Chapter Text
Seven hours, three minutes, forty-two seconds.
He hadn't turned the lights on as it got dark. He didn't want Leon knowing he'd stayed up to wait for him with something close to panic. If he didn't arrive soon the police department would have a rather harassed visitor.
Seven hours, five minutes, thirty-three seconds.
He knew, because he'd been counting the ticking of the kitchen clock - the only sound in the apartment - to block the voice that sounded like Grandfather whispering that Leon wasn't coming back, that he was in the house - the bed - of some woman, that he was lying in a pool of his own blood somewhere, that everything they'd sacrificed had been in vain -
Seven hours, eight minutes, fifteen seconds
It was taking all his centuries of practice to remain seated on the sofa, when he wanted to leap up and pace the room much as his detective did. But he remained seated, biting his lip, eyes fixed on the carpet he could barely see.
Seven hours, nine minutes, fifteen seconds.
Leon was as faithful as the sun. But... But...
Seven hours, ten minutes, twenty-two seconds.
Leon...