Chapter Text
"Klein, don't you miss Tingen?"
This question caught Klein off guard. *...My dear poet, you really like saying things out of nowhere... Are you hinting at something?
"...No. You know, I've been busy lately, so I hadn't thought of it that much." He cleared his throat. He paused for a moment and added, "I probably will now that you mentioned it."
Leonard nodded in agreement. He dazed for a moment and said " a lot of things have changed... Strangely, it feels so different yet so familiar. Especially there..."
Klein also knows this. It's been more than 2 years since he left there, and the place would naturally be renovated. The place would change, perhaps for the better.
*As Klein, it definitely hurts to leave my hometown... But Leonard...
"Are you planning to go there soon?"
"I'm still handling cases in Backlund currently, so I haven't gotten the chance to return there. When i dig- ahem. Borrowing that artifact from the church was my last visit there." Leonard replied thoughtfully.
"Cant you file for a short leave? you mentioned you haven't used them yet. With your contributions to the church, I'm sure you should have a lot of days to spare?"
Leonard scoffed, putting his feet on his desk with his hands on his cheeks. "what's the point? I can't leave my team on their own. there's too many work i had to handle and...
I don't have any reasons to visit Tingen either..."
Ah.
"Well then... I mean, you could pay respects to your colleagues?"
"Hey, don't make this about me! I'm fine. What about you? I know you probably already explored the whole world, but I know it's only for business... And yeah I keep wondering. Do you even get enough rest?" Leonard said with worry.
I could say I do, but honestly--- I don't think there was a day that I didn't think of anything else but resting... Klein thought. "Of course. Just enough to function."
Leonard opened his mouth a few times, but ultimately didn't say anything.
Seeing this, Klein couldn't help but laugh a little. "Leonard, you don't have to be so worried about me. I could go there right now if you want?" he said half jokingly.
"Wha- that's not... sigh, why would you have to depend on me?"
"well, why not? it was your suggestion anyway." Klein smiled at the embarrassed Leonard. "maybe i should pretend to be you while I'm at it."
Leonard was stunned.
Klein pretending to be me...? That's- ugh. That might be a good idea, but why me!
He was scared at the idea.
"...Aren't you afraid ill get in trouble for that...?
"I've pretended to be a woman once, I don't think it could get any worse than that." Klein covered his face, then grinned with Gehrman's face.
Madman... Leonard shivered.
"Anyways, jokes aside." he changed back to Klein Moretti. "I do wanna check how they're doing"
"Oh." Leonard understood. "Then, I'll find an excuse to go there."
"Perfect." Klein leaned towards him. "now i just need to learn how you normally act." he followed with a wink.
The emphasis on the word made Leonard's mouth twitch. "When was I not normal?"
"Guess?"
Klein stood up-- no, Gehrman did. Suddenly he was wearing a loose shirt, paired with tight pants and a black coat, which actually oddly suited him.
His temperament changed quickly. this Gehrman now looks less sharp, his posture speaks careless and relaxed while putting his other hand on his coat pocket. His hair looks more disheveled now with his glasses not aligned well, chains dangling as he moves his head to look at Leonard.
Leonard sat there, not moving.
eyes wide.
mortified.
"...I don't think I look like that...?"
"heh... i just thought wearing your face might scare you more." he smiled, putting his hand on his face dramatically as he spoke. "you wouldn't like that, would you?"
I don't act like that! Leonard broke a sweat, forcing a smile. "I think Gehrman acting like that is scarier, Klein..."
"hhmmm." Klein laughed. "you think the pirates would shit their pants at it?"
"Stroke. Dead on the spot. Would probably lose control the moment they see you." Leonard said, breaking a smile on his lips.
"Perhaps it would be easier to hunt pirates this way, don't you think?" Klein sat down, crossing his legs over the other. "to make it better, i should also pull out that poetry book by roselle and-"
"no stop stop stop!" Leonard suddenly stood up and covered Klein's mouth, his face reddening every moment as he desperately gathered his remaining dignity. "I'm over that phase..."
Are you sure? Leonard, looks like you have shame now... Klein lampooned. He laughed while Leonard kept shoving his palm on his mouth, still preventing words from escaping as he looked at him with fear. Eventually, things calmed down.
He stared at the man who's not giving him a chance to speak, noticing how flustered he actually was behind the strands of his unkept but soft hair. His shoulders are now losing the weight of the hand that was gripping it a moment ago. It's now just simply resting on it.
Klein tried to talk, but the hand on his mouth tensed again. Helpless, he lightly patted his head, motioning defeat.
This snapped Leonard awake, immediately standing up and taking a step back and putting both his arms up like he was caught guilty. He said stammering, "oh.. uh, Klein sorry- i didn't mean to-"
"no, sorry. I went too far." He replied, checking his face for any marks. my dear poet, you've put quite a force there...
"Does it hurt? wait, i have medicine somewhere... " he looked around his room but Klein refused. With his faceless ability, his face underwent a change-- the slight red mark disappearing. "See?"
I'm really jealous of his ability... Leonard reflected on his actions earlier, and suddenly wanted to dig his own grave. Why did I do that?! that wasn't like me at all!
I'm so glad old man hasn't said a word... he's probably asleep...
Taking deep breaths, he calmed himself down. Once he did, he sat on the chair again, sitting upright, trying to look at Klein. Then he realized he hasn't changed his appearance yet, which weirded him out.
"Don't tell me you're actually gonna go out looking like that?"
"I'm conscious of Gehrman's reputation," Klein thought. people might think he actually lost his mind...
hey, are you implying something... well, for someone like Gehrman sparrow, that's technically social death... Klein would never allow that... Leonard was lost for words.
"anyway, Back to business. This little guy has been watching for a while now," Klein changed back to his original appearance once again, taking out a silver mirror from his coat. "Were you bored?"
The mirror shined as words materialized from its surface. "great master! i will never get bored when I'm with you~"
this guy... I clearly warned it before! good thing Leonard couldn't see what it just said... Klein smiled at it and gripped it a bit harder, immediately scaring it.
The mirror trembled, immediately changing the words displayed. Before Leonard could take a look at it, it already says, "Boring. :/"
"Wow, I never got rid of that behavior..." Having seen this artifact before, Leonard wasn't surprised.
"Go ahead, ask it questions." Klein turned his head to look at the man behind him, eye twitching as he noticed he was looking up. Clearing his throat, he turned around and gave the mirror to him.
"Will it strike me again?" taking account its negative effects, Leonard naturally wanted to make sure what harm it can give them.
"No, don't worry about it. Mr. fool already put restrictions on it." Klein replied. yeah, threat...
i see... Leonard let out a sigh of relief. He took the mirror, but it acted strangely when he touched it.
What? what's happening... He couldn't help but look at Klein pitifully.
It seemed angry and irritated.
Hey, I don't know either! don't look at me like that... Sensing its change of behavior too, Klein took it from Leonard again, only for it to change back to normal.
"oh." Klein chuckled. "Looks like it has a problem with you?"
...What did I even do??? Leonard was greatly confused, and offended.
He tried to hold it again--only for it to shake, like a cat hissing.
Helpless, Klein took the holding, trying not to laugh. What could Leonard have done for it to hate him...?
Curious, Klein then just asked Arrodes directly, "Why did you act like that to him?"
The mirror gleamed, words formed on its surface once again. The following made Klein almost burst out laughing.
Leonard on the other hand, grew more confused, feeling the events are becoming more absurd. Klein had a hard time showing what's written in the mirror.
"I don't like him! >:( "
His mouth gaped open. Massaging his temples, multiple emotions surged into him. He didn't know if he should feel helpless or angry at it. He massaged it harder as he heard Klein laugh.
no, Klein, calm down! you can't laugh, you can't laugh... Klein thought as he wiped his tears, caressing arrodes in his arms as he continued to question it. "Why would you hate him? Did he do something bad?"
The mirror didn't react, probably sulking. A few moments later, it showed words again.
"Based on the principle of reciprocity, It's my turn to ask the question."
It avoided my question... are you serious... Corner of his mouth twitching. "What is it?"
The mirror hesitated before changing what it was showing.
"Great master, when will you leave this place?"
...It really hates him!
It hates Leonard... Why?
Klein cleared his throat. "In a few minutes. Does that satisfy you?"
The mirror lit up. It immediately replied "Yes!"
"Alright. That's all the questions I have, thank you for answering" Klein forced a smile.
"Of course, great master! I'm more than happy to serve you~ ( ≧ᗜ≦) " The magic mirror said before turning into a normal mirror again. Klein put it on his coat again.
"Looks like i would have to offer it to Mr. Fool again," Klein looked at Leonard, only for him to see him sitting on the sofa, deep in thought.
That affected him so much? Arrodes never acted like that before...
Feeling awkward, he cleared his throat, "Uh, I shall take my leave... Just update me if you have a plan."
Oh, uh... sure." Leonard replied. He stood up, accompanying Klein outside his apartment.
Feeling bad, Klein tried to brighten the mood, snapping his fingers towards Leonard, getting his attention. "Hey, don't feel bad about it. I'll still let you ask it next time!"
"But it hates me?"
"No it does not." Klein interjected, putting up a smile.
Seeing this, Leonard sighed-- corners of his mouth lifting up. "if you say so."
"Anyway, you're really leaving this early?"
Klein, already putting on his shoes, nodded. "I already have plans to do."
The plans? oh, just making sure Arrodes will be obedient next time.
"Aw." Leonard frowned. "Like what?"
"Like this."
Klein covered his face with two hands, worms squirming on his face and it got reconstructed, along with his hair, which seems to grow longer. Leonard curiously watched, getting used to his antics. Klein removed his hands, showing a funny expression as he used his hands to show his face to the poet.
"See?"
Leonard was stunned. He couldn't quite place his hand on it, but something feels off about his face that bothers him a bit.
"Whoa... you look. Ordinary?"
"oh? It’s a success then." Klein chuckled. "I've been using his personality since earlier, actually."
"No wonder you've been teasing me the whole time!" Leonard wanted to pinch him, only for him to subconsciously retract his hand.
Klein noticed this, giggling at him. "Don't you like how I look?"
"No... that's not it..." That's weird... What did he do?
"Ehh. You don't like how I look." Klein made a sad face. "Well anyway, I'll take my leave now."
"Alright, take care Klein." Leonard waved him off.
"Just pray to Mr. Fool, ok? I'll wait." Klein waved back at him.
For some reason, Leonard's heart skipped a bit for a moment. What he saw wasn't an ordinary face, but rather a breathtaking one. It was as if his vision lit up, the only thing illuminating it was that face-- that bright face that seemed to stop time, smiling at him like it only belonged to him.
It was stunning.
His heart swirled. He felt his face burning, not noticing the person in front of him had already vanished.
Leonard immediately closed the door, covering his face as he tried to calm his heart down.
"what...?"