[ficlet] Spit and Polish - PSoH
Disclaimer: I don’t own Petshop of Horrors and I make no money from this or any other fanfic I write.
Pairing: Leon x D
Category: General
Rating: PG
Warning: Mild language
Title: Spit and Polish
Author: yellowhorde
Notes: This was written for the LiveJournal community, fanfic100. Prompt #018 - Black
Despite the open window, the air was heavy with the scents of shoe polish and leather. Late afternoon sunlight formed oblong slants across the wooden floor and from somewhere in the distance Leon could hear a dog barking and the sounds of children at play.
He dipped the duster once more into the round tin of Kiwi shoe polish. Dabbing with his tongue to get just the right amount of moisture - only pussies used water - he methodologically applied layer upon layer of polish to the toe cap of his worn and faded shoes, working it into the leather with slow, circular movements.
As he worked, Leon hummed under his breath, a heavy metal ballad from his misspent youth. When he finished the right shoe, he set it aside and turned his attention to the left and the process began anew. With each painstaking new layer, the scratches and imperfections faded until finally his dress shoes once more sported the high-gloss finish they’d had when they were new.
Admiring his handiwork, Leon smiled then got dressed in slacks and a white shirt. Gnarled knuckles ached with each shirt button fastened. When he was finally finished, he slid on his freshly polished shoes and stood in front of the full length mirror to do battle with the silk necktie D had set out for him.
Crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes, creases lined his forehead, and gray liberally streaked the hair near his temples. All these signs of aging and more greeted him. How had he gotten so old so fast? He wondered. Where had the time gone?
The door opened and D’s presence was announced by the scent of rain and fresh flowers. As beautiful and youthful as he had been the day they had met back in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, he crossed the room to where Leon stood, the silk of his colorful robes whispering with each graceful stride.
“Hey,” Leon said in way of greeting.
“Here, let me help you with that,” D murmured and stepped closer before he could even open his mouth to protest. With a smile he shooed Leon’s hands away and deftly knotted the tie, forming a perfect double Windsor knot.
“Thanks,” Leon mumbled gruffly. “I never was very good at tying those damned things.”
D’s smile became a grin. “Yes, I know.”
Glancing back into the mirror, Leon’s brow knitted. It would take more than a little spit and polish for him to erase the evidence of the passage of many years. He had never considered himself to be a vain man, but there was no denying the pang of loss he experienced every time he saw that old man reflection staring back at him.
“Do you think he’ll recognize me?” He asked quietly. “It’s been so long… too long.”
D pressed a light kiss to his cheek, a gesture that still managed to fluster him even after all these years.
“Of course he will, Detective,” he whispered. “You’re his big brother.”
THE END
Pairing: Leon x D
Category: General
Rating: PG
Warning: Mild language
Title: Spit and Polish
Author: yellowhorde
Notes: This was written for the LiveJournal community, fanfic100. Prompt #018 - Black
Despite the open window, the air was heavy with the scents of shoe polish and leather. Late afternoon sunlight formed oblong slants across the wooden floor and from somewhere in the distance Leon could hear a dog barking and the sounds of children at play.
He dipped the duster once more into the round tin of Kiwi shoe polish. Dabbing with his tongue to get just the right amount of moisture - only pussies used water - he methodologically applied layer upon layer of polish to the toe cap of his worn and faded shoes, working it into the leather with slow, circular movements.
As he worked, Leon hummed under his breath, a heavy metal ballad from his misspent youth. When he finished the right shoe, he set it aside and turned his attention to the left and the process began anew. With each painstaking new layer, the scratches and imperfections faded until finally his dress shoes once more sported the high-gloss finish they’d had when they were new.
Admiring his handiwork, Leon smiled then got dressed in slacks and a white shirt. Gnarled knuckles ached with each shirt button fastened. When he was finally finished, he slid on his freshly polished shoes and stood in front of the full length mirror to do battle with the silk necktie D had set out for him.
Crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes, creases lined his forehead, and gray liberally streaked the hair near his temples. All these signs of aging and more greeted him. How had he gotten so old so fast? He wondered. Where had the time gone?
The door opened and D’s presence was announced by the scent of rain and fresh flowers. As beautiful and youthful as he had been the day they had met back in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, he crossed the room to where Leon stood, the silk of his colorful robes whispering with each graceful stride.
“Hey,” Leon said in way of greeting.
“Here, let me help you with that,” D murmured and stepped closer before he could even open his mouth to protest. With a smile he shooed Leon’s hands away and deftly knotted the tie, forming a perfect double Windsor knot.
“Thanks,” Leon mumbled gruffly. “I never was very good at tying those damned things.”
D’s smile became a grin. “Yes, I know.”
Glancing back into the mirror, Leon’s brow knitted. It would take more than a little spit and polish for him to erase the evidence of the passage of many years. He had never considered himself to be a vain man, but there was no denying the pang of loss he experienced every time he saw that old man reflection staring back at him.
“Do you think he’ll recognize me?” He asked quietly. “It’s been so long… too long.”
D pressed a light kiss to his cheek, a gesture that still managed to fluster him even after all these years.
“Of course he will, Detective,” he whispered. “You’re his big brother.”
THE END