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30 Days of Prompts, Day 20:
A Nosy Neighbor
“We should move in together,” Leon suggested, looking for a jacket so he and Chris could go to the grocery store. “Have you seen my black jacket?”
“Which one?” Chris asked, coming over to the closet Leon was searching through.
“The leather one, with the stripes.”
“The New York one?”
“No. The other one.”
Chris wondered just how many black, striped leather jackets Leon owned.
“I don’t think it’s here,” Leon sighed.
“Did you check the bedroom and the dining room?”
“Yep. I bet it’s at my apartment,” Leon replied, shutting the closet door, and turning to Chris.
“You know, I can’t find my sweater either…”
“This is why we should move in together,” Leon pointed out. “Also, we’d always have someone to come home to,” Leon added, kind of offhand, but Chris could tell he’d put quite a lot of thought into it.
“OK. Your apartment, or my house?” Chris grinned, not even having to think about it, as he stepped closer.
“Neither,” Leon answered, meeting Chris halfway, grinning right back. He reached up and draped his arms over Chris’ shoulders, before kissing him gently. “Let’s find a place for the two of us.”
“Wow, you’re huge! Are you a giant?”
Leon just laughed as the kid continued to stare at Chris as he moved to set a box down next to the front door.
“Maybe…” Chris grinned.
“Tom, are you bothering the new neighbours?” A woman holding a baby called, as she made her way through the gate and round the fence separating the two houses.
“No,” Tom responded, walking back over to his mother, from where he was standing on the pavement near the moving truck.
“He wasn’t being any trouble at all,” Chris confirmed, making his way over.
“I’m Chris, by the way,” he offered, shaking hands with the woman.
“And this is my partner, Leon,” Chris introduced as Leon appeared beside him.
“It’s a pleasure, ma’am,” Leon greeted the woman with a winning smile.
“Nice to meet you both. I’m Carol, and this is my son Tom, who you’ve already met, and his sister, Emma,” she introduced, first gesturing to Tom and then turning Emma so Leon and Chris could see her face.
As soon as Emma saw Chris she began to giggle and babble at him. Chris smiled and pulled a silly face, only encouraging Emma.
“Sorry,” Carol apologised.
Leon, who had been watching Chris, shook his head, “Don’t worry. It happens all the time,” he reassured Carol with a kind smile.
Carol seemed to relax and even joined in a little, bouncing Emma slightly and pointing at Chris.
Leon felt a tug at his jeans and looked down. Tom was staring up at him. Leon crouched down. “What’s up?” He asked gently.
“Is Chris really a giant?”
“No. He’s just very big and strong,” Leon replied, trying to put the boy at ease.
“Tom,” Carol warned.
Leon stood up.
“I’m sorry. He read ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ recently. He has a bit of a vivid imagination.”
“It’s quite alright,” Leon reassured Carol. “You’ve never lived at the top of a beanstalk, or owned a goose that lays golden eggs, have you?” He asked, turning to Chris.
“No,” Chris confirmed with an amused chuckle, before kneeling down so he could talk to Tom directly. “But if any giants do show up, I’ll take care of them,” Chris promised.
“Really?” Tom asked happily.
“You bet,” Chris replied.
“Thank you,” Carol interrupted, seeming relieved and honestly thankful, no doubt for indulging Tom and his questions.
Chris stood up.
“Well, it was very nice meeting you both, but we should probably leave you to it,” Carol excused herself, Emma and Tom.
“It was nice to meet you too,” Leon responded, making sure to make eye contact with Tom too.
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” Chris put in.
“That’s very kind of you,” Carol beamed.
“See you around.”
“See you,” Tom grinned.
“Bye,” Both Leon and Chris added in unison.
“Well, they seemed nice,” Leon mused after the family of three had disappeared.
“Yeah,” Chris smiled as he hefted one of the larger boxes, “Reminds me of why we do this job.”
“Yeah,” Leon agreed, grabbing himself a box with a sigh.