Realistic or Modern The Chase is On (w/Hopefully Changeable)

[JustYourFantasy]

Ten long years. It was rather difficult to believe that it had been ten years since their little game faded away. Such a long time indeed. ‘Ten years and now this. Certainly not how I saw things going… No, indeed not.’

Fingers tapped lightly against the clear glass table, they drummed mimicking a song. If one listened carefully they’d make out the tune of ‘Secrets’ by the Pierces. A somewhat eerie song itself but, one Sephtis absolutely adored, having listened to it so many times over and over that he’d lost count. Dark eyes roamed around the area around him, taking in the smiling faces, people just walking on by, and the waiters getting customers orders. An almost nostalgic smile touched his soft lips and he glanced at the cafe window, eyes slowly tracing the cursive letters that spoke its name loud and clear, ‘MarieAnne’s Cafe’. The letters were in bright pink font and it set the atmosphere for the whole cafe. It was small, inconspicuous even, but it held a special meaning for everyone who came here. Leos was no exception.

Many years ago, during the prime of his reign of terror, the current head detective was still in training to become a head detective. It was him who- after over a year of the chase, asked to simply speak with Leos. All he wanted was a name and location of one of his many kills who were yet to be found. For some reason, this almost detective struck a chord with the cold-hearted killer and he agreed. Here is where they spoke for hours about nothing in particular and eventually parted ways, of course by the end of their talk Leos had deflected answering this one question. But, by the end of the day, he agreed to tell him. However, not directly, in parts, if the future detective could come to meet with Leos once a month and talk. It was ridiculous and anyone in their right mind would wholeheartedly object yet… he agreed. So it became a tradition for them to meet and for them to talk about nothing before Leos gave a name and location. Five years of this little game of chase, then once a month talking as if they were almost friends.

It was this fifth year that Leos vanished. December 20th, it was cold and gloomy. No killings, no note, no explanation as to where and why he went. Ten long years have passed and here he was, waiting to see if the head detective would come.

 

[Hopefully Changeable]

And he did. Coming to the cafe to speak with the criminal had become a routine for the detective, over those years, and he had continued going there, even after the disappearance. Sometimes, he would think about Leos, as he sat in the cafe, and their conversations over the years. Truthfully, Leos just disappearing like that had hit the detective. He had left, just like that. Jack had no idea whether the criminal was even still alive. He knew the reason why he was talking to the other man was just for information, but he had felt that there was the opportunity for something else. Had Leos not been a heartless killer, perhaps Jack would have liked to have been friends with the other man.

Jack walked into the cafe, as usual. However, he noticed a man, who had a striking appearance. He glanced at the other man briefly, not long enough to be rude. Yet, something compelled him to look again. He looked familiar, and Jack couldn't hide the look of shock on his face as he realised who it was. It was Leos. He looked older, as though he had been through things, but Jack could tell it was him.

Immediately, thoughts of what he was going to say to the other man raced through his mind. Jack considered if Leos would even recognise him, he knew that these past 10 years had been stressful for him, and that it showed. He wondered if he should even try to talk to Leos again; it had been 10 years, after all. But, Jack knew he would regret it if he didn't take this opportunity.

He walked over to Leos, and looked at him, standing across the table from him. "Hey," He began, to get the other's attention. "Remember me?"

 

[JustYourFantasy]

Chocolate eyes were focused on a couple some seats away when a shadow fell over his table, then a very familiar voice reached his ears. A lazy smile reached his face and his gaze slid over to the man standing beside his table. He hummed and sat back casually. “Well, well. Look who it is. Long time no see,” he greeted with a dip of his head, dark eyes dancing with mirth. As he thought about what to say next, Leos took in the other man's appearance. Older. Tired… but still have that spark. Body was tense. Surprise was evident in his stance and eyes. ‘In other words, you’ve not changed dear Detective.’ Leos thought idly.

Clearing his throat, he motioned to the chair opposite of him, “Feel free to take a seat if you’d like.” Turning his attention away from the Detective as a child’s loud wail pierced the air. His eyes fell upon a mother trying to hush her child who was throwing a tantrum and he snorted. She was trying to bribe the kid. “Even after all these years… It still disgusts me how parents spoil their children. It teaches them nothing,” he sneered, eyes emotionless but tone saying it all.

Deciding to ignore the mother and child he looked back at Jack and titled his head to the side. “You have any kids, Detective?” he drawled. At that moment a waitress came over with a cup of tea and placed it in front of Sephtis. Before turning her attention onto Jack.
“Would you like to order anything, sir?” she asked brightly.

 

[Hopefully Changeable]

Jack smiled at the waitress. "Yeah, could I get a coffee, please?" He asked, politely. He had seen this same waitress whenever he had come into the cafe. He wasn't particularly close with her, she was just doing her job, but there was a familiarity there. Every time he came here, he got coffee. He didn't particularly enjoy the taste of it, but he did enjoy the effect of the caffeine. He had been known to drink coffee, cold after being left forgotten on his desk, while working on some of the more difficult cases.

He looked at the drink that Sephtis had ordered, and thought how he had never considered the other man to be a tea-drinker. The question that he had been asked by the other man, before the waitress had asked his order, had taken Jack by surprise. He was almost thankful at being "interrupted" by the waitress, and not having to answer just yet. It was a topic that he didn't like to talk about, often, the fact that he wasn't married, didn't even have a partner, and definitely didn't have any children. Between work, and the fact that he was reluctant to let anyone in too close, he hadn't had a proper relationship in years. Of course, he had had relationships, and he had the occasional "night out", but these relationships were always short-lived. He briefly wondered if the same could be said for Sephtis, or if the other man had found himself somebody. Yet, he couldn't imagine the man opposite him having any kind of romantic relationship.

 

[JustYourFantasy]

The woman, Melody, beamed and nodded. “Of course. I’ll be right back!” she said before hurrying away. As she went, she glanced back curiously at the two men. The detective she was used to seeing, but the other man… Plus, the detective never spoke to anyone. Always sitting alone.

Wrapping both his hands around the warm mug, he raised it to his lips and took a long sip. Dark eyes fluttering closed for a moment, then reopening as he pulled it away and set it down. “It’s Lemon-Honey tea. Soothing for the throat… Otherwise, I’d never drink this stuff. I’ve never had a taste for warm drinks, after all,” Sephtis drawled, sitting back in his chair. For a second the white-haired man gazed into out-space, eyes blank and yet his thoughts raced. He was here for a reason, it was time to get to it.

Sighing almost in an annoyed manner, he straightened in his chair and raised his eyes to Jack, dark eyes hard as nails. “I’m not here for pleasantries, Jack. There is something coming and I’ve come to give you a slight warning,” the criminal spoke firmly and completely seriously. if only this was a meeting to say 'hello', but that was far from the case.

 

[JustYourFantasy]

(Bump)

 

[Hopefully Changeable]

Jack raised an eyebrow. This was going to be interesting. Whenever he had met with the other man before, it had never been boring; it seemed that the same was true, even now.

Jack would have preferred their first conversation in a decade to be less professional, he would have liked to hear what the hell Sephtis had been doing, and why he had disappeared so suddenly. However, he couldn't complain. Whatever Sephtis was going to tell him was likely to prove useful, as it always had been.

"Mm? And what might that warning be?" Jack asked, already thinking of possibilities of what could have brought Sephtis back here, after all these years.