Chapter Text
“Really? But pizza has all of the food groups, depending what you put on it. It has grains, it has dairy, it has vegetables, and protein. What more could you want?”
Todd frowned up at him. “How about not to die of a heart attack by the time I’m forty? Honestly, I think you should see a doctor.”
Dirk waved a hand dismissively. “Psh, I’m fine. You on the other hand -” Dirk continued as he plucked the apple out of Todd’s hand and put it back on the stand, “-are not supposed to be lifting anything heavy.”
Todd snorted. “Dirk, I’m not supposed to lift anything over ten pounds. That -” he gestured at the fruit in question. “-is not even one pound.”
“The doctors said -”
“The doctors said I’ve been doing fine.” Todd cut him off. “It’s been what, three weeks, since I got hurt? You know I’ve been going to physio because you practically hold my hand all the way there and -” Todd raised his voice and continued when Dirk tried to protest, “- I also know you were eavesdropping and heard the doctor say I’m going to be cleared for normal activity next week.”
“I was not eavesdropping.” Dirk said, trying to defend himself even while he couldn’t look Todd in the eye. “I just happened to be standing by the door. It’s not my fault your doctor talks very loudly.”
Todd just stared at him, clearly not buying Dirk’s totally, one hundred percent believable story. “Yeah. Okay.”
Dirk didn’t know how to respond to Todd’s blatant disbelief, so he just decided to ignore it entirely. “Let’s continue on, shall we? I need to know whether Phyllis finds out about Nick cheating on her tonight.”
Todd rolled his eyes, but starting following Dirk down the sidewalk. “You really need to watch TV other than soaps, I think it’s starting to do something to your brain. But yeah, we should head home. I want to get my stuff back up to my apartment tonight.”
Dirk nodded, trying not to let the disappointment he was feeling show on his face. Really, Todd had been able to move back into his flat last week when the doctors said he could start handling long flights of stairs again. Todd had mentioned it a couple times but made no move to gather his things. Dirk had almost started to hope that Todd would just stay in his flat. He had had much more fun sharing space with Todd than he had initially expected; it was wonderful to be able to just walk down a corridor whenever he wanted to talk to Todd rather than all the way upstairs. And it was an unexpected pleasure to do all those domestic home-y things he had only read about in books with Todd, like wash the dishes, or cook (well, Todd cooked, Dirk was banned from cooking after the Linguini Incident), or do laundry, or watch telly. Dirk treasured those moments, even when Todd was driving him mad by leaving his clothes all over the place or they were fighting over what to watch because Dirk wanted to catch up on The Young and The Restless and Todd wanted to watch some dumb action movie with lots of explosions.
But it wouldn’t be fair to Todd to insist that he stay. Todd deserved his own space, and it would be nice to sleep in his own bed again. Really, it was better if Todd moved back into his own place.
And if Dirk told himself that enough, he might actually believe it someday.
Absorbed as he was in these cheerful thoughts, Dirk didn't notice that Todd had stopped walking until he grabbed Dirk’s arm and dragged him behind the fruit stand.
“What - Todd!”
“Shhh!” Todd shushed him, pointing out into the street they had just been standing on.
Confused, Dirk ducked out from behind the stand to take a look, only to be dragged back immediately by Todd. He turned to Todd, annoyed.
“Todd, how am I meant to look at something if you won't let me actually look?”
Todd glared at him. “With your eyes.”
Dirk resisted the urge to roll said eyes and peeked out from behind the stand.
“There, are you happy now? I'm looking with my eyes and I don't see anyth- oh.”
Todd snorted. “Yeah, oh.”
Dirk couldn't muster a response. He was frozen in place because there, out on the street in broad daylight, as if he hadn't done anything wrong, as if he hadn't almost brought Dirk’s entire world crashing down -
It was the man who stabbed Todd, glancing at his phone as if he hadn't a care in the world.
“We've got to follow him.” Todd said.
Dirk ducked back behind the fruit stand, positively boggling at Todd. “Follow him? Are you insane?”
Todd frowned and slapped his arm. “Keep your voice down! Of course we have to follow him, he's connected to the case, isn't he?”
Dirk was already shaking his head before Todd finished speaking. “We cannot follow him, it's far too dangerous.”
“Yeah, and since when do we care about that?”
Todd had a point but Dirk was not about to lose this argument. He'd already seen Todd bleeding on the ground once because of this man, he wasn't going to risk it happening a second time.
“Todd, listen to me. Under no circumstances can we follow this man.”
Todd shot him a curious glance, finally looking away from the man on the street who he had been staring at far too eagerly for Dirk’s comfort. “Is that what the universe is telling you?”
No, it wasn't. In fact, the universe was all but screaming that Dirk needed to follow Todd's attacker. It could hardly be more clear if a bus drove by with a billboard on the side that said ‘Hey Dirk, remember that guy who stabbed your best friend? You need to follow him. Right now.’
“Yes. The universe is definitely saying we need to avoid that man. In fact, it's saying we should go home right now and watch telly and maybe order a pizza, but the universe can be flexible on that part.”
Todd's eyes immediately narrowed with suspicion. “Liar”.
Dammit. Dirk knew he was over selling it.
Todd looked back out onto the street and started to straighten up. “Dirk, c'mon, he's leaving. We gotta go now.”
“Wait, Todd.” Dirk snatched Todd's arm, barely thinking about the motion when usually he would analyze any decision to touch Todd for so long that he wouldn't end up touching him at all. “Shouldn't we at least call Farah?”
Todd shook his head, gaze still fixed on the street. “There's no time. By the time she got here, he'd be long gone. C'mon!”
And he reached up and grabbed the hand Dirk still had on his arm, dragging him across the street to the next stand at the market.
Dirk followed him meekly, his stomach a nauseous mix between knots of fear and the warmth he felt whenever Todd touched him.
They followed the man as cautiously as possible, Dirk trying to keep them both in the shadows. He didn't think he was very good at it but miraculously the man didn't seem to spot them. Finally, after what felt like years of running crouched over and peeking around corners, the man entered an abandoned office building.
Todd watched while the door closed behind him and then turned to Dirk. “Let's go.”
Dirk baulked, pulling Todd back towards him. “We can't go in there! There could be more of them!”
“There probably are, Dirk. I doubt he's going to this place for fun.” Todd frowned at him and Dirk quailed under his eyes. “Why are you so freaked out about this? We're probably about to solve the case!”
Dirk didn't know if he could explain it. “Todd, the case -” isn't as important as you. Doesn't matter as much as your life; in fact, the case can go sod itself if it would keep you safe.
But Todd would never thank him for saying any of that and Dirk never could resist what the universe wanted.
“Fine. Lets go get shot at, shall we?” Dirk conceded with bad grace.
Todd grinned at him, his eyes lit with manic excitement just like they had been when they'd been trying to solve the Patrick Spring case right before it all went to hell. Dirk didn't trust that look; all it led to was time loops, and mortal peril, and death, and crying, and regretted words, and almost destroyed friendships.
But Todd was already heading for the door. Ignoring the twisting in his gut, Dirk followed him.
Todd opened the door in increments, obviously wary of producing any sounds that might give them away. He didn't really have to worry about that though, judging by the sound of shouting coming down the corridor.
Dirk exchanged glances with Todd; Todd nodded with a mixture of determination and excitement. Dirk just grimaced nervously.
They crept down the corridor, the shouting growing louder with every step they took. Finally, they reached a partially ajar door and peered inside.
It was a large room, possibly a conference room back when the office building was actually in use. Three people, including the man they were following, were standing inside having an incredibly loud conversation. For all the volume of the conversation, Dirk wasn't actually able to grasp what they were talking about. He thought this had more to do with Todd and Dirk’s distraction thereof than with the intelligibility of the conversation; in order to stay hidden by the ajar door, Todd was staying mostly behind it, only leaning his head slightly forward to peer through. This meant Dirk was forced to press against him from behind, trying to use his superior height to lean over Todd to see inside.
It wasn't exactly helping Dirk concentrate.
A fact which was confirmed when Todd hissed his name for possibly the third time and nudged him in the ribs.
Dirk forced himself to pay more attention to the room in front of him and noticed that the yelling had finished. The man who had stabbed Todd was walking over to a row of cages that lined the back wall. He bent down, opened one of the cages, reached inside, and pulled out -
A tiny, absolutely adorable, golden retriever puppy.
“What the hell?” Todd muttered under his breath.
Before Dirk could answer - although his answer mostly would have consisted of ‘I have no idea’ - the person closest to the door started speaking.
“So we're moving onto dogs now, Alvin? ”
“Well, I figured dogs are obedient, right? They're trainable, and no one will think it’s weird to see a dog walking down the street. It'll be perfect,” said Alvin - and what a stupid name for the person who could have destroyed Dirk's life - as he put the puppy down and reached into his pocket. “Better than penguins,” Alvin continued, glaring accusatively at the person who had spoken. He knelt down in front of the dog and dangled a medallion on a long chain in front of the puppy’s eyes. He started to swing it in a pendulum motion, murmuring rhythmically. The dog followed the motions, mesmerized.
“Oh, you've gotta be kidding me.” Todd said, shaking his head in desperate denial. “They're-”
“Dog hypnotists!” Dirk exclaimed, grinning widely.
It was possible that he said that a teensy bit too loud because everyone (including the hypnotized dog!) in the room looked toward the door.
“Whoops.” Dirk said as Todd reared back into him. Dirk almost unbalanced and fell but Todd pulled him upright and started pushing him back toward the door to the building.
“Go, go, go,” Todd urged. Dirk finally managed to get his feet moving as a voice shouted behind them.
He and Todd had barely made it five steps before a furry shape blurred past them and stopped in front of them. It was the puppy from the room, now blocking their way and growling.
Both Dirk and Todd stopped in their tracks. After a second, Todd inched to the side, trying to edge around the dog. The dog just growled louder, lips pulled back and snarling.
Todd backed up hurriedly into Dirk, who threw his hands into the air to avoid grabbing him.
Todd glanced around, searching for some avenue of escape. “Maybe I can-”
Dirk grabbed him, concern over riding his perennial awkwardness. “Don't hurt it!”
Todd glared at him and pulled his arm away in a huff before turning his attention back to the puppy. It was disturbingly cute, even when it was threatening their safety. “I'm not going to hurt it, I'm not a monster!”
Dirk huffed and shook his head. “Well, I'm sure you wouldn't mean to but you can get very passionate about these things -”
Todd whirled on him, apparently so incensed with Dirk that he could ignore the threat of imminent mauling. Dirk tried to resist the fondness he felt at that and focus on their current circumstances.
“Passionate about what things? Surviving?” Todd asked. The amount of sarcasm and disbelief he could put into his tone, accompanied by the volume he was speaking at, was very impressive. Truly, he had a gift.
“Of course I'm passionate about surviving! You would be too if you had any common sense! But c'mon, man, it's a dog. Who hurts dogs?”
“Forgive me for being a smidgeon skeptical about your pro-dog stance. After all, the last time you met a dog, you dropped it off a bridge.” Dirk pointed out.
Todd put his head in his hands. “For the last time, that was not my fault. There were extenuating circumstances.”
Dirk scoffed. “You dropped a dog off a bridge!”
Todd obviously decided that hiding his face wasn't getting his point across and decided to abandon it in favor of gesticulating wildly. “Technically, it wasn’t a dog, it was a person.”
“That doesn't make it better!”
“What the fuck are you guys talking about?”
Dirk and Todd whirled. The people from inside the room were now standing behind them, looking very confused. Either they were very quiet or Dirk and Todd had been too wrapped up in their own conversation (possibly argument, Dirk was never sure where the line was drawn between those two activities) to notice their approach. Dirk ruefully wondered how long they had been standing there before saying something.
Oh, and they all had guns. Which they were pointing and himself and Todd. Wonderful.
Dirk flung his hands in the air in the universal sign for ‘I surrender’. Not taking his eyes off the really far too many guns held by very angry people, he muttered to Todd, “There, now we’re going to get shot. Are you happy now?”
Although he couldn't see it, Todd’s exasperated huff made it clear he was rolling his eyes.
Alvin - and Dirk was never going to get over the fact that the man who had given him nightmares was named Alvin, what was he, a chipmunk? - was staring at the two of them, his jaw hanging open. “Oh my god, it’s those two freaks who were following me. How the hell did you find us? And don’t say the universe brought you here, or whatever bullshit you were saying last time.”
“Fine, I won’t.” Dirk said, gulping as Alvin thrust his gun more forcefully at them.
“How did you find us?” Alvin demanded angrily.
“You just told me not to tell you!” Dirk protested, putting his hands a little higher into the air to emphasize how willing he was to comply.
“Oh for Christ’s sake,” Todd muttered before continuing at a normal volume, “We saw you at the farmer’s market and recognized you. It’s not like I’m gonna forget the face of the guy who stabbed me.”
The face of the guy standing next to Alvin creased in horror. He whirled on Alvin; as he did so, his gun drooped and Dirk let out a breath in relief.
“You stabbed him? What the fuck, dude?” The guy demanded.
“They were following me! What was I supposed to do?”
“Not stab them!” The second guy protested, still agitated. “We rob people, we don't stab people.”
“Yeah, man, that's pretty messed up, Al.” The final guy chipped in.
Alvin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, okay, whatever. So I stabbed him - completely justifiably, I might add. That doesn't change the fact that he and his weirdo friend followed me, again, and now they know what we're doing and they're going to go to the cops. Aren’t you?” Alvin spat the last at Dirk and Todd, once more giving them his full attention. Dirk and Todd both vigorously shook their heads, speaking over each other.
“I have absolutely no idea what is going on, I rarely do, and I’ve never even met a cop -”
“Listen man, we never know what the hell is going on, so if you just let us go -”
“Let you go?” Alvin repeated, staring hard at the two of them. “We can't let you go. It was too late for that as soon as you walked in here.”
“Alvin -” one of the other guys started to protest.
“No, Gary! What did you expect was going to happen if anyone ever found out about this?” Alvin said, gesturing with one hand to the dog, who was still growling. He snapped his fingers and the dog immediately stopped growling, sitting down with tongue lolling out in a doggy grin. It looked the absolute picture of a puppy aiming for a belly rub. The image stuck in Dirk’s mind, tickling some memory at the back of his mind -
And he felt the familiar feeling of lightning through his veins as all the pieces popped into place.
“Ohhhhh.” he said, a drawn out, almost subvocal noise. If the dog had still been growling maybe no one would have noticed, but Dirk had never been that lucky.
“What?” Alvin demanded. Dirk winced, glancing at Todd, whose expression was a mix between nerves and concern.
“Solved it.” Dirk said, reluctantly.
Todd’s expression immediately took a turn towards the irritated. “Now? Seriously?”
“Well, I can’t exactly help the timing, Todd! It happens when it happens!”
“No, I know that, but right now is pretty inconvenient -”
Dirk cut him off, more than a little irritated and worried himself. “I’m wildly aware Todd! No need to lecture me!”
Now Todd’s expression was leaning more towards ‘hurt’ and ‘guilty’. It looked an awful lot like the face he made whenever his conversations with Amanda or his parents went into emotionally dangerous territory. Dirk felt his heart twinge.
“No, I know that, Dirk. I didn’t mean -” but before he could finish, Alvin - that prick - reached out and grabbed the front of Dirk’s shirt, shaking him roughly.
“What do you mean, ‘solved it’?” He growled out. Dirk looked at him - red-faced, teeth gritted, veins jumping in his neck - and got the distinct impression that this wasn’t the first time he had asked and that he was quickly losing patience. Not exactly a good quality in someone holding a gun on them.
“I - uh - I solved the case. This whole thing.” Dirk clarified, gesturing between the three gunmen and the dog.
Alvin’s eyes narrowed while his friends gaped.
“What.” he said flatly.
“Well, it’s obvious once you think about it,” Dirk said, feeling a little defensive. He glanced over at Todd again. Worry and anger showed on Todd’s face in equal measure, his eyes darting between the hand still gripping Dirk’s shirt and the gun in Alvin’s hand. His expression was eerily similar to how he had looked right before tackling Alvin three weeks ago. Dirk suppressed a shiver and prayed that Todd wouldn’t do anything stupid before turning his attention back to Alvin.
“You are a failed hypnotist -”
“Not failed,” Alvin cut it, “I just haven’t got my big break yet. Also, I prefer the title ‘mesmerist’ -”
“You,” Dirk talked over him, “are a failed hypnotist with money problems. You needed to make some quick cash to start paying back your debts. You decided to commit a series of robberies to get a head start on your savings. But you worried that if you committed the robberies yourself, you would be caught. So you decided to use a secret agent to commit them.” He gestured to the puppy, still sitting obediently on the floor. “The family dog.”
“Your first experiment with animal hypnotism didn’t go well - penguins are harder to train and far more conspicuous in residential areas than dogs.” At this, Alvin threw a glare at Gary, who pouted. “But when you were planning the robbery of the Gregson household, you noticed they had recently adopted a new puppy. And you had an idea.”
“A few days before each robbery you abducted the family dog, hypnotized it, and brought it back. Then you sat back while the dog followed your implanted command, robbed the household, and brought the stolen items to you. Then you wiped the command, allowed the dog to return home and made off with both the stolen possessions and the reward money for returning the dog you stole in the first place.” Dirk finished triumphantly. Despite the peril he and Todd were in, he couldn’t help but feel triumphant at solving the case.
“Actually,” Dirk said, leaning over to speak to Todd. “This might be the most normal case we’ve ever been on.”
“I hate to say this, but I think you’re right.” Todd replied. He looked very tired.
“So now what?” One of the bad guys demanded, sounding panicked. “They know everything!”
“They don’t have any proof.”
“That doesn’t matter, man! They go to the cops and we’re fucked.”
“Then we make sure they don’t go to the cops.” Alvin spoke up, his expression dark. “We kill them here and dump the bodies.”
“I don’t know, man.” The nervous guy spoke again. “Stealing is one thing, but murder…”
“It’s the only way!” Alvin snapped. “No one knows they’re here. You want to go to prison?” The nervous guy mutely shook his head. “Then put your gun up.”
And just like that, there were three guns trained on them.
Dirk shot a worried look at Todd, but he wasn’t looking back. Todd’s eyes were fixed solely on the guns aimed at them. locked on the gunmen, unwavering and completely focused. He looked determined, almost calm, and Dirk knew that Todd was almost definitely going to do something incredibly stupid and most likely get himself seriously injured or killed. Dirk couldn’t let that happen again.
"Wait!" Dirk shouted. The gunmen immediately all focused on him; in that moment, none of them were looking at Todd. He could use that, get Todd out of there somehow, maybe get the police, definitely get Farah, what the hell had they been thinking coming here without her -
But Dirk hadn't been considering Todd in his thoughts, hadn't thought that in his hurry to provide a distraction in an effort to keep Todd safe, he would provide the perfect opportunity for Todd to act. And that in situations such as this, Todd's overwhelming impulse had become fight, not flight.
In the moment that the gunmen looked away from Todd, he leapt forward, fist swinging. Dirk caught the glint of the brass knuckles Todd always carried right before Todd’s fist struck Alvin’s face.
Alvin jerked back but managed to stay on his feet. He snarled and tried to bring his gun back up when Todd hit him again. Dirk, watching helplessly, caught motion out of the corner of his eye; Gary was bringing his gun up to point at Todd.
“No!” Dirk shouted, jumping forward without thinking. He pushed Gary’s gun away from Todd just as he fired, the crack of the gunshot and the resulting cry of pain making Dirk flinch. He whirled just in time to see the other gunman crumple to the floor in agony. Hopefully he wasn’t dead because Dirk had seen far too many people die recently, but a dark part of him was just glad that Todd hadn’t been injured. Again. Yet. As far as he knew.
Before Dirk could actually see how Todd was doing, he was pushed from behind hard enough to make him stumble. He managed to catch his footing before he fell, turning to see an incredibly wild-eyed Gary aiming his gun at him. Dirk made an involuntary noise that could probably be most accurately described as a squeak and dropped to the floor, squeezing his eyes shut. As he did, two gunshots cracked out, followed by two shouts, and two heavy thumps.
Dirk opened his eyes, desperately searching, his mind of jumble of oh god Todd please please Todd -
Todd was standing behind him, staring at Dirk wide-eyed. There was blood on his face, both from the sluggishly bleeding cut above his eyebrow and the splatter from Alvin being shot. For their parts, Alvin and Gary were lying on the ground and groaning, having evidently shot each other by accident. Sometimes, Dirk was pathetically grateful for the universe.
Todd stepped over Alvin, shooting him a dark look as he did so. He grabbed Dirk’s arm and dragged him up and away to the entrance of the room, placing some distance between them and the men lying on the floor bleeding and moaning.
“We’ve got to call the cops and Farah. Maybe they have some more animals somewhere.” Todd said, looking up and down the hallway outside. Dirk couldn’t say anything, just staring at the streaks of blood across Todd’s face. Todd could have been hurt, again. He could have been shot, lying bleeding on the ground while Dirk stood by helpless to do anything but hold his hand and say meaningless words of comfort. He remembered what it had been like to see that happen. He had known then that he would never be able to bear seeing that again without completely falling apart and it had almost happened again today, not even a month later.
He had been right, that day when Todd went to hospital. Todd was better off without him. He should have left then.
“Dirk?” Todd asked, and Dirk managed to tear his eyes away from the blood slowly oozing from the cut. Todd was gazing back at him now, a concerned frown slipping across his face. He winced when he furrowed his brow, the movement obviously pulling on his injury. Dirk felt his stomach roil and had to look away.
He stared at the floor, which was grimy and streaked with dirt and dust, completely different from the floor in the hospital room Todd had stayed in or the clothes strewn living room floor in Dirk’s flat. He felt Todd’s hand come up to hesitantly rest on his shoulder, squeezing slightly. He shut his eyes, feeling the heat soak into him.
“Are you okay? You’re just…a lot quieter than you usually are after people shoot at us.” Todd said, voice soft and concerned. Dirk squeezed his eyes shut against the burning growing there and nodded tightly. Todd hesitated, squeezed his shoulder again, and then retreated a few steps with a mumble about calling the police.
Dirk successfully beat back the tears that wanted to gather, prying his eyes open to just look at Todd. He looked tired, leaning to one side while he spoke quietly into his mobile. He must have aggravated his injury during the fight, Dirk thought, and had to fight not to cry again.
A few minutes later, Todd ended the call and moved back over to Dirk. “The cops are on their way. And Farah is super super pissed at us. Like, I think she might kill us herself.”
Dirk flinched and looked away again.
Todd sighed. “Dirk, are you sure you’re okay? Because you’re acting really weird. I mean, weirder than usual.” Todd was next to him now, and he reached out his hand again like he couldn’t help himself, like he always wanted to be close to Dirk. But that couldn’t be true and Dirk couldn’t let himself believe it was true for even a second or he wouldn’t be able to keep going. And so he said the first thing he could think of that would make Todd never want to reach out to him, the only thing he could say that would finally make Todd safe.
“I don’t want you as my assistant anymore.”
Todd recoiled like he’d been burned, actually taking a step back. Dirk made himself look up at him, made himself absorb the way Todd’s eyes widened, the hurt and confusion that grew there. He needed to see this through, needed to internalize this so he wouldn’t make the stupid mistake of letting anyone close ever again.
“What?” Todd breathed. Dirk tried to steel himself and failed.
“I don’t want you as my assistant anymore.” Dirk said again. He wanted to say it with assurance so Todd wouldn’t question him, but the words came out wobbly, choked out of a throat that didn’t want to say them.
Todd huffed a disbelieving breath, eyes darting around the room as if looking for someone to explain what Dirk was saying. It was simple, Dirk wanted to say. This is how I protect you, finally, instead of making you protect me. This is how I keep you safe, even if it hurts.
“Look,” Todd said, an edge of desperation in his voice, “I’m sorry I dragged you here, but I honestly thought we could handle it and I was right! We were okay, we pulled through like we always do, you don’t have to -”
“No!” Dirk cut him off loudly. “No, it wasn’t alright, Todd, we almost died again! It was too dangerous and we shouldn’t have come and - and we need to be done. We are done. We’re -” Dirk dragged in a desperate breath, “we’re finished. Here. With all of this.”
Todd gaped at him. “What - you can’t - you don’t get to just decide that Dirk! I know that I shouldn’t have dragged us here, that’s on me and I-I don’t know what I would’ve done if -” He stopped, shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts.
“It’s not my fault these cases are dangerous so don’t pull that shit with me,” Todd finally said with strained calm.
“Yes, I know that, that’s incredibly beside the point, Todd -”
Todd cut in angrily. “It’s not even my fault I’m your assistant, you’re the one who told past-you to find past-me and then broke into my apartment -”
“Well, maybe I would take that back if I could!” Dirk shouted.
Dirk’s voice seemed to almost echo throughout the room, deafening in the otherwise quiet space. Todd gaped at him for a long moment before snapping his mouth shut with a click. He blinked hard and a tear slipped down his cheek only to be angrily wiped away. Dirk looked away, swallowing hard to try to remove the lump in his throat.
“You can’t mean that.” Todd whispered.
Dirk swallowed again, clearing his throat enough to speak. “Well, maybe I do.”
Todd shook his head, a few more tears spilling out. “So has it all been a lie, then? All those times that you said we were friends, that the universe wanted us to be together, that you wouldn’t leave me, that was just - things you said? They didn’t mean anything?”
Dirk couldn’t bear it, the way Todd was looking at him, the way his voice quavered and shook. “Of course they did, I meant every one, but don’t you understand? You almost died today, and it’s not even the first time this month.”
Familiar stubborn lines furrowed Todd’s brow. “I told you before, it’s worth it -”
“Not to me!” Dirk shouted, his desperation and worry overwhelming him. “I can’t lose you, Todd!”
“Then why are you trying to leave me?”
“Because I can’t lose you!” Dirk yelled, throwing his hands in the air.
“That doesn’t make any sense!” Todd yelled back.
They both fell silent, just staring at each other. Then Todd looked away, hanging his head.
“Dirk,” he said, “if you really want me to go, I’ll respect that. I mean, it’s-it’s your detective agency. If you don’t want me there, then I’ll go.”
Dirk nodded glumly, taking a deep, shaking breath and letting it out slowly. This is what he wanted; if Todd left, then he would be safe. Dirk wasn’t allowed to cry over it, no matter how much he wanted to.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up in shock. Todd had walked back over to him while he was wallowing and now he standing right in front of Dirk, staring into his eyes. Dirk couldn’t help but stare back.
Todd took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. “I’ll leave if you want me to.” He said again, then used his grip on Dirk’s shoulder to give him a little shake. “But I won’t want to.”
Shock echoed through Dirk’s body, making his eyes widen and his mouth drop open. That Todd could still want to be with him, could stand to be anywhere near him, after everything Dirk had said and done - it was nothing short of wondrous. It was a precious gift, one Dirk had done nothing to deserve.
Todd shook his shoulder again. “Y’know what I was doing before I met you?” He snorted and shook his head wryly. “Fucking nothing. I was nothing. I was a washed up thirty-three years old with no prospects and no friends. All I had was a shitty job I hated and my family who I was lying to everyday.” Todd paused and swallowed. His hand slipped from Dirk’s shoulder to curl in his jacket.
“And then I met you and I had a purpose.” Todd said, his eyes staring unflinchingly into Dirk’s. “My life had meaning. And I started to try again. To try to be better, to - be a better person. And I don’t always succeed but I try.” Todd used his grip on Dirk’s jacket to push him but didn’t let go, shoving him away then pulling him back in. “And that’s because of you.”
“Todd -” Dirk breathed, unable to stop himself. He could feel the tears gathering in his eyes, could feel how he was shaking, and knew he must look a fright. But he couldn’t care in this moment, not when Todd was saying such precious things.
“So, I’ll go if you want me to,” Todd said, barely even seeming to hear Dirk, so intent on what he was saying. “But you have to know, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than here.” He stopped and looked around them with an ironic twist to his mouth. “I mean, maybe not right here, having this conversation surrounded by unconscious bad guys, but you know what I mean.”
And Todd was so perfect in that moment, so beautiful, that Dirk had to kiss him.
Todd froze for an instant before making a muffled noise and leaning into Dirk, wrapping his arms around him. Dirk pressed closer, using one hand to tip Todd’s face up while the other fisted in the back of Todd’s shirt. It was perfect, it was bliss, it was everything Dirk had wanted for so long -
“Fucking finally!” A voice shouted behind them. Dirk was so startled he jumped back, getting a glimpse of Todd’s wide, surprised eyes before whirling around. Gary, the guy who had tried to shoot Todd, the wanker, was glaring at them with a cross look on his face. “I thought you were just going to stand there, crying at each other forever, while I’m stuck here watching you and bleeding to death.”
“You can just - shut it!” Dirk snapped. He did not have time to deal with bad guys right now, didn’t he realize that Dirk had bigger things to think about? Also, it wasn’t like he was mortally injured or anything. Probably.
He turned back to Todd, who was gaping at him flabbergasted. Even open-mouthed staring was a good look on him, Dirk thought with a lovesick sigh; it was really, truly unfair.
“Did you -” Todd started to say, then trailed back into staring.
“Yes.” Dirk said, suddenly unsure of himself. God, what had he been thinking, going from friend-breaking up with Todd to making out with him? That was an emotional rollercoaster bound to confuse anyone.
Todd gestured to the apparently-not-that-unconscious bodies on the floor. “Is this because -”
“Oh no,” Dirk said quickly, “I figured this out a long time ago.”
Todd’s eyes widened further. “You - so it’s because you -”
“Yes!” Dirk said loudly, then paused to think. “If by that, you mean I like you. Which I do. A lot.”
“Really?” Todd asked disbelievingly. Dirk rolled his eyes, his exasperation overcoming his anxiety.
“Yes, Todd, of course I like you, have you ever seen me making out with anyone else?”
“Well, no, but I mean -” Todd paused to gesture at himself. “Really?”
Dirk sighed, finally letting a fraction of the affection he felt for Todd show on his face. God, it was such a relief. “Yes, Todd, you. Honestly, who else could it be?”
Todd blinked before a huge grin started to spread across his face. “That’s - that’s awesome, Dirk, that’s -” he trailed off, just standing there grinning at Dirk.
Dirk couldn’t help but grin back. “Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
They stood there grinning at each other like loons. Dirk could feel his cheeks flush the longer Todd looked at him. He didn’t think he’d ever made anyone as happy as he made Todd, just by being there. It was intoxicating and it made it impossible not to touch him.
Dirk stepped closer, put his hands on Todd’s chest with a confidence he didn’t quite feel. Todd’s hands went to his hips, pulling him closer as his grin faded to a sweet smile. Dirk let his hand stroke up Todd’s chest to rest on his shoulders, then lifted one hand to cup Todd’s cheek when he didn’t pull away.
“Can I -” Dirk started to ask, but couldn’t finish the question. Todd blinked at him.
“Again?” he asked, hands tightening briefly on Dirk’s hips.
Dirk swallowed, suddenly unsure of his footing here. “If that’s alright.”
Todd nodded hurriedly, using his grip bring Dirk closer, so close they were pressed together. “Yeah, of course that’s alright, I didn’t mean to - that is - I mean -”
Dirk thought Todd might take awhile to get his thoughts together and finish his sentence and decided to just cut to the chase and kiss him again. It was just as good as the first time. Better actually, as there was no accompanying commentary from the people who had tried to kill them other than an aggrieved sigh.
It seemed like they had barely been kissing for a second before the police and paramedics started pouring into the room and they had to pull apart. Dirk and Todd stood off to the side, giving their statements to the detectives while Alvin and his cohorts were piled into ambulances. Dirk found it harder than usual to order his thoughts and give a somewhat coherent statement, distracted by the way Todd was holding his hand, occasionally stroking his thumb across it.
When the police were finally done, one of the officers cuddling the previously-hypnotized dog, Todd pulled him outside. Dirk squeezed the hand in his, just to see Todd smile.
“You ready to go home?” Todd asked, looking up at him fondly.
“Yes,” Dirk said, and it was true. He was ready to go home, to the flat he shared with Todd. He was ready to spend the evening with Todd, this man the universe had decreed was meant for him. Everything wasn’t perfect: Dirk was still terrified that something would happen to Todd and couldn’t fight the thought that he was continuing to put Todd in danger. But Todd was right - it was worth it. And Dirk was willing to try, for him.
Dirk leapt forward and gathered Todd in his arms for a hug. Todd laughed as he did, his arms coming around Dirk. Dirk couldn’t help but smile at hearing Todd sound so happy and buried his face in Todd’s shoulder.
“What’s this for?” Todd asked.
“I’m just happy,” Dirk said, lifting his head to press a kiss to Todd’s cheek before hugging him close.
Todd laughed again, turning his head to lean on Dirk’s shoulder. He could feel Todd smiling and Dirk knew he would treasure this moment, and all the moments after.