victim. His eyes glanced over the back of Damien's head before turning forward as he followed down the hall. He opened the file and started looking over it.
Nothing seemed too common with this woman and all the others. Appearance, ethnicity, nothing. But...something was odd about this one. He stared at her name and then abruptly stopped. "Damien." He called, his tone absent slightly as he focused on the file. "Do you remember a while back a woman coming to the station, making a complaint against us?" He kept looking over the file. Over and over, as if the more he kept searching on the page, the better chance something would reveal itself to him.
"This is the woman that filed a complaint against the station for harassment. Her claim was dropped after she admitted to falsely claiming." Leo continued to stand there, the look in his eye told that he was working things out in his mind. "How much....do you think..." he started and paused, trying to choose his words carefully. "would she be put off by the police?"
He didn't greet Damien with his usual smile. He simply nodded a greeting and took the file. "I'm not here to push buttons. I'm here to get on track." Leo replied calmly, his words meaning more than just speaking with the victim. His eyes glanced over the back of Damien's head before turning forward as he followed down the hall. He opened the file and started looking over it.
Nothing seemed too common with this woman and all the others. Appearance, ethnicity, nothing. But...something was odd about this one. He stared at her name and then abruptly stopped. "Damien." He called, his tone absent slightly as he focused on the file. "Do you remember a while back a woman coming to the station, making a complaint against us?" He kept looking over the file. Over and over, as if the more he kept searching on the page, the better chance something would reveal itself to him.
"This is the woman that filed a complaint against the station for harassment. Her claim was dropped after she admitted to falsely claiming." Leo continued to stand there, the look in his eye told that he was working things out in his mind. "How much....do you think..." he started and paused, trying to choose his words carefully. "would she be put off by the police?"
Pearlholy
Titleless title
Statements required no word of encouragement. With the detective being level-headed and focusing on the case, the doctor offered nothing more than his usual cold glance over his shoulders. That fucker better be back on his track after grinding the last bit of his precious patience. Otherwise the next sorry victim would have been no other than the detective himself—and Damien wouldn’t be the culprit of the other’s misery; he’ll blame on the poor living conditions and the substance abuse.
The distance between the two men grew as Leo voice his epiphany. The doctor stood sideways to the detective and trailed his gaze to the door of the female victim. Although the hallway wasn’t crowded, this was still sensitive information; it wasn’t that he distrusted his staff, but the hospital wasn’t populated by his employees alone.
“And those files will quickly disappear if you don’t hurry up,” Dr.Langston drone. There was no words vocalized against Leo’s reasoning but there were indeed pressing matters. For example, they were expecting the victim’s family soon and he highly doubt they would want the patient to be interrogated so soon. “There will be some back tracking to do, the list is rather long,” he replied to the law enforcer’s latest revelation. And if the culprit was really one of the corrupt law enforcers, it wouldn’t take long until someone would try to intervene during the interrogation.
“You got half an hour, Holmes. Make it count.”
The distance between the two men grew as Leo voice his epiphany. The doctor stood sideways to the detective and trailed his gaze to the door of the female victim. Although the hallway wasn’t crowded, this was still sensitive information; it wasn’t that he distrusted his staff, but the hospital wasn’t populated by his employees alone.
“And those files will quickly disappear if you don’t hurry up,” Dr.Langston drone. There was no words vocalized against Leo’s reasoning but there were indeed pressing matters. For example, they were expecting the victim’s family soon and he highly doubt they would want the patient to be interrogated so soon. “There will be some back tracking to do, the list is rather long,” he replied to the law enforcer’s latest revelation. And if the culprit was really one of the corrupt law enforcers, it wouldn’t take long until someone would try to intervene during the interrogation.
“You got half an hour, Holmes. Make it count.”
sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
Now various possibilities and deductions were swimming in his head. Flashbacks of all the pictures and information he had pinned on his wall making themselves visible before his eyes. It was as if the red strings were starting to connect now. Leo closed the file and nodded, walking past the doctor and pausing only briefly at the door. "I'll only need ten minutes." Eyes flickered sideways to Damien before knocking and entering.
The woman already had a couple family members visiting. Leo cautiously made his presence known to the trio and flashed his badge. He spoke calmly, solemnly, so to reflect the sympathetic emotions that were floating about the room. After a minute or so the parents nodded in reluctant agreement and left the room, leaving Leo standing before the girl's bed.
"Do you mind if I sit?" He asked the girl, but there was no response. She looked as if she wasn't even in her body. Leo had seen this look over and over and it never got any less painful to see. He took up a chair and sat in it backwards, so that he could lean against the back of the chair and so he was facing the end of the bed. "Ivory Blackstone..." he started, trying to catch her attention. Her gaze didn't move from the place she was staring.
He let out a small sigh, knowing speaking distantly wouldn't work. "It was one of us, wasn't it?" He paused briefly and focused on her hands. Her fingers slightly curled around the fabric of the hospital bed blanket. There. That's what he was looking for. "I'm right, aren't I?" he mumbled, leaning forward slightly and placing his chin on his arms atop the back of the chair. "I want to find this guy. I want to find him and put him in his place. But...I can't do it without you." No response. "Please...Ivory. I can't let him hurt anyone else. I want to find justice for all of those girls...for you. But I need your help..." He noted the slight hitch in her breathing. It was like she was holding her breath. "Who did this?"
Just then, a figure walked into the room. Officer Sterling and the little recruit poked their heads in. "Detective, we couldn't get a hold of you." Roy started, a tone of concern that seemed a little too off for Leo's taste.
"You could have radio'd me."
"They switched out your radio when you were....on vacation." He glanced over to the victim, eyes set on her as she stared downward again. Leo looked over her and then sighed a little. So many officers in one room were stressing her out. He nodded his head to her and slowly stood.
"Out." He told the two of them, motioning them out of the room and into the hall. He let out a growl and motioned like he was going to fwap them both. "You morons, I almost had it." he smacked the recruit with the file and then kept walking. "Get back to the station. I'll meet you back." He paused when he saw Damien. "Watson." He started, easing his annoyed expression. "I'll call you tonight."
That call never happened.
Instead, Leo sent Damien a text.
You're right, about the apartment. It would have been the death of me.
Sirens filled the town as they headed for the shabby apartment complex. Leo sat a couple blocks away and swatted at the paramedics that came to check him out. "I just got here! I'm fine!" He snapped at them, making them back up a little.
The woman already had a couple family members visiting. Leo cautiously made his presence known to the trio and flashed his badge. He spoke calmly, solemnly, so to reflect the sympathetic emotions that were floating about the room. After a minute or so the parents nodded in reluctant agreement and left the room, leaving Leo standing before the girl's bed.
"Do you mind if I sit?" He asked the girl, but there was no response. She looked as if she wasn't even in her body. Leo had seen this look over and over and it never got any less painful to see. He took up a chair and sat in it backwards, so that he could lean against the back of the chair and so he was facing the end of the bed. "Ivory Blackstone..." he started, trying to catch her attention. Her gaze didn't move from the place she was staring.
He let out a small sigh, knowing speaking distantly wouldn't work. "It was one of us, wasn't it?" He paused briefly and focused on her hands. Her fingers slightly curled around the fabric of the hospital bed blanket. There. That's what he was looking for. "I'm right, aren't I?" he mumbled, leaning forward slightly and placing his chin on his arms atop the back of the chair. "I want to find this guy. I want to find him and put him in his place. But...I can't do it without you." No response. "Please...Ivory. I can't let him hurt anyone else. I want to find justice for all of those girls...for you. But I need your help..." He noted the slight hitch in her breathing. It was like she was holding her breath. "Who did this?"
Just then, a figure walked into the room. Officer Sterling and the little recruit poked their heads in. "Detective, we couldn't get a hold of you." Roy started, a tone of concern that seemed a little too off for Leo's taste.
"You could have radio'd me."
"They switched out your radio when you were....on vacation." He glanced over to the victim, eyes set on her as she stared downward again. Leo looked over her and then sighed a little. So many officers in one room were stressing her out. He nodded his head to her and slowly stood.
"Out." He told the two of them, motioning them out of the room and into the hall. He let out a growl and motioned like he was going to fwap them both. "You morons, I almost had it." he smacked the recruit with the file and then kept walking. "Get back to the station. I'll meet you back." He paused when he saw Damien. "Watson." He started, easing his annoyed expression. "I'll call you tonight."
That call never happened.
Instead, Leo sent Damien a text.
You're right, about the apartment. It would have been the death of me.
Sirens filled the town as they headed for the shabby apartment complex. Leo sat a couple blocks away and swatted at the paramedics that came to check him out. "I just got here! I'm fine!" He snapped at them, making them back up a little.
Pearlholy
Titleless title
There was a light smell of cigarette on the detective’s clothes, the doctor silently noted. Their eyes met for a moment. While Leo’s eyes flickered, Damien’s lips stretched into a subtle smirk. Dr. Langston remained outside and out of sight to give the patient and the interrogator the privacy they needed. When the victim’s relative walked out of the room, the doctor directed them to the nearest bench. He explained therapy services and extended his concern for Ivory by outlining ways for the family to cope with the misfortune.
***
Whenever his shift was over at the hospital, the head doctor would volunteer to lend an extra hand wherever was needed. Sometimes, he lightened a staff workload or simply took over. On other days, he would assist a friend at his private clinic. Most days were dedicated in filing police records with Leo De Luca. Considering they were on speaking terms again, that routine was expected to resume as the other said he would call the doctor.
Damien was in his car, driving his way to tackle his second occupation when he received an alarming text message from the detective. The grip on his mobile phone tightened as well as his jaw. His senses were growing numb but they did nothing to stale his negative thoughts. With a frown and groan, a detour was made in order to avoid the upcoming traffic. The Italian’s text message replayed in his mind often enough to drill a state of panic in his being. He fucking hated to be right sometimes, especially when being right about Leo’s bad luck.
The detective had been on a streak but today he just graze death and that alone didn’t sit too well with Dr.Langston. Leo had a dangerous career. Getting injured was part of the job description but experiencing life-threatening situations was becoming frequent. And he was certain that his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him. Hopefully, something will prove him wrong.
Fire trucks and crowds prevented him from getting any closer than three blocks away from Leo’s residence. It was after parking his car and opening the door to Gil, Damien scanned the area in hope to find his friend. If the man managed to get a text in, it must mean that he was alright. However, more than anything, Damien wanted a phone call. He wanted to hear Leo’s voice, hear that he was fine, and hear him say that the doctor was worrying for nothing. He needed to hear the other’s voice to calm the storm that was brewing in his mind. Despite his cool exterior his boiling rage was visibly palpable to anyone who was familiar with the King of Grouches.
“Move,” the man commanded with a firm and quasi hostile tone. He nudged the nearest living obstacle that stopped him from getting to Leo’s side. His long strides closed the distance between him and his best friend. At the sight of a glaring doctor, the paramedics yielded and simply gave the space that Damien demanded. His eyes lowered to study the law enforcer, quickly yet desperately, searching for the slightest signs of injury. The myopic medic grabbed onto the detective's arm; he just wanted to make sure the smoke wasn't making him hallucinate anything. It was an action easily misunderstood as grabbing Leo's attention.
Leo must have been on the right track if the culprit had to go as far as annihilating the detective’s hell hole. Conflicted between the need to yell at the man and question the other, he decided against stirring another argument. “My offer still stands,” Dr. Langston started, “ And you don’t have the luxury to refuse now.”
***
Whenever his shift was over at the hospital, the head doctor would volunteer to lend an extra hand wherever was needed. Sometimes, he lightened a staff workload or simply took over. On other days, he would assist a friend at his private clinic. Most days were dedicated in filing police records with Leo De Luca. Considering they were on speaking terms again, that routine was expected to resume as the other said he would call the doctor.
Damien was in his car, driving his way to tackle his second occupation when he received an alarming text message from the detective. The grip on his mobile phone tightened as well as his jaw. His senses were growing numb but they did nothing to stale his negative thoughts. With a frown and groan, a detour was made in order to avoid the upcoming traffic. The Italian’s text message replayed in his mind often enough to drill a state of panic in his being. He fucking hated to be right sometimes, especially when being right about Leo’s bad luck.
The detective had been on a streak but today he just graze death and that alone didn’t sit too well with Dr.Langston. Leo had a dangerous career. Getting injured was part of the job description but experiencing life-threatening situations was becoming frequent. And he was certain that his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him. Hopefully, something will prove him wrong.
Fire trucks and crowds prevented him from getting any closer than three blocks away from Leo’s residence. It was after parking his car and opening the door to Gil, Damien scanned the area in hope to find his friend. If the man managed to get a text in, it must mean that he was alright. However, more than anything, Damien wanted a phone call. He wanted to hear Leo’s voice, hear that he was fine, and hear him say that the doctor was worrying for nothing. He needed to hear the other’s voice to calm the storm that was brewing in his mind. Despite his cool exterior his boiling rage was visibly palpable to anyone who was familiar with the King of Grouches.
“Move,” the man commanded with a firm and quasi hostile tone. He nudged the nearest living obstacle that stopped him from getting to Leo’s side. His long strides closed the distance between him and his best friend. At the sight of a glaring doctor, the paramedics yielded and simply gave the space that Damien demanded. His eyes lowered to study the law enforcer, quickly yet desperately, searching for the slightest signs of injury. The myopic medic grabbed onto the detective's arm; he just wanted to make sure the smoke wasn't making him hallucinate anything. It was an action easily misunderstood as grabbing Leo's attention.
Leo must have been on the right track if the culprit had to go as far as annihilating the detective’s hell hole. Conflicted between the need to yell at the man and question the other, he decided against stirring another argument. “My offer still stands,” Dr. Langston started, “ And you don’t have the luxury to refuse now.”
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sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
His leg bounced wildly as a cigarette lit between his lips. Of all the things to be doing now, just after his apartment was burned down, he was smoking. He took the stick from his mouth, looked it over, and growled before tossing it to the ground and smashing it under his shoe. The paramedics kept insisting to check his breathing but he kept swatting them off until they fell silent and parted. Leo glanced over to see Damien. He didn't want to speak. Not now. He gave a simple nod before starting to turn his head away.
But at the yank on his arm, he looked back to the doctor and slowly stood. "I'm fine, I'm fine. I was on my way home from the station when I drove up to this." He patted his clothes and then turned his head to the now dulling building. The fire had been put out, but there was so much severe damage, anyone living in that complex would have to find somewhere else to live. It was to the point where it would be a better idea to just bulldoze what was left and rebuild it all together.
Damien's voice seemed to split through the chatter and the sounds of trucks and quick moving to secure the area. He could hear the 'I told you so' with that offer. But...as much as Leo didn't want to bother Damien with living with him, he was in no situation to refuse. "Yeah, yeah." He muttered, not wanting to look back at him right away. "...Thanks...." He fell silent again, looking over the mess of what was left of his apartment. "I had left my statement there when I went home for lunch." His tone was almost void of emotion. "I had the means to draw the case together and..." He let out a sigh and turned quickly to throw an elbow into the nearest street lamp. "It's all fucking ashes!" The pain resonated through his elbow, up his arm and into his shoulder. But the pain seemed to settle his sudden anger. He slowly pulled away and started to walk, not being able to stand seeing what used to be his living space now gone.
But at the yank on his arm, he looked back to the doctor and slowly stood. "I'm fine, I'm fine. I was on my way home from the station when I drove up to this." He patted his clothes and then turned his head to the now dulling building. The fire had been put out, but there was so much severe damage, anyone living in that complex would have to find somewhere else to live. It was to the point where it would be a better idea to just bulldoze what was left and rebuild it all together.
Damien's voice seemed to split through the chatter and the sounds of trucks and quick moving to secure the area. He could hear the 'I told you so' with that offer. But...as much as Leo didn't want to bother Damien with living with him, he was in no situation to refuse. "Yeah, yeah." He muttered, not wanting to look back at him right away. "...Thanks...." He fell silent again, looking over the mess of what was left of his apartment. "I had left my statement there when I went home for lunch." His tone was almost void of emotion. "I had the means to draw the case together and..." He let out a sigh and turned quickly to throw an elbow into the nearest street lamp. "It's all fucking ashes!" The pain resonated through his elbow, up his arm and into his shoulder. But the pain seemed to settle his sudden anger. He slowly pulled away and started to walk, not being able to stand seeing what used to be his living space now gone.
Pearlholy
Titleless title
His narrowed eyes followed Leo’s injured arm. Stuck with a permanent glare on his face, the doctor silently watched Leo throw a fit. They were back to where they were weeks again. Regression can be so frustrating but he wouldn’t settle with that. The fire should have motivated the man to move forward, instead, he went back to mopping around. It was an unbearable sight and Damien had no intentions of sitting around.
“The car’s the other way,” the apprehensive man said and nodded to where his car was. “Let me at least pick up something at the clinic.” It was a suggestion but his firm tone suggested otherwise. Gil came back to his side which only meant now was the time to go.
“I should have a stash of cognac somewhere in the cabinets,” he added.
He began walking towards his car. Unlocking the doors, he opened the door to the backseat for Gil. He slipped in the driver’s seat and turned on the engine. If Leo didn’t join him then, he would wait for the other to be ready for it. Despite his irritation, he didn’t want to argue in front of everyone.
“The car’s the other way,” the apprehensive man said and nodded to where his car was. “Let me at least pick up something at the clinic.” It was a suggestion but his firm tone suggested otherwise. Gil came back to his side which only meant now was the time to go.
“I should have a stash of cognac somewhere in the cabinets,” he added.
He began walking towards his car. Unlocking the doors, he opened the door to the backseat for Gil. He slipped in the driver’s seat and turned on the engine. If Leo didn’t join him then, he would wait for the other to be ready for it. Despite his irritation, he didn’t want to argue in front of everyone.
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sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
He didn't know where he was walking, he was just walking. He was so angry, he felt like HE could murder someone. When Damien mentioned the car in the other direction, he slowed and started to turn towards the other man. It was pretty much useless looking like a madman on the streets. Maybe he'd be able to get plastered enough to deal with the entire thing tomorrow.
Tomorrow. It was always dealt with tomorrow. But tomorrow never came when binge drinking happened.
He growled, a slur of Italian curses under his breath as he followed after the doctor and the dog. He ended up falling silent in the car, not wanting to yell in such a small space. He tilted his head back, resting his head against the passenger seat headrest. He refused to say anything, his blood still boiling. Even in his silence, the air was dense with tension.
His mind replayed everything that had happened since that morning. He hadn't smoked at the apartment in the morning. He took one with him to the car. His AC didn't work, so it couldn't have sparked, could it? Couldn't have been the water heater, he'd checked it frequently. His hand clenched the car handle grip as he got more and more frustrated. Was someone seriously putting a hit on him or something? This was crazy.
Tomorrow. It was always dealt with tomorrow. But tomorrow never came when binge drinking happened.
He growled, a slur of Italian curses under his breath as he followed after the doctor and the dog. He ended up falling silent in the car, not wanting to yell in such a small space. He tilted his head back, resting his head against the passenger seat headrest. He refused to say anything, his blood still boiling. Even in his silence, the air was dense with tension.
His mind replayed everything that had happened since that morning. He hadn't smoked at the apartment in the morning. He took one with him to the car. His AC didn't work, so it couldn't have sparked, could it? Couldn't have been the water heater, he'd checked it frequently. His hand clenched the car handle grip as he got more and more frustrated. Was someone seriously putting a hit on him or something? This was crazy.
Pearlholy
Titleless title
He left his statement in his apartment. All the evidence was at his place. Was it that he had an inkling feeling that someone was genuinely trying to jeopardize their friendship?
Hearing angry words in a foreign language caused the doctor to look behind him. His eyes trailed back to whatever was in front of him, practicing the art of silence and tongue holding. Leo might as well be on a warpath and something was telling him that they were about to go right into arguing the moment they get to the clinic. The detective had some anger to let out and Damien wouldn't be able to reason him. Just the thought of the inevitable tired him.
But he wasn't afraid of walking thin ice. He was just worried of losing the only thing that made a little more human. Many often thought Leo was too dependent on the doctor. The reality of things was Damien was the one who depended on the detective. Leo was after all his anchor to the outside world--his sole social link.
Pressing on the button on the door on driver's door, Damien lowered the window on Leo's side. His gaze lingered on the other for awhile longer and when his car engine was ready, the doctor changed the shift gear and pressed on the pedal. While paying attention on the road, Damien's peripheral vision was trained on Leo's facial muscles twisting in frustration.
After parking his car in from of the clinic, he turned off the car, slipped out and opened the door for Gil to get out. Closing the backseat door. He waited for Leo to get out of the passenger's seat and proceeded to the clinic. Unlocking his workplace, he left the door open for Leo to come in first. The lights remained turned off until they reached his personal office where he simply pulled on the string of the desk lamp, turning it on. Quietly, he walked past the detective and headed to the kitchen for an ice pack for Leo's arm. Once back in the office again, he handed him the cold item for Leo. No eye contact was made and no words were spoken until Damien had finally handed a glass of cognac to his friend and kept another glass for himself.
"How's the arm?"
...You know that statements can be re-written. New evidence can be gathered. I'm sure the culprit realized you were close to solve the case and panicked." Leaning against the desk, he crossed his arms and ankles and watched Leo. "What did you found out?"
Hearing angry words in a foreign language caused the doctor to look behind him. His eyes trailed back to whatever was in front of him, practicing the art of silence and tongue holding. Leo might as well be on a warpath and something was telling him that they were about to go right into arguing the moment they get to the clinic. The detective had some anger to let out and Damien wouldn't be able to reason him. Just the thought of the inevitable tired him.
But he wasn't afraid of walking thin ice. He was just worried of losing the only thing that made a little more human. Many often thought Leo was too dependent on the doctor. The reality of things was Damien was the one who depended on the detective. Leo was after all his anchor to the outside world--his sole social link.
Pressing on the button on the door on driver's door, Damien lowered the window on Leo's side. His gaze lingered on the other for awhile longer and when his car engine was ready, the doctor changed the shift gear and pressed on the pedal. While paying attention on the road, Damien's peripheral vision was trained on Leo's facial muscles twisting in frustration.
After parking his car in from of the clinic, he turned off the car, slipped out and opened the door for Gil to get out. Closing the backseat door. He waited for Leo to get out of the passenger's seat and proceeded to the clinic. Unlocking his workplace, he left the door open for Leo to come in first. The lights remained turned off until they reached his personal office where he simply pulled on the string of the desk lamp, turning it on. Quietly, he walked past the detective and headed to the kitchen for an ice pack for Leo's arm. Once back in the office again, he handed him the cold item for Leo. No eye contact was made and no words were spoken until Damien had finally handed a glass of cognac to his friend and kept another glass for himself.
"How's the arm?"
...You know that statements can be re-written. New evidence can be gathered. I'm sure the culprit realized you were close to solve the case and panicked." Leaning against the desk, he crossed his arms and ankles and watched Leo. "What did you found out?"
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sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
As soon as the car window opened and the breeze touched his warm cheek, he let out a small sigh of relief. He was nowhere near calm, but the air was nice. He kept his eyes closed and pinched his temples all the way to the clinic. Once the car stopped, he took a minute to get out and follow the doctor into the clinic. His stomach turned, his conscience not wanting him to be there. But he came all this way already, he didn't have the drive to turn back around now. He automatically followed Damien to his office and sat down on the small couch.
Leo suffered in silence till Damien came back with an ice pack. He nodded a thanks and took it, pressing it around his arm. "No real damage done." He muttered and fell silent again. He leg started bouncing slowly as his mind ran off again, thinking back at every step of his day. "No...no there's information that I can't get again. I can't get the girl to talk again. That look in her eyes after the officers walked in, I know she won't speak to police anymore." He grimaced at the thought.
He took in a deep breath and quickly let it out. "I'm thinking that too. Which means...it's someone that works on the inside. They had to have been at the station this morning when I got the call for the hospital." He fell silent for a minute, thinking. "I...had said I got a little bit of a lead...and went to speak with the commissioner about it." He clenched his jaw thinking about it. "The commissioner might be a scumbag, but he's too cowardly to be a murderer...." His eyes narrowed and after a few, he let out a growl and dragged his fingers through his hair, letting the ice pack fall to the ground.
"Damien I'm so close. I'm so close to solving this but...this...this has set me ten paces back."
Leo suffered in silence till Damien came back with an ice pack. He nodded a thanks and took it, pressing it around his arm. "No real damage done." He muttered and fell silent again. He leg started bouncing slowly as his mind ran off again, thinking back at every step of his day. "No...no there's information that I can't get again. I can't get the girl to talk again. That look in her eyes after the officers walked in, I know she won't speak to police anymore." He grimaced at the thought.
He took in a deep breath and quickly let it out. "I'm thinking that too. Which means...it's someone that works on the inside. They had to have been at the station this morning when I got the call for the hospital." He fell silent for a minute, thinking. "I...had said I got a little bit of a lead...and went to speak with the commissioner about it." He clenched his jaw thinking about it. "The commissioner might be a scumbag, but he's too cowardly to be a murderer...." His eyes narrowed and after a few, he let out a growl and dragged his fingers through his hair, letting the ice pack fall to the ground.
"Damien I'm so close. I'm so close to solving this but...this...this has set me ten paces back."
Pearlholy
Titleless title
"What about the other file complaints, have you spoken to the other women?"
He was, by no means, a law enforcer. There were things that Leo was able to see from a mile which the doctor wouldn't be able to. The doctor's expertise lied in the disenchantment of the human body. However, rationality was something he practiced efficiently. Just how well he could apply to a furious and blind Taurus was highly debatable.
Dr. Langston was already certain that Leo have considered outlining every police that may have abused women while being on duty or was seen around that area when the crime happened. "Everyone has a mask. She's not the first victim and he has years of practice on that... if that's the culprit. Have you thought of checking the security camera? The real culprit may have been an eavesdropper." Though seeing as he went as far as destroying the apartment complex, chances that the evidence at the station was also erased. Blind spots perhaps? He wasn't must of an imaginative person. Maybe he should turn on the TV more often. Many seem to rave about crime series.
Bringing up the glass to his lips, Damien listened intently to the law enforcer's back-tracking. It always has been about going back to him. There was nothing from the past that could be reworked, not to mention every evidence was apparently irrecuperable and destroyed. What the detective was doing was going against everything a proactive man was doing and the more he listened the more aggravated he became.
There was a light pause in his moment. His liquor never met his lips. Inhaling soundlessly, Damien glanced at the ceiling, expecting words to be written there. His words were rarely ever filtered. More than often, his choice of words would anger his only friend. "Worry about what has to be done immediately. You have to file a report about the fire incident. There should be traces of the act left if you're still into retrospective thinking. Or work on finding other evidence. Know that the culprit went this far because you most likely know who the serial killer is. If I were you, I would start finding the evidence to prove him the culprit and stop staring at what was already done." The doctor never doubted Leo's competence or his skills but there needs to be a different approach on the matter.
His stance shifted. Uncrossing his ankles, Dr.Langston moved closer to Leo. He watched the man for a moment before bending his knee to retrieve the fallen ice pack. Dusting the cold item, he secured it on the top of Leo's head by resting his hand there. Looking away, he took the first sip of his cognac.
He was, by no means, a law enforcer. There were things that Leo was able to see from a mile which the doctor wouldn't be able to. The doctor's expertise lied in the disenchantment of the human body. However, rationality was something he practiced efficiently. Just how well he could apply to a furious and blind Taurus was highly debatable.
Dr. Langston was already certain that Leo have considered outlining every police that may have abused women while being on duty or was seen around that area when the crime happened. "Everyone has a mask. She's not the first victim and he has years of practice on that... if that's the culprit. Have you thought of checking the security camera? The real culprit may have been an eavesdropper." Though seeing as he went as far as destroying the apartment complex, chances that the evidence at the station was also erased. Blind spots perhaps? He wasn't must of an imaginative person. Maybe he should turn on the TV more often. Many seem to rave about crime series.
Bringing up the glass to his lips, Damien listened intently to the law enforcer's back-tracking. It always has been about going back to him. There was nothing from the past that could be reworked, not to mention every evidence was apparently irrecuperable and destroyed. What the detective was doing was going against everything a proactive man was doing and the more he listened the more aggravated he became.
There was a light pause in his moment. His liquor never met his lips. Inhaling soundlessly, Damien glanced at the ceiling, expecting words to be written there. His words were rarely ever filtered. More than often, his choice of words would anger his only friend. "Worry about what has to be done immediately. You have to file a report about the fire incident. There should be traces of the act left if you're still into retrospective thinking. Or work on finding other evidence. Know that the culprit went this far because you most likely know who the serial killer is. If I were you, I would start finding the evidence to prove him the culprit and stop staring at what was already done." The doctor never doubted Leo's competence or his skills but there needs to be a different approach on the matter.
His stance shifted. Uncrossing his ankles, Dr.Langston moved closer to Leo. He watched the man for a moment before bending his knee to retrieve the fallen ice pack. Dusting the cold item, he secured it on the top of Leo's head by resting his hand there. Looking away, he took the first sip of his cognac.
sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
He was just filled with raw emotions. Usually Damien's inquiring to other possibilities helped his mind sort through information and helped him look at things differently. But right now, it wasn't helping in the least. He shook his head. "No one else is talking. This guy's really got them tight lipped." He grumbled, frustrated at himself for wanting to antagonize victims to get them to crack just even a little. A damaged woman was a very delicate thing to handle. Even the slightest wrong smile could set them into a down spiral. These girls feared their lives and no amount of charisma would allow them to trust again.
Cameras. He had gone through a couple weeks of tape, and nothing. He would see the same people come in and out. He had seen the tapes of when the woman had come into the station and there seemed to be nothing. But he had to be missing something. He was so frantic, he could have easily missed something. "Tomorrow...I'll go back to the station and check the tapes again." he said in a weary voice. He was drained with his waves of emotion.
After feeling cold and pressure on his head, he let his head sink a little more before raising the glass to his lips, taking a long sip. As much as he wanted to fight his friend with irrationality and stubbornness, he knew Damien was right. He needed to file a report, find the cause of the fire, and work on finding more evidence. He let the glass over just before his lips before taking another sip. "I'm losing my mind." He grumbled and downed the rest of it.
With a sigh, he reached up and slipped the ice pack off of his head. Faces were flashing in his head. Everyone he'd seen at the station this morning. Men, women, young, old. In his head, it could have been any one of them. "He's...playing with me." He finally said. "It's not out of fear...swear to God, this guy is mocking me." His mind started racing again, flashing scenes of what had happened today and the last couple days. The pictures of the victim in chronological order. They were getting increasingly worse. "If he knows I'm so close, this wasn't to just throw me off, this was to prove he's better than me." His fingers curled, gripping the glass harder. Again, he was flaring. But he was exhausted from the day. Instead of lashing, he roughly put the glass down and leaned back.
"I need a smoke." Leo searched his pockets for a pack, but found none. He had either left them in his desk at work or absently used them up already. He grumbled, searching his pockets again, as if he could have missed it. After sure he wouldn't find any, he started to stand.
Cameras. He had gone through a couple weeks of tape, and nothing. He would see the same people come in and out. He had seen the tapes of when the woman had come into the station and there seemed to be nothing. But he had to be missing something. He was so frantic, he could have easily missed something. "Tomorrow...I'll go back to the station and check the tapes again." he said in a weary voice. He was drained with his waves of emotion.
After feeling cold and pressure on his head, he let his head sink a little more before raising the glass to his lips, taking a long sip. As much as he wanted to fight his friend with irrationality and stubbornness, he knew Damien was right. He needed to file a report, find the cause of the fire, and work on finding more evidence. He let the glass over just before his lips before taking another sip. "I'm losing my mind." He grumbled and downed the rest of it.
With a sigh, he reached up and slipped the ice pack off of his head. Faces were flashing in his head. Everyone he'd seen at the station this morning. Men, women, young, old. In his head, it could have been any one of them. "He's...playing with me." He finally said. "It's not out of fear...swear to God, this guy is mocking me." His mind started racing again, flashing scenes of what had happened today and the last couple days. The pictures of the victim in chronological order. They were getting increasingly worse. "If he knows I'm so close, this wasn't to just throw me off, this was to prove he's better than me." His fingers curled, gripping the glass harder. Again, he was flaring. But he was exhausted from the day. Instead of lashing, he roughly put the glass down and leaned back.
"I need a smoke." Leo searched his pockets for a pack, but found none. He had either left them in his desk at work or absently used them up already. He grumbled, searching his pockets again, as if he could have missed it. After sure he wouldn't find any, he started to stand.
Pearlholy
Titleless title
The other’s voice was cracking and he slowly died on the inside. He took another gulp of the cognac so the burn can stop the aching yet all he could feel was the discomfort spreading out.
“I’ll help you,” the doctor concluded. Leo won’t get a peace of mind until the case was solve just as much as Damien wouldn’t stand looking at things falling apart—not if he could prevent it.
“You shouldn’t let yourself be distracted by his provocations. That’s how he’ll manage to slip away,” Dr. Langston reminded.
He held up the pack and shook his head at the law enforcer. “I know you need to keep yourself busy and calm down but this isn’t the way.” He tossed the pack and watched it land on his desk. “Come on. Let’s just head out and get some rest. You won’t be able to sleep but you should at least try.”
((Snippet because I’m beyond exhausted and cannot complete it.))
“I’ll help you,” the doctor concluded. Leo won’t get a peace of mind until the case was solve just as much as Damien wouldn’t stand looking at things falling apart—not if he could prevent it.
“You shouldn’t let yourself be distracted by his provocations. That’s how he’ll manage to slip away,” Dr. Langston reminded.
He held up the pack and shook his head at the law enforcer. “I know you need to keep yourself busy and calm down but this isn’t the way.” He tossed the pack and watched it land on his desk. “Come on. Let’s just head out and get some rest. You won’t be able to sleep but you should at least try.”
((Snippet because I’m beyond exhausted and cannot complete it.))
sorrow made you
from the bottom of the dark, dark sea
He knew Damien was right. He couldn't afford to let himself get distracted. The more flustered the detective would be, the more mistakes he would make. How many had he made since taking on this case? There were far too many to count. He internally hissed at himself, kicked himself, and again searched his pockets for his cigarettes. Still nothing.
"I just...need a smoke." He muttered, feeling even more guilty that Damien was following Leo into his hole. Leo had long since lost count of how many times recently Damien and him had fought, and it resulted in Damien leaving before losing his cool. It made Leo wonder why he kept coming back. Leo knew he was a terrible person, pushing his friends away only to find later that he needed them more than he thought. Damien had been no exception with Leo's lashings of temperament and whatnot. How the doctor could just tolerate him like that...he was a blessing and an annoyance.
"Go home, I'll catch up later." He said almost sourly. His mind was so focused on the one action of smoking that he didn't want to be bothered with anything else.
"I just...need a smoke." He muttered, feeling even more guilty that Damien was following Leo into his hole. Leo had long since lost count of how many times recently Damien and him had fought, and it resulted in Damien leaving before losing his cool. It made Leo wonder why he kept coming back. Leo knew he was a terrible person, pushing his friends away only to find later that he needed them more than he thought. Damien had been no exception with Leo's lashings of temperament and whatnot. How the doctor could just tolerate him like that...he was a blessing and an annoyance.
"Go home, I'll catch up later." He said almost sourly. His mind was so focused on the one action of smoking that he didn't want to be bothered with anything else.
