C&C is the mother of creativity.

<Part 1>
 

    Detective Leon was messageing his temples furiously, trying to control his annoyance and the headache it gave him. Another murder. Another one! Another client of the Petshop and another trip to China town for Another round of nonsensical but calm answers and for him, annoyance. "Perfect. Just the perfect end to an already rotten day."

    The folder lay open on the desk, a man had been found dead in his apartment. One Judas Daniels had been poisoned by an unknown venom and been eaten from the inside out. The pictures were enough to make Leon sure he wouldn't eat meat for a month. They'd had to identify him by his dental records! Of course Daniels had been to the pet shop just that week. He'd purchased a bird, that's all the file said.

    //And so to fill in the blanks, I'm going back into the rabbit hole to face the Mad Hatter [1]//

    "Another Pet Shop killing huh?" Jill smiled and Leon wanted to scream.

    "Does everyone read my mind around here?!"

    "You've got that 'shit here we go again' look on your face."

    "Shit."

    "So what are you taking him this time?"

    "Well, I. . . um. . . bakedsomecookies."

    "Huh?"

    "I baked some cookies."

    Jill tried, she really did, but the laughter just came out anyway, "You. . . hehehe. . . you baked?! hahaha ho boy! Are you sure it's wise to poison your suspects? Snicker."

    "For your information I'm a very good cook!"

    "Hahahaha! Stop it! Please! Can't breath!"

    "Hump!" He crossed his arms and glarred, "Well I already have 'em, and I've tried everything else."

    "You realize you don't need to bribe him right? I mean he tells you everything anyway. He has his customers sign a contract, he's clean."

    "Arg! I can't GET this guy!" He punched his desk and let out his breath angrilly, "This is pissing me Off!"

    "You're trying to hard."

    "Damn."

    "Come on, lighten up. Let him come to you."

    "What makes you think he will?"

    Jill winked, "Call it a hunch." And sauntered out of the room.

    Leon stared after her, "A hunch."

    Count D sat on his velvetine settee and idlly stroked Q-chan's fur, "I had expected the detective to stop by. After all the last death 'was' a client. Do you think he's given up?"

    Q-chan whistled and cooed then settled onto his pillow.

    "I do not miss him, I am simply surprized."

    The Bunny/Bat snorted and curled up to sleep.

    D stood quietly. He had grown used to the detective's visits, almost fond of them. To never see him again would be quite upsetting. //interesting. I seem to have grown quite attatched to the man.// "Perhaps tomorrow we shall go in and. . . make our report."

    Q-chan made a clear, 'yeah right' sound and turned over.

    Leon was blushing furiously when he got to work the next day. He'd had 'that' dream again! Shit! //Why me? It isn't enough he make's a fool out of me now he has to make a fag out of me too?!//

    "G'Morning Leon."

    "Yeah sure."

    "You bring me some cookies?" Jill smiled and he fished one out of his bag, "Laugh it up."

    "Oh I plan too."

    He sat at his desk and shook his head, "I must be going insane."

    "They say tht sanity is only an illusion of society."

    The detective jumped to his feet and stared at the count, "You. . . ! How'd you get in here?!"

    "A very usefull item really." The count smiled and sat gracefully on Leon's desk ",Called a door."

    "Ha ha, very funny." He sat down and sighed, "So did you come to gloat?"

    The count's face looked startled, "Gloat? Why would I do such a thing? I have nothing to be happy over. A contract was broken and both man and pet were destroyed. It isn't something one should smile at, is it."

    "Ok. I know the drill, you sold him a bird, three rules, he broke 'em oops dead client."

    "Brilliant detection work."

    Leon was ready to strangle the exotic beauty with. . . //Wait a minuet! Beauty?! Exotic?! Shit! Stop that! What is he in control of my brain now?!//

    "Detective?"

    "Wha. . .? Yeah."

    "I asked what that delicious smell is."

    "Cookies."

    "Cookies?"

    Loen rolled his eyes adn pulled a sack from his bag, "Take 'em they were for you any way."

    Again the count looked surprised, "For me? Thank you." He nibbled one daintily and Leon had to look away. //Damn! Were these jeans this tight this morning?// "These are wonderfull! Where did you find them?"

    "I made them."

    The visible eyes widened and D pushed his hair back behind his ear, "You baked me cookies?"

    "Yeah well don't get used to it ok?"

    "I wouldn't dream of it." He smiled, "I must do something to repay you. Would you join me for dinner tonight?"

    "Dinner."

    "At my shop."

    Leon wanted to say no. He wanted so badly to say yes, //no! I mean no!// "Sure." //Who's side is my mouth on?!// //Moist lips, kissable, tender. . .// //That answers that.//

    "Wonderfull! Eight shall we say?"

    "Yeah, works for me."

    Count D stood and smiled at the detective, "I shall look forward to it."

    "Uh. . . ditto?"

    The slender man smiled and walked out of sight.

    Leon banged his head on his desk, "Damn Damn Damn Damn Damn!"

    "Leon?" Jill stepped in quietly, "Was that the count I just saw?"

    "Damn."
 

<Part 2>
 

    Leon tidied his jacket and brushed off his jeans as he stood outside the petshop entrance. He hadn't done much different. Just put on a clean, red t-shirt and his brown leather jacket. He wasn't sure what the count had planned and he didn't want to give him any more power over him than he already had.

    //Ok, I can do this. It's dinner with a suspect. Lighten them up to get them to talk. That's all. right?//

    His mental voice was silent.

    //Traitor.//

    One forceably steady hand raised to knock on the door and it opened eerily on it's own.

    He stepped inside and closed the portal quietly, "Count?"

    A soft voice called from the back, "Please Detective, my name is D."

    "Uh. . . right."

    "Come. I am in the kitchen."

    Leon blinked as he walked through some curtains and found himself, indeed, in a kitchen. "Wow. Wait, this wasn't here last time."

    "Of course it was detective."

    "I'm off duty."

    "Obviously."

    "I ah. . . meant that you can call me Leon. If you like."

    "Indeed I would." Those eyes smiled at him and Leon blushed slightly. Luckily an odd smell caught his attention away from those deep orbs. "Is something burning?"

    The count spun and pulled open the oven then frowned and sighed in resignation, "I am not a very good cook. It seams we will have take out tonight."

    "No problem, I love Chinese. . . uh. . . that didn't sound right."

    "I am flattered Leon, but I realize what you meant by that."

    "Next time we can meet at my place, I can. . . um. . . I'll make you spagetti or something."

    "Next time." The count smiled, "I would like that very much. Thank you."

    "Sure."

    "Would you like to walk to the resturaunt? Or call them?"

    Leon was glad for the oportunity to get out of the private little shop. He was beginning to feel the affect of the count's close proximity. "Walk."

    "A wonderful idea."

    Leon had choosen walking to clear his head, but as they ventured into the night air, D was so close he could smell the sweet incense that clung to the other man. Intoxicating as any dimly lit room. A smaller, more slender hand slipped into his and he stood still and looked down at their joined hands.

    "Does that make you uncomfortable detective?"

    "N. .  .no."

    He smiled, his painted lips turning up delicately. "I am glad."

    "Aa." He began to walk again and D followed quietly.

    "I have a confession to make detective."

    He choaked and shook his head harshly, "Please don't." He grit his teeth when he realised what he wanted to say but it had to be said. "I don't. . . I don't want to arrest you."

    "I am aware of that detective. You are a bright man. If you really wanted to put me behind bars then you would have done so by now."

    "Then why did you let me. . ."

    "You are unique." He explained quietly. "From the very first time I saw you come into my petshop looking for a Tiger, I felt something for you that I had never felt for another. Woman, man, or . . . other."

    "Like your mermaid? Your Medusa?"

    "Beautiful all of my pets, but they do not stir me in the way that you do."

    "Should I be flattered?"

    "It is your choice. You are exquisite detective. And you do not see that."

    "I'm nothing special. Just a kid from the Bronx with an attitude and a big mouth."

    "Maybe some day, you will let me show you how much more you are to me."

    He shouldn't. He KNEW he shouldn't. . . his mouth did anyway, "And how would you show me that, D?"

    The beautiful face smiled again and Leon felt his knees go a little weak.

    "Uh. . . I mean. . ."

    "I would worship you." Count D pressed forward until Leon was trapped against a brick wall, "I would lavish you in praise for what you are to the world and to me. I would be your willing servant, your confidante, your morning and night, I would be anything you needed and everything you desired." He smiled and leaned in closer, "I would learn to cook."

    Leon blinked and tried to stop panting, "You. . . you would learn to cook?"

    The count nodded and kissed his lips lightly. "But not tonight. Come, the resturaunt with be closing soon."

    He nodded absently and followed in silence as the count led them to the small establishment and ordered for them. Funny, out of all the things D had promised, that one stood out from them all. //No one's ever offered to cook for me. Take care of me like that. I. . . I think I like that feeling. God help me, but I do.//
 

<Part 3>

    By about midpoint through their meal Leon was becoming sure that the count was teasing him. He was eating slowly, savoring each bite and wrapping his mouth around the food oh so sweetly. Every so often he would look up and smile. The detective adjusted his jeans and tried to use the chopsticks they'd provided.

    "Are you having trouble?"

    "Why can't I get a fork again?"

    "This is a real Chinese resturaunt, it is very insulting to not use what you are given."

    He looked at the sticks and frowned.

    "You don't know how to use Chopsticks?"

    "No. Why would I ever need to know how to use sticks to eat?"

    "You do now."

    Leon blushed. "Shit."

    "Here." D slid next to him and took his hand. You place one in the crook between your thumb and finger, then rest this one against your middle finger and move it with the thumb and pointer like this."

    The American was watching D's careing expression. He couldn't look away, didn't want to.

    The count looked up and breathed out, "detective?"

    Their face were so close together. Their lips so close to touching. . . "Thank you." he sighed, moving a little closer.

    "My pleasure, de. . . tec. . . tive. . ."

    "Sirs you need anything else?"

    They both jumped away from eachother guiltily and Leon blushed, "Uh. . . no, we're fine."

    "Very good."

    D smiled guiltily, "You make me forget myself detective."

    "Well the favor is returned believe me." He smiled ruefully. "Thanks for uh. . . showing me how to use these."

    "You are most welcome."

    They gathered their fortune cookies and slipped them away for later as they walked back to the petshop. The atmosphere all around them thick and alive.

    Chinatown at night was a place made for lovers. Leon had forgotten that. He looked quietly at the count from the courner of his eye and swallowed back a wave of need. The delicate looking man was beautiful with his face lit by the old lanterns that lit the mysterious streets. He belonged there, and Leon felt insignificant in comparrison.

    "You are quiet, detective." D smiled, "Are you feeling well?"

    "Yeah, just taking in the city." He covered for himself smoothly, "I've never seen it at night before. Not like this." He blinked and turned to the count with an annoyed aire, "And I told you my name is Leon. I'm not on duty."

    "Alright Leon. How are you seeing the city tonight?"
 
    "With you." It slipped out before he could stop it and he blushed bright red. "Uh. . . that is. . ."

    D smiled and slipped his arm through Leons, leaning closer, "I am pleased that you are happy in my company. It has often seemed that you would rather be anywhere but."

    "Well you agrivate me!" He groaned, "I keep getting these damned cases involving you're 'special contracts' and I never get anywhere with them! I'm going to get fired over these things if I don't solve them soon."

    "I did not realise the possition that these incidents placed you in."

    Leon smiled, "Well it isn't like it's your fault, they break your contract and there's no law saying you can't sell gods and mermaids. But who would believe me if I said what really happened?"

    "I am sorry to cause you such trouble."

    "Yeah well on the plus side I get to have tea regularly."

    D blinked, then smiled, and then broke into true laughter! Leon could only watch, stupified as the beautiful man snickered. He smiled too. D was beautiful when he laughed. //SHIT! Stop thinking like that!//

    "You. . . no, never mind." He looked away and D slipped up against him once more.

    "We are back, Leon."

    He looked up and stopped, "That was fast." He felt bad, he didn't want the night to end yet.

    "Would you like to come inside?" D asked hopefully, "Maybe for tea?"

    Leon smiled. "Yeah. I'd like that." He stepped forward and froze when his jacket made a crincling sound, "Oh! The fortune cookies."

    D took his and smiled. "What is your fortune?"

    Leon blushed, "It say's To stop the bad from spilling out your mouth, fill it with something else."

    Laughter followed them into the petshop. "I believe they meant a cookie."

    "Uh. . . what's yours say?"

    He smiled and his eyes lowered seductively, "A dream long held will be fulfilled."

    "Long held huh?"

    D pressed up against Leons back and sighed against his neck, "Do you really want tea?"

    He shivered and turned to face the beautiful man. "D. . . I'm a detective! I'm investigating you! I can't. . ."

    The mood was broken. D backed up and blinked, "I am sorry detective. I do not know what came over me."

    "It's a. . . . it's ok. I have to go." He handed D a bag and hurried out the door. "I'm sure I. . . I'll see you soon."

    "Of course Detective Orcot."

    "G'night." He blurted out as the door clicked shut.

    "Good night." D nodded and looked at the bag. "He baked for me again."

    Q-chan squeaked and fluttered near D's head.

    "I am not soft for detective Orcot." He smiled wistfully, "I am becoming soft toward Leon though."

    The bat bunny rolled his eyes and perched on the sofa.

    "I am very fond of him indeed."

    "Puu!" Q-chan groused.

    D smiled and walked silently into his bedroom to lay back and dream of Leon and perhaps, a shared future between them.
 

~tbc~