Dan was thrown into the dark box for days. He snarled and fought the entire time they dragged him away.
Leo interrupts my broody ruminations of the past by lightly slapping the table, reassigning my attention back to him
"Have you ever been really close to anyone other than your brother?"
"No," I say simply. Because I have no real reason to lie. If Leo is going to dislike something about me, it's not going to be my lack of connection to other people. He already has far better reasons, none of which he seems inclined to use to build up a natural aversion to me like he probably should.
I can tell Leo was hoping for a more detailed response, and he is clearly disappointed that I give no sign of wanting to elaborate.
Which is why I do. Just to keep him on his toes.
"I didn’t need anyone else. Dan was. He was everything. He still is, in some ways. I wouldn't be.” Clearing my throat seems more difficult than it should be. “I wouldn't be here now if it weren’t for him. He saved me, again and again. If there’s anything worthwhile inside me, it’s there because of him."
"Ah." Leo nods, seeming to consider me seriously for a moment before going on. "So, it’s your brother we have to thank for this sparkling and charismatic personality you’ve been presenting thus far? Good to know.”
I twist my mouth up into an approximation of a smirk, amused despite myself by the drollness in Leo’s response.
"Okay, dickhead. Is it my turn to ask a question now?"
It worries me to the depth of my core that Leo appears oddly excited by my request. I should throw myself off this plastic bench right now and plead concussion.
He seems far too pleased with himself. I may need to hurt him. For the purpose of educating him in the process of cause and effect.
"Go on then,” Leo allows, giving permission for me to ask whatever it is I want to.
I narrow my eyes suspiciously at him, but Leo’s putting on a good show of innocence. I shrug it off and think about all the things I genuinely want to ask my new partner. Rather than going in heavy, I pick something innocuous.
"Have you and Damon ever had a thing?"
I expect an outright rejection of the idea or at least a reaction of the “mind your own business” variety. But Leo answers simply, without inflection. "Yes."
What?
I'm so momentarily thrown that I find myself blurting, "Really?"
I was joking, mostly. I just wanted to get a rise out of Leo.
Damon seemed very protective over him at the safe house, it’s true, and they clearly care about one another, but that doesn’t have to indicate a romantic or sexual attachment between them.
Leo takes a deep breath and lets a tiny, self-deprecating smile hook at both corners of his lips.
"Yeah," he says, voice tinged with embarrassment. "It was a stupid, one-time deal. He went on an undercover mission that turned bad because of a decision he made. He was really messed up about it. We had a few drinks at my place and. I dunno. Sometimes shit just happens.” He laughs without humour, then scowls down the bar. "I was so worried afterwards that us sleeping together would change our friendship. Ruin it, you know?”
I think about how likely it is that my next question will earn me a glare. Or a punch. I decide to ask anyway.
"Are you two secretly pining away for each other, but like, the other person doesn’t know it, or something dramatic like that?”
Leo does shoot me daggers at first, but then the expression crumbles, and he snorts, shaking his head slightly.
“Nah. Nothing like that. There’s zero angst between me and Damon. It was awkward for sure, right after. But eventually we talked, and it was obvious we felt the same. Our friendship was solid, but anything else was doomed to fail.”
I can’t help but frown at that. From the small amount I’ve observed, they seem rather well suited. They work for the same agency, so they’d understand each other’s jobs, something which would be a challenge if either of them dated a civilian. Damon isn’t terrible to look at, I guess. There doesn’t appear to be any obvious reason why the two of them wouldn’t work out.
Leo has to pick up on what I’m thinking, at least a little, because he answers my unasked question.
“For one thing, Damon isn’t my type. Too intense and serious. Plus, he’s now my cousin Rex’s boyfriend, and they are absolutely fucking gone over each other. It’s ridiculous to watch, quite frankly.” He gives me a lopsided smile to show he’s partially joking.
Huh. Damon has a boyfriend. I make a mental note of that. You never know when someone’s vulnerability could come in handy.
